Back to Deer Farming Section Front
SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE OVERTON DEER FARMING PROGRAM
Forage and Pasture Systems
- Identified forage species that are preferred by non-native deer, tolerant of close grazing and result in good animal performance.
- Demonstrated that with proper pasture management, improved warm-season perennial grasses can meet the nutritional requirements of does nursing fawns.
- Developed pasture management systems and determined stocking rates which allow weaned fawns to reach slaughter weight in half the time of the industry average.
Technology Transfer
- Conducted three symposia/tours involving scientists, extension specialists and producers at TAMU-Overton for clientele. Numerous individual and small group tours of the TAMU Overton Deer Research facilities have been conducted. Total participation in symposia/tours at Overton has exceeded 350 clientele.
- Provided on-site technical advice to individual deer farmers upon request.
- Provided technical information on all aspects of deer farming to landowners, other agencies and county extension agents.
- Conducted technology transfer of deer farming potential and research results via news articles and television interviews.
- Increased general awareness among East Texas landowners of the potential for integration of traditional livestock production with deer farming utilizing existing tame pasture systems as a way of increasing ranch sustainability and income.
Reproductive Management
- Validated pregnancy testing farmed deer using ultrasound and pregnancy specific protein B techniques.
- Validated estrous synchronization using a commercially available treatment (½ Synchro-Mate B® ear implant) for farmed deer.
- Validated a simple transcervical technique for artificial insemination of farmed deer.
- Developed culling strategies for breeding females.
Growth, Development and Carcass Traits
- Developed growth pattern information comparing different species of deer.
- Developed carcass information comparing different species of deer.
- Developed management strategies for growing young bucks through slaughter weights.
Demand and Market Outlook
- There must be effective demand and a long-term positive outlook in the marketplace for products within an industry for it to be considered a viable business opportunity. Members of this team conducted the first ever market research for exotic game meat products (EGMP) to determine their future market potential. Results characterize the target market for EGMP and indicate there is substantial room for growth in demand as well as opportunities to capture market share from imports. Conclusions have been shared at the National Deer Farmer’s Conference, with producers attending several non-native deer farming conferences in Texas, and with U.S. and foreign producers upon request.
Potential Profitability
- Serious agricultural producers consider the potential profitability of enterprises compared to alternative investment opportunities before they invest in a particular business. Thus, members of this team published a detailed economic analysis of the deer farming enterprise. It is being distributed with decision software so producers can evaluate the potential profitability of their particular deer farm including size of operation, construction requirements, and level of management. Users provide underlying assumptions which are then combined with estimates of potential revenues and production costs which results in an estimate of the profitability. All participants at the Overton Non-Native Deer Farming Seminar reviewed the publication and over half requested software so they could complete an individual analysis.
|
