Question 1

How do I become a deer farmer???

Accepted Answer

1. Start with land enough to build pens, we have found that .5 acre pens work best for breeding does and 1 acre for bucks. You will be able to house 10 adult deer per acre. It is greatly beneficial to have an alleyway connecting each pen and running into you barn/handling facility. In Ohio it is required to have 8' perimeter fence, please check local authorities for your states requirements.
2. You will need a handling facility with a drop chute and basic veterinarian supplies as well as a remote medication system (dart gun).
3. You will need to take part in the CWD monitoring program if you are wanting to be able to market your animals across state lines. This is relatively simple and only requires action when a deer dies on your farm.
4. Get in touch with your state's deer farming community as well as the National community NADeFA, North America Deer Farmers Association. Each state has its own organization dedicated to that state's deer farming industry. In Ohio it is WDFO, Whitetail Deer Farmers of Ohio.

Question 2

Do deer ever get sick???

Accepted Answer

1. Yes, the main issue we face in Ohio is Pneumonia, which is very treatable with early detection.
2. Deer farmers also deal with a disease called EHD Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, also known as Blue Tongue, this is a condition that is transmitted by biting midges. Humans cannot be infected by contact with deer or bites from midges. This is often confused with CWD Chronic Wasting Disease.
3. Fusobacteria, E-Coli, and Clostridia, are also issues we face, each of these can be vaccinated against.

Question 3

Should I be worried about CWD???

Accepted Answer

1. The best explanation we can give you would be to direct you to this link.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ltc3dNsPk).. 
2. Many deer farms are now working towards breeding to eradicate CWD within captive herds in the same way that Scrapie was bred out of sheep. No other industry is doing as much research on CWD as deer farms.

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