Deer Farming

Timmy_45 · Aug 20, 2018

Anyone tried this? Or know a bit about it? My father reckons it's an under provided market, and I'm quite interested.

Apparent advantages over sheep are: less disease, less foot issues/maintenance required, higher financial return per acre.

I have to shoot a few of them every Autumn as the wild ones are a nuisance so I'm perfectly happy culling them, handling the carcass, grotting them etc.

I was thinking of going for Fallow rather than Reds on the basis that they both eat the same, but the fallow carcass is smaller so easier to handle and the price of stock is about half that of Reds.

tommyurray · Aug 20, 2018

Hi Timmy
I’m impressed that you shoot them then strangle them with a wire to finish them off in scotland we just shoot them andgralloch them then cut them up
I’d look at fencing and handling equipment costs all need to be higher and heavier than sheep kit (obviously) stags can be quite nasty too.im no expert but a friend used to do it and the Handing kit looked a bit like that wall between Israel and Gaza.I would look into which deer I was to keep as being easier to handle is not the best reason to go for them,you will be keeping them for 12-18 month you will only spend 1 hr cutting it up red or fallow it will not take any longer whichever one

A1an · Aug 20, 2018

When choosing your breed look in to the local market and see what breed is more common around your area, animals are now worth more alive than dead, you may be able to sell live animals to add to the pot.

I know of estates around these parts that are catching hill stock and selling live instead of shooting them.

I used to look after 60 hinds and 6 stags, these were purely for selling through the farm shop. I really enjoyed it.

I've worked with deer all my life. They are such a rewarding animal to work with.

Timmy_45 · Aug 21, 2018

A1an said:
When choosing your breed look in to the local market and see what breed is more common around your area, animals are now worth more alive than dead, you may be able to sell live animals to add to the pot.

I know of estates around these parts that are catching hill stock and selling live instead of shooting them.

I used to look after 60 hinds and 6 stags, these were purely for selling through the farm shop. I really enjoyed it.

I've worked with deer all my life. They are such a rewarding animal to work with.

Thanks, that's really helpful. I've got loads of questions, and the size of herd you're talking about it what I'd like to build upto, for pretty much the same reasons/market. Would it be OK to send you a direct note with some questions? Thanks! Tim.

Woolless · Aug 21, 2018

There was an article in the Farmers Guardian a couple of weeks ago about deer farming (not sure if it was just the scottish edition?).

A1an · Aug 21, 2018

Timmy_45 said:
Thanks, that's really helpful. I've got loads of questions, and the size of herd you're talking about it what I'd like to build upto, for pretty much the same reasons/market. Would it be OK to send you a direct note with some questions? Thanks! Tim.

Absolutely.

Il ping you my email address and we can do it that way.

Timmy_45 · Aug 21, 2018

A1an said:
Absolutely.

Il ping you my email address and we can do it that way.

Thanks!! I've just sent an email

Pieces_of_Eight · Aug 21, 2018

A1an said:
I know of estates around these parts that are catching hill stock and selling live instead of shooting them.

I wouldn't think wild Red hinds travel well or adjust to captivity? :scratchhead:

Timmy_45 · Aug 21, 2018

Pieces_of_Eight said:
I wouldn't think wild Red hinds travel well or adjust to captivity?

I certainly wouldn't want them.

jellybean · Aug 21, 2018

Pieces_of_Eight said:
I wouldn't think wild Red hinds travel well or adjust to captivity?

How do you think deer farming started then?

Pieces_of_Eight · Aug 21, 2018

jellybean said:
How do you think deer farming started then?

Probably not by someone pushing 20 hinds into a wagon and driving them from Inverness to Berkshire.

jellybean · Aug 21, 2018

Well the very first deer farm didn't start by buying from another deer farm did it!

Timmy_45 · Aug 21, 2018

jellybean said:
How do you think deer farming started then?

So you would prefer a wild captured animal to try and farm than 30th generation semi-domesticated one. Each to their own I suppose. I personally wouldn't touch a wild captured one with a barge pole.

jellybean said:
Well the very first deer farm didn't start by buying from another deer farm did it!

Are you being deliberately obtuse? Why on earth would anyone prefer to buy a captured wild animal rather than one from a herd that has been bred in captivity steadily enhancing the directed characteristics for a farmed animal for generations. Deer farming has been going on for hundreds of years, the fact it started out using wild animals isn't really the point, the point is it's hard to see how there is any benefit in buying captured stock when there is a much better alternative.

jellybean · Aug 21, 2018

Not being obtuse, and I never suggested using wild caught deer was the best way to start, I was just pointing out the obvious.

Quiet animals that are used to being farmed will be much easier for a newcomer to deer farming to deal with.
However there are occasions where the availability of wild deer will offer a cheaper entry into deer farming if you have the skills and handling facilities.

When I started to farm fallow deer they were all caught from the wild for a very good reason. My observations of fallow deer in parks and on farms was that they appeared to be much poorer specimens than I could find in the wild. My thinking was that if I used wild deer and then found that they went downhill on my farming conditions it would mean that I was doing something wrong. On the other hand if I bought deer from a farm or park and could not improve they by my farming I would have proved nothing; but might possibly consider that they were genetically inferior.

Another reason for considering wild caught deer is when you need fresh genetics and believe that you can source that better than you can from existing stock available for sale.

A1an · Aug 21, 2018

Pieces_of_Eight said:
I wouldn't think wild Red hinds travel well or adjust to captivity?

Not straight off the bat.

They take time to accept they are captured but done properly the are relatively easy to tame. I captured 30 red hinds to start a farm off. I fed turnips in a fenced off hill park allowing the deer access in to the park at night time, after a couple of months I shut the gate one night. Previous to shutting the gate I would go and sit at the edge of the field at night time, coming and going through the night to try and 'acclimatise' them.

Once captured I would feed them in the dark and slowly start to feed in to daylight. After 6 weeks of captivity they would chase the land rover as it came in to the field. I spent many a day just walking around them, watching, learning.

They are very clever animals and learn fast.

The Business Barn · Sep 25, 2018

Hi Timmy,

Here's a free business guide detailing the considerations of deer farming that you may find useful: www.thebusinessbarn.co.uk/advice-library/inspire/rural-business-ideas/deer-farming-is-it-right-for-me.

Best wishes,
Lucy

Timmy_45 · Sep 25, 2018

The Business Barn said:
Hi Timmy,

Here's a free business guide detailing the considerations of deer farming that you may find useful: www.thebusinessbarn.co.uk/advice-library/inspire/rural-business-ideas/deer-farming-is-it-right-for-me.

Best wishes,
Lucy

Thanks Lucy! I think we'll have a go, my current challenge though has been finding the stock to buy in the first place.

The Business Barn · Sep 25, 2018

Timmy_45 said:
Thanks Lucy! I think we'll have a go, my current challenge though has been finding the stock to buy in the first place.

Hi Timmy,

I'm not sure where you're based but there is a BDFPA introduction to deer farming course in Derbyshire that may be of use, or alternatively you could contact the organisers of the event to discuss buying stock. Here's the link: www.thebusinessbarn.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=188&search=deer.

Best wishes,
Lucy

renewablejohn · Sep 26, 2018

A1an said:
Not straight off the bat.

They take time to accept they are captured but done properly the are relatively easy to tame. I captured 30 red hinds to start a farm off. I fed turnips in a fenced off hill park allowing the deer access in to the park at night time, after a couple of months I shut the gate one night. Previous to shutting the gate I would go and sit at the edge of the field at night time, coming and going through the night to try and 'acclimatise' them.

Once captured I would feed them in the dark and slowly start to feed in to daylight. After 6 weeks of captivity they would chase the land rover as it came in to the field. I spent many a day just walking around them, watching, learning.

They are very clever animals and learn fast.

Very interesting. Have a herd of approx 9 that use my land on a regular basis which I enjoy being around but always thought it would be to difficult to capture and retain them on the land. They seem to hop over walls and fences as if there not there.

ShooTa · Sep 26, 2018

the only people who make money in deer farming are the agents.....never the farmer.

Deer Farming

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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