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Renbiten AB

Renbiten’s Game Processing and Production

Renbiten is owned and operated by Peter and Helena Andersson, one of the four families engaged in reindeer herding within Idre Sámi village – the southernmost Sámi community in Sweden.

We take great pride in managing the entire process ourselves – from watching over the reindeer throughout the year to slaughtering at the village’s abattoir and processing the meat in our own facility. This ensures that you, as a customer, will find reindeer meat of the highest quality in our shops. We also offer specific parts of the reindeer that are otherwise difficult to come by.

Our reindeer grow up in an area of unspoiled nature and pristine environments. They find all their food directly in the wild – we use no feed, vaccinations, or additives. What’s more, we don’t need to transport the reindeer between summer and winter grazing grounds, which reduces stress and benefits both the animals and the environment.

The Reindeer’s Annual Life Cycle

Calving Season – March to May

The reindeer are on their spring grazing lands, often in forested or mountain-near areas where the snow is beginning to melt.

The females are pregnant and seek out quiet, sheltered areas to give birth, often in May.

Calving usually takes place in protected forest areas, low mountains, or valleys.

Summer Grazing – June to August

The calves have been born, and the herd moves to their summer pastures, often higher up in the mountains.

There is plenty of food here, cooler temperatures, and fewer insects.

Reindeer Gathering and Slaughter – September to November

During the reindeer gathering, the animals are herded into enclosures so different owners and animals can be separated.

Selected animals are slaughtered—often calves and sometimes older animals.

Autumn is also mating season, usually taking place in September–October.

Winter Grazing – December to February

The reindeer move to their winter grazing grounds, often in forested areas or low mountains where they search for lichen and other food beneath the snow.

Sometimes they are given supplementary feed, such as hay or pellets—especially when grazing conditions are poor, for example due to icy snow cover.

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More facts about reindeer

Reindeer have remarkable eyesight, particularly adapted to the Arctic environment.

  • Ultraviolet vision: Reindeer can see UV light, which humans cannot. This helps them detect contrasts in the snow-covered landscape—like spotting lichens (their main winter food), predator fur (like wolves), or urine markings—all of which reflect UV differently than snow.

  • Seasonal adaptation: Their eyes change color with the seasons! In summer, the reflective layer behind their retina (the tapetum lucidum) is golden, helping with bright light. In winter, it turns deep blue, enhancing their ability to see in low light by scattering more light through the retina.

  • Wide field of vision: Their eyes are positioned on the sides of the head, giving them a field of view of about 300 degrees, helping them detect predators in a vast, open landscape.