The Rural Voice, 1991-02, Page 23as high as $8.50 for the finer -grained
fallow meat.
The three types of deer share other
traits. The females give birth to one
fawn each spring, and have a breeding
life averaging 14 to 16 years. Males
kept for breeding and annual har-
vesting of valuable velvet antler have
a comparable life. One long-time elk
breeder reports taking 20 pounds of
velvet off a 17 -year-old bull.
Red deer can be trucked to the
abattoir, while the fallow deer are sent
in individual crates.
The smaller deer must be confined
within a more closely woven fence.
One reason is to prevent the does from
instinctively pushing their fawns
under the fence, thinking they are
protecting their young.
Wapiti, or North American elk, are
the largest of the domesticated
species. They are related to the red
deer, and much like them in habit and
personality. Interbreeding produces
big, healthy hybrids.
Karl Hassenbach, past president of
the Ontario Deer Farming Association,
is one of a number of suppliers of
fallow deer. He and his wife Brigitte
have been raising deer for venison and
velvet for 12 years and now have a
herd of 98 on their 60 -acre farm near
Georgetown. They have been selling
breeding stock for two years.
"We were among the first to get
into deer production, aside from
petting zoos and some red deer kept
mainly for velvet," Brigitte explains.
Elk are also available from Can-
adian and U.S. breeders. The Ontario
Deer Farming Association can be con-
tacted for more information on sources
Stanley Township cashcropper Norm Eckel purchased his red deer last year.
of breeding stock.
One of the most aggressive
marketers of New Zealand red deer is
the Coldstream Deer Group north of
Barrie, which bills itself as "Canada's
newest livestock industry, a partner-
ship between Canadian initiative and
New Zealand enterprise."
Former mink rancher Tod Grignon
began to study the possibilities of
raising game seven years ago. A trip
to New Zealand with accountant
friend Michael Bradley convinced the
pair of the feasibility and profitability
of commercial deer farmi.ig in Ont-
ario. In the fall of 1988 Grignon, his
friend, and three additional Canadian
partners joined with New Zealander
Tim Wallis, credited with launching
the deer industry in his homeland, to
formally incorporate.
A 20 -hour airlift brought 1,707
head of New Zealand red deer to
Hamilton airport in November 1988.
The imported deer are quarantined
for a minimum of 120 days at the
company's facilities under the scrutiny
of Agriculture Canada before being
sold as breeding stock. During this
period, they are tested by federal vets
for bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis,
Yohnes disease, and tissue worm
infection.
In 1989, Coldstream shipped over
1,500 animals to 40 new deer farming
operations in Ontario, Quebec, the
Maritimes, and the eastern United
States. Eighty per cent went to
Ontario buyers.
However, game farming is not for
those interested only in a quick return
on their money. Initial investment in
stock, fencing, and handling facilities
makes a big dent in a bank account,
and will take at least a year to deliver
any return.
Ag Canada to monitor deer to halt disease
A temporary ban imposed in December on the movement
of animals to and from wild game farms within Canada, or
importation from abroad, is expected to be lifted early in 1991,
according to Dr. Mark Raithby. The ban was imposed after the
discovery of bovine tuberculosis on two facilities, one in
Ontario and the other in western Canada.
Raithby, a veterinarian with the Huron office of the Vet-
erinarian Inspection Directorate of Agriculture Canada's Food
Production and Inspection Branch, anticipated a law would be
in effect by the end of January stipulating such animals may
again be moved, provided an Agriculture Canada vet grants a
permit certifying the animals do not risk spreading disease.
Since the alarm was raised, Agriculture Canada has
conducted an inventory of all captive ungulates on game farms,
petting zoos, zoos for profit, etc. Field staff will determine
which premises are eligible for permits, and establish an
identification system.
Ms. Pat Martin, president of the Ontario Deer Farming
Association, heartily endorses the government's action.
"This is good for the entire Canadian deerindustry. All deer
farms will have to register with the government to allow tracing
of any animal from time of birth to death. The disease problem
is small enough that we can get on top of it. If you let it get out
of hand, we would never get control," she said.0
FEBRUARY 1991 19