Deer Farming

Deer Farming

Dear Farming

Deer farming has been well established for a century or more in the Far East. However, it is a new enterprise elsewhere which during recent years has been increasingly accepted as an economically promising industry. New species have been successfully tried and farming techniques are becoming more sophisticated. Many deer farms are, however, improperly run because either the owners or managers are not up-to-date with deer husbandry methods, or they lack relevant knowledge of the biology of the species concerned. The deer family (Cervidae) has almost a world-wide distribution, having been introduced into Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and some other, smaller islands. They do not occur in Africa south of the Sahara. The normal dentition of all deer is either 32 or 34 teeth. Canines are present in the lower jaw of all species and in the upper jaw of red deer, wapiti and musk deer. Grinding teeth consist of three molars and three premolars, top and bottom, on each side of the jaw. All deer have six incisors and two lower canines at birth, which are milk teeth. All deer are four-toed; the two middle toes make up a cloven hoof. The stomach is four-chambered and ruminating. A gall bladder is absent, except in musk deer. All deer possess facial glands situated in front of the eye which discharge a strong-smelling secretion.

Deer At ASI, NARC

By “deer farming” is meant the husband ring of deer populations for the production of deer meat and by-products - including hides, velvet, antlers and musk, - on a commercial basis. Although deer farming is not aimed at the protection of endangered species, nevertheless among the 27 deer species and subspecies which are considered threatened by extinction, there are two which have been maintained on farms, namely the Himalayan musk deer and the Formosa sika. In other words, deer farming can and does play a role in wildlife conservation.
 

In future, deer farms could play an important role in rural land use planning, because they can be established as economically viable units on land that is presently marginal to conventional live-stock farming operations or other types of land use. This is one reason why deer farming could be relevant in developing countries, where the development of this industry seems feasible.
 

Keeping in view this scenario, PARC has taken a lead to introduce deer farming in Pakistan. It has started a small scale Deer Farm at NARC to study feeding, breeding and other behavioral parameters of keeping different deer species in captivity. Necessary facilities and other infrastructure has been established and a few deer have been shifted to the Farm. This effort is anticipated to open new vistas of deer research and development in the country for meat hides, velvet, antlers and musk production.