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Why deer farming
Our research on deer farming started on the Internet in 1995, which at
the time provided minimal direction compared to today. We have included in our
Links page those sites that we have found most helpful to date. Attending NADeFA
conferences provided the most in depth information as well as providing sources
for more information. Here are some of the reasons that helped us decide to
become deer farmers:
 | It is a relatively new industry in the United States. The
primary source of commercial venison served in the United States is from
New Zealand. There is an established market but minimal local source. |
| The healthy aspects of venison make it an excellent
alternative for people looking for low fat, low cholesterol meat. |
| The species of deer to raise was decided for us by
California, which allows only fallow deer to be raised commercially. |
| There are two sub-species of fallow deer, the European
fallow (Dama dama dama) and the Mesopotamian fallow deer (Dama dama
mesopotamica). The Mesopotamian fallow is generally 35 to 40 percent
larger than the European. |
| Fallow deer have adapted well to farming. Keeping deer in
enclosures for venison production has been practiced in England for over
500 years. Records of the Persian Empire dating back to 9th
century BC illustrate domestication of fallow deer. |
| Fallow deer have shown to be very disease resistant. |
| One of the advantages we have had is that we started with
no pre-existing structures or fencing. This allowed us to utilize the
topography of the land to our advantage in placing structures and fencing. |
Our Herd
In California, the regulations allow only for the commercial
raising of fallow deer. We selected Mesopotamian influenced European fallow deer
because of the increased body size. Quality was of the utmost importance in
selecting our initial breeding stock and we chose it from Buckmaster Fallow Deer
of Lansing, Iowa, a USDA Accredited Tuberculosis Herd. We have ensured that that
status is carried forward and are a USDA Accredited Tuberculosis
Free Cervidae Herd in California. In the year 2000,
we expect to meet the final testing requirements to become the first USDA
Accredited Brucellosis Free Cervidae Herd in California.
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