Production
Here are some reasons why farmers should seriously consider raising white-tailed deer.
- Excellent prospects for industry growth in the short and medium term resulting in good demand and prices for breeding stock.
- Increasing worldwide demand for venison, a meat that is perceived as "very healthy", e.g., low fat, low cholesterol, high in protein and organic (chemical free).
- Venison, unlike some of the more exotic species such as emu and ostrich, is a known and accepted meat in North America.
- White-tailed deer have a high reproduction rate; twins and triplets are common. They are the most productive of all deer species and thus provide a significant competitive advantage to farmers.
- White-tailed deer are native, very adaptable, hardy and intelligent. They are a low-maintenance animals with few disease problems.
- White-tailed deer farming is environmentally friendly and unlikely to raise the same concerns and political opposition as other intensive livestock operations such as hog barns and cattle feed lots.
- White-tailed farming is relatively new and thus there are opportunities to take a leadership role to develop a healthy, profitable long-term industry and avoid the mistakes make by other alternative livestock groups.
- White-tailed deer farming is a much more profitable use of the available land than other applications. Smart producers farm deer on low-cost, marginal land where the deer thrive.
- White-tailed deer farming has minimum labour requirements. With the use of automatic feeders and waterers, only occasional inspection is required.
- Barriers to entry for new producers are relatively high due to costs of breeding stock, and a high investment in fencing and facilities. This should keep prices and demand high.
- The return on investment can be quite attractive. Economic analysis suggests that the returns on white-tailed deer farming are higher than that of cattle, bison or elk.
Deer Farmers' Information Network
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