Ep 19. Reindeer Farm

In season 5 episode 19 of Dirty Jobs, host Mike Rowe travels to Palmer, Alaska, to work at a reindeer farm. The episode titled "Reindeer Farm" follows Rowe as he helps out with the daily tasks involved in caring for and managing a herd of reindeer.

The episode starts with Rowe joining the owner of the farm, Tom Williams, in a pickup truck as they make their way to the feeding station for the reindeer. Williams explains that the reindeer are fed once a day and the feeding process includes a variety of different foods such as hay, grain, and a special reindeer feed mixture that is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of the herd.

Rowe then gets hands-on with the feeding process, using a shovel to scoop the hay and grain mixture onto the feeding station while Williams operates a tractor to drop the special feed mixture. After the reindeer have had their fill, Rowe and Williams head to the barn where they give the reindeer their daily dose of medications such as wormer and antibiotics.

Next up on the list of daily tasks is grooming the reindeer. Rowe joins Williams as they use a specially designed grooming brush to comb out the reindeer's fur. They explain that the grooming process is important to keep the reindeer's fur clean and healthy, and also to help the reindeer shed their winter coat when the time comes. Rowe gets a chance to try out the grooming brush himself, and he quickly realizes how strong and stubborn the reindeer can be.

After finishing up with the grooming, Rowe joins Williams on a mission to bring a pregnant reindeer into the barn so that she can be checked by the veterinarian. The process of capturing the reindeer proves to be quite difficult, as the animal proves elusive and difficult to catch. After a long chase through the snow, they finally catch the reindeer and bring her into the barn.

In the barn, the veterinarian performs a check-up on the pregnant reindeer, checking her overall health and making sure that the baby will be healthy. During the exam, Rowe gets a chance to learn about the intricacies of reindeer anatomy and the veterinarian explains the process of reindeer birth.

The final task of the day is to help Williams with the process of processing meat from a recently killed reindeer. Williams explains that it is important to utilize all parts of the animal in order to minimize waste and make sure that nothing goes to waste. Rowe gets a chance to learn about the different cuts of meat and how they are processed, as well as the important role reindeer meat plays in traditional Alaskan cuisine.

Throughout the episode, Rowe showcases his ability to get down and dirty with the messy and difficult tasks required to care for and manage a farm. He also demonstrates a deep respect for the reindeer and their role in Alaskan culture, recognizing the important contribution that they make to the lives and livelihoods of those living in the area.

Overall, "Reindeer Farm" is a fascinating look into the unique and challenging world of reindeer farming, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of those who work in the industry.