The three pens on the left side are used first to house four bred does. The does are allowed to move freely between the three pens via the guillotine gates. After birthing, doe fawns are segregated and bottle fed.
Full Answer
What makes a good deer breeding facility?
If the breeder only needs a facility to vaccinate and accredit their animals, a simple layout and cattle chute is often effective. However, if they plan to cut velvet or develop a genetics program with artificial insemination or ET, a more complex facility is recommended to manage the deer.
How are deers bred?
Deer are bred in two ways. They may be penned in a game fenced area during breeding season where they will breed naturally. Alternatively, bucks will be darted in the field and the semen extracted. A vet may then come onsite and artificially inseminate a darted doe.
How to make money by raising deer commercially?
By raising deer commercially, you can make a sustainable income and employment source. Unemployed educated young people can easily start this business. Return on investment ratio (ROI) is very high in this business.
How do breeding options affect a deer insurance rating?
Operations may breed high-valued bucks to sell their offspring to other hunting ranches, which advertise such stock to draw high-priced hunts. Others breed to increase the stock on their own premises. Breeding options affect the rating for insurers because selling the deer increases products exposure and needs to be charged for appropriately.
Is deer breeding profitable?
Raising a herd of deer can be more profitable than raising traditional livestock. Deer consume less fodder than cattle, are less damaging to pastures, mature more quickly, and can reproduce for up to 20 years in captivity.
Can you raise deer as livestock?
Yes, landowners in many states raise fenced-in deer as domestic livestock. The reasons for raising deer in large pens are primarily financial. Farmers sell everything from antlers, velvet, urine, and venison to controlled hunts and breeding stock.
How many acres do you need to farm deer?
On average each adult animal needs 1000 square feet of space. So, an acre of land with good grazing accommodates 2-3 adult whitetail deer, 7-10 adult fallow deer, 4-7 adult red deer, 7-8 axis deer, and 1-2 elk. In addition, you need to plan for protection from the elements, and methods to feed and water your animals.
What do deer farmers feed their deer?
Deer will eat good quality alfalfa hay whenever supplemental feeding is necessary. Although the animals may have plenty of natural feed available going into winter, it is a good plan to begin supplemental feeding on a seasonal schedule.
Why dont we breed deer for meat?
Raising deer is illegal in four states. In California it is limited to only nonnative fallow deer, for fear other breeds could escape and spread disease to the native species that roam the backwoods.
How many deer can you have per acre?
There are a lot of variables that determine the optimal deer density for a property, but 20-30 acres per deer is a relatively safe goal to start out with. That number will fluctuate, depending on your location's resources and many other variables, and will actually fluctuate across all four seasons.
How many deer can live on 200 acres?
After careful study using some advanced scouting techniques (i.e., trail cameras, etc.), I've concluded that in our area, every 200-acres under QDM can produce approximately four 2 ½ year old bucks, two 3 ½ year old bucks and every now and then a 4 ½ or 5 ½ year old buck.
How much is a whitetail deer worth?
Depending on who you want to believe, one deer has a dollar value somewhere between $1,250 and $2,500.
How do you set up a deer farm?
3:468:04Deer Farming - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's also important to keep vegetation to a minimum and feed to a maximum. You'll notice it's realMoreIt's also important to keep vegetation to a minimum and feed to a maximum. You'll notice it's real heavily timbered right there's not a whole lot of vegetation.
What is the best mineral mix for deer?
You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site.
What is the best mineral for antler growth?
Calcium and phosphorous are the two most common minerals found in hardened antlers, and so it makes sense that they are the best deer minerals for antler growth.
What promotes antler growth in deer?
Providing bucks with high levels of calcium and phosphorous can jumpstart antler growth. These minerals are beneficial for pregnant does, and aid in milk production, metabolism and bone growth. They're also key to fawn and yearling skeletal development.
How to decide if deer farming is right for you?
The best way to decide if deer farming is right for you is to go visit some farms. Just google “deer farms” for your state and send an email to farmers in your area. You can find out where they bought their initial stock and see an approved set up.
How much money does raising deer for meat make?
The North American Deer Farmers Association states that raising deer for meat is one of the fastest-growing alternative agriculture industries in rural America, and generates $7.9 billion for the U.S. economy. In fact, venison has even hit the fast-food world with Arby’s offering a seasonal sandwich.
How many deer can you have on an acre of land?
So, an acre of land with good grazing accommodates 2-3 adult whitetail deer , 7-10 adult fallow deer, 4-7 adult red deer, 7-8 axis deer, and 1-2 elk. In addition, you need to plan for protection from the elements, and methods to feed and water your animals.
What family are deer?
Deer are in the cervid family, which includes elk, reindeer, axis (chital), sika (spotted deer), red, whitetail, and fallow deer. There are several species of deer and they are adaptable to a wide range of terrains. However, it’s worth noting before you jump in that certain permits may be necessary for raising deer for meat in your state.
What are the three types of deer?
Species of Deer. There are three species of deer commonly raised for meat in North America. They are fallow deer, white-tailed deer, and elk. However, some states restrict native deer species, such as white-tailed and elk, from being raised. Fallow and sika deer are two popular non-native species.
How often are Cervid farms inspected?
Cervid farmers are inspected twice per year by both departments. As with other livestock sold for meat, farmers need to maintain herd records for diseases that affect deer, such as tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease, and brucellosis (see our care section).
What is the best way to keep deer out of an enclosure?
Fencing for Deer. As you may suspect, your biggest investment will likely be fencing. All of you with gardens out there know that a tall fence is the best way to keep deer from invading. A tall fence is the best way to keep deer inside an enclosure, as well.
Why is farming deer important?
Farming deer is a great source of entertainment for all aged people , especially for the kids . The skin of deer is very precious. Rich people use the skin for decorating their house. People make many valuable commodities using deer skin, and it has a great demand in the American and European countries.
Why is it important to raise some special species of wild animals like deer?
As a result, it is very important for us to raise some special species of wild animals like deer, to keep them from being extinct.
What do deer eat?
Feeding. Deer usually like to eat grass, leaves, corn, grain etc. like other livestock animals. Their eating habit is the same as goats, cows, sheep and other herbivorous domestic animals. You can feed the deer grass, leaves of the tree, kitchen garbage, various types of corns or grains etc.
What are some wild animals that are considered domestic?
Cows, goats, sheep, buffalo, horse, donkey and different types of wild birds are most common among those wild animals. Nowadays, deer is also considered and raised as a domestic animal in some countries around the world.
Can you raise deer on your property?
If you keep some deer inside your property, they will increase the beauty of your property. You can start raising deer, if you have the experiences of raising cow, goat, sheep etc. Deer farming is very easy like goat farming. Diseases are less in deer than other livestock animals.
Is deer farming allowed in some countries?
Commercial deer farming business is not permitted by the Government of some countries. So before planning for starting this business, contact with your nearest wildlife service center and ask them if commercial deer farming is permitted in your country or not. Table of Contents.
Can you see deer?
As deer is a wild animal, so you can hardly see any deer around you. Nowadays world population is increasing rapidly, and people are searching for some new agribusiness ideas which can ensure food security and create a sustainable and profitable income source. Commercial deer farming business can be a part of this.
Introduction
These materials are intended to accompany three case studies programmed in the DeerCalc software. There are three scenarios: a small-size, a mid-size and a large farm. The program has three files for the small-size startup, one for each of the first three years of operation.
Material Pricing Information
The following prices and materials are constant across the three scenarios.
Description of Small-size Scenario
The small-size operation consists of four pens of approximately 15,000 square feet and one pen of approximately 30,000 square feet. Pens are arranged in a block with a central alley. Four pens are 123 feet square. The fifth pen is 123 feet by 246 feet. The alley is 12 feet wide.
Feed Costs
A standard ration for deer will include alfalfa and a high protein (20 percent), high fat (8 percent) pellet such as Purina 595 or other “sweet feed.” (This is not an endorsement of Purina products or any other company’s products.) Alfalfa price will vary annually with local supply and demand conditions.
Veterinary Costs
All captive deer in Oklahoma should be vaccinated for Blue Tongue and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Vaccine currently costs $250 for 100 ml. A single dose is 2 ml to 3 ml (or cc) for mature deer. Two or three doses are administered annually for adult deer. The annual vaccination cost per breeding animal is $10 to $23 per head.
Stocking Prices and Assumptions
The “start-up” scenario assumes that the grower purchases four bred (natural service or artificially inseminated) does. Bred does of unproven or low-quality genetics will cost around $1,500 per doe. Note, high genetic quality does will cost more than $5,000 per head and can be cost in excess of $10,000 per doe.
Death Loss
The quantity of death loss in captive deer populations is highly variable. Outbreaks of EHD and Blue Tongue can claim more than 50 percent of herd in a few days. In some areas of Oklahoma, losses to EHD and Blue Tongue are rare but, in other areas, outbreaks occur annually.
Deer Regulations
Before you take the idea of starting a deer farm any further, you must know all the local and regional regulations when it comes to the ownership, transportation, propagation, and sale of deer.
Capital
If you want to start a deer farm, you need a certain amount of startup capital depending on the scale of the farm as well as your goals. The good news is that some states offer grants and loans to help you get started.
Deer Feed & Nutrition
Any successful deer farming operation must make sure that all the nutritional needs of their deer are met. This includes deer getting all the protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals they need to thrive.
Deer Behavior & Herd Structure
Deer are very social animals that travel in groups of herds that follow a structure. The herd is often led by a dominant male. Each herd can contain several females that take very good care of their young fawns.
Handling Deer
Whether you’re planning on starting a small-scale or large-scale deer farming operation, it’s wise to have some form of deer handling facility in place. This is because you need a suitable area to hold and observe deer for transportation and health testing among other things.
Finding a Veterinarian
Deer farming isn’t as popular as other forms of farming, so it can be challenging to find a vet who has plenty of experience and knowledge of farm-raised deer – at least a vet who is nearby.
Buying Stock
Buying stock is arguably one of the most important steps of any successful deer farming operation.
