Raising Deer In Florida
Introduction
Many species of deer once roamed across North America. The Paleo Indians are known to have hunted one species of deer, the Wapiti, from 11,000 to 8,000 B.C. These deer provided an important source of food and hides for Native Americans. The colonization of the New World by Europeans led to the decline of deer herds due to hunting and alteration of habitat.In recent years, the domestication or farming of deer has become popular as a way to provide a source of low-fat meals to diet-conscious consumers. Deer farming also offers the small landowner a way to raise livestock without the acreage and labor generally required for traditional cattle ranching. Deer farming has a promising future as an alternative agricultural enterprise.
The production of deer for personal consumption or sale still requires an investment of time and money, along with continuous management. The prospective deer farmer should carefully consider whether the objective of raising deer is a hobby or a profitable enterprise, and the amount of resources that can be devoted to the project. As in any fledgling enterprise, there is very little research data available pertaining to deer farming in Florida. The best source of information is often other deer farmers.
Types of Deer and Required Permits
A number of deer species are being farmed in Florida. These include Red, Fallow, Axis, Sika, and Elk. These species exhibit strong herding instinct, are efficient converters of forage, and adapt well to the farm environment. Each species has specific characteristics, such as size and weight, disease resistance, docility, initial cost, marketability, etc., that should be considered before deciding which is best for a particular situation and objective.
To raise deer in Florida, a Game Farm License is required from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The license costs $50 per year. To apply for a license, call (850) 488-6253, or write:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Contact: Lt. John West
An inspector will visit your property to determine if the acreage, fencing and other requirements for raising deer are met. The application process generally takes two to four weeks.
If you plan to bring deer into Florida from another state, you must have an import permit from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and meet all relevant animal health requirements as outlined by State Veterinarian. You cannot bring a deer into the state of Florida without prior approval from the State Veterinarian. For information, contact Dr. Tom Holt at (850) 488-8280, or by writing:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Animal Industry
329 Mayo Building
407 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
Land, Labor, Capital and Physical Requirements
In general, a producer in Florida can expect to maintain about six does and their fawns on the same amount of land necessary for one beef brood cow.
Deer requires less labor than the equivalent number of beef cattle. Still, the farmer must be sure the deer have adequate food and water on a daily basis. It is important to maintain human contact with deer so that they remain docile and can be handled more easily. Deer are relatively self-sufficient and disease resistant, but they will need to be handled for veterinary purposes, harvesting of velvet antler and marketing.
Deer do not require expensive structures for shelter. Wooded areas adjacent to pastures can provide cover and security. However, some specialized equipment and facilities are needed to control deer when they must be worked and handled. Sturdy, woven fencing, at least 75 inches high, also is necessary, as much to keep predators out as the deer confined.
For maximum productivity, a deer herd needs good pastures for grazing, and supplemental hay and feed on occasion. It is a good idea to have land divided into several pastures among which to move a deer herd to prevent over-grazing, or potential parasite problems from developing.
One of the major, initial expenses in deer farming is the breeding stock. Depending on the type of deer, genetic quality, transportation costs, etc., breeding animals can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Venison
Farm-raised venison is a fine-grained, mild, tender meat with a delicate flavor that is distinctly different from wild game venison. The consumption of venison is growing about 30 percent per year in the United States. Domestic producers supply only about 20 percent of the market, with the rest imported mostly from New Zealand, the major world producer of venison. The limited supply of venison means it is available mainly in gourmet restaurants, specialty shops and some supermarkets.
Venison is especially appealing today because it is high-protein meat with low cholesterol and low saturated fat.
Marketing
Deer can be marketed in a number of ways, including as live animals for breeding or hunting preserves, or through such products as venison and antlers. Currently, the major market for most types of deer is as breeding stock to other deer farmers. For any venison to be sold to the public, the deer must be processed under government inspection in an approved facility. Only a few processing facilities are handling deer now because of the relatively small number of animals being produced.
The velvet, or antlers, of deer also provide valuable products, particularly for traditional Asian medicines and tonics. Velvet can be harvested on the farm on an annual basis and frozen for shipment.
Potential deer farmers should line up markets for their animals and related products before getting into the business. For information about marketing deer, contact:
North American Deer Farmers Association
9301 Annapolis Road, Suite 206
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 459-7708
Contact: Suzanne Folts
Email: info@nadefa.org
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Marketing and Development
418 Mayo Building
407 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
(850) 488-9682
