FL Fall 2021

SOUTHEAST TINES Volume 9 Fall 2021

l Issue 3

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR VACCINATIONS COCCIDIOSIS MARRIED WITH DEER MANAGING BUCKS IN THE RUT ADVICE FOR SAFETY SPONSORED BY Kala

WARRIOR YEARLING

LASTING IMPACT / FREE AGENT

SEE AD INSIDE

We offer free diagnostic testing for Florida deer farmers and will come to your farm to collect samples.

For out-of-state farmers refer to our website for pricing and shipping instructions.

This information will help UF/IFAS scientists develop the best vaccine and intervention www.wec.ifas.uu.edu/cheri strategies for curbing diseases that kill deer.

To submit samples for analysis, call:

352-562-DEER

CONTENTS

FEATURED ARTICLES: Best Management Practices For Vaccinations ......................................................................... 24-25 Coccidiosis ................................................................................ 18 Featured Farm Q&A ............................................................. 9, 11 Florida Deer Farmers Persevering in the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael.....................................6 Managing Bucks in the Rut ................................................ 14-15 Married - with Deer ............................................................ 16-17 Missouri - Embracing Improved Regulations and a Bright Future........................................ 34-35 NADEFA Thanks Congress....................................................... 20 SETDA Member Business Cards ..................................26-27, 29

IN EACH ISSUE

WINTER ISSUE DEADLINE: November 3, 2021

Board of Directors ....................................................................... 2 Membership Application ........................................................... 19 Recipe - Shepard’s Pie ............................................................... 38 Presiden’ts Message .................................................................... 4

ADVERTISERS INDEX

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(Editorial Provided by Contributing Writers)

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Laurie Cook

BDRL Whitetail Paradise Farm 4600 SW Deer Run Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 561-762-2983 laurie@bdrlwhitetails.com

VICE PRESIDENT

WE WANT YOUR CLASSIFIEDS!

James “Smitty” Smith

Gum Creek Hunting Preserve 813-714-5045 Jsmith@crossenv.com www.GumCreekHuntingPreserve.com

SECRETARY

Susan Hall

Oak Island Whitetails Florida Hunting Adventures 12111 NW 300th S t Okeechobee, FL 34972 954-242-1472 Stuffette@bellsouth.net

TREASURER

Jared Deason

Sweetwater Plantation 3464 Chamblee Rd Tallahassee, Fl 32309 850-643-7326 deason21012@gmail.com

DIRECTORS

Let us help you sell your deer, semen or non-deer related!

FREE OF CHARGE! We will get you listed and KEEP you listed until your product is sold!

Melvin Stubbs

Stubbs Whitetails 16518 Alderman Turner Rd Wimauma, FL 33598 813-924-8886 melstubbs@aol.com

Benny Wilkison

Lil Oak Whitetails 3193 NW 216th St Lawtey, Fl liloakwhitetails@yahoo.com 904-424-7233

Dr. Sam Wisely

Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 wisely@ufl.edu 352-846-0645

Dr. Juan Campos

College of Veterinary Medicine Dept. of Large Animal Clinical Sciences University of Florida 108 Deriso Hall, Gainesville, FL 32610 352-363-0703 jmcampos@ufl.edu

LOUIS SCOTT

Scott’s Game Farm 96769 O’Neil Scott Road Fernandina Beach, FL 32097 904-557-8940, 904-753-4091

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SETDA 2021

Email your information to: deerassociations@gmail.com

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SETDA 2021

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WELCOME! PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Greetings Members; The 2021 fawning season is about wrapped up and I hope everyone had a very successful fawning season.

You know, we all spend so much time planning that special breeding in the hopes to produce that new “super doe” or “big time” breeder buck KNOWING it will take a couple years till we hopefully get the answer to our prayers. It seems like eternity sometimes waiting for those bucks to grow or see what your special doe throws. But when you are bit by the “deer bug”, you are all in and you WAIT… I will have to admit, sometimes when things get tough or challenging, I ask myself “what am I doing”… But, when the “good times roll”, I tell myself “What a Life”! I believe most of you would agree, that the Life Style and the Addiction to growing big bucks makes it all worth it!

We just wrapped up our 2021 SeTDA Summer picnic the first weekend in August. We had some great speakers from UF Cheri and updates from FDACS and FWC. Some very informative information was provided and there was some interesting interactive discussions. The BBQ Lunch was amazing along with some fun raffles to wrap up the meeting.

Speaking of UF CHeRI, they gave more information at our meeting on the new EHDV 2 & 6 vaccine and discussed the best time to vaccinate our does, buck and fawns. If anyone has any questions on the vaccine or has unfortunate challenges with your

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deer, PLEASE reach out to Dr. Sam Wisely or Dr. Juan Campos at 352562-DEER. Recently, our deer industry here in Florida has been threatened to be banned. An Amendment to the Florida constitution was proposed that would “prohibit captive wildlife hunting and breeding in Florida”. SeTDA have partnered with the Florida Deer Association (FLDA) to gather information about this amendment initiative and have crafted a joint action plan in response. To date, it looks like this initiative will be going nowhere.

The SeTDA will continue to keep the membership informed on this amendment.

I know by now, we all are looking at our bucks and trying to decide which ones are breeders, which are stockers and which ones are keepers. This is the hardest time of the year for me. I would love to hold on to many of my bucks just ONE more year because I see their potential. But, as my husband always says, “we gotta sell deer”! Right now, Florida is HOT! We have Preserves popping up all over and they are looking for deer! Despite the challenges with COVID, Florida is “STRONG” right now!

Crazy times are just ahead and time to get ready! With Hurricane season at its peak, so is our work in the deer world. With hauling bucks and

open does to new locations, cutting antlers, weaning and sorting fawns, and getting those does sorted and processed for AI and breeding; it is an exhausting time of the year!! But this time of the year also reminds me that very shortly my husband and I will be back in the woods looking for that trophy buck to harvest. It does not get any better than spending time in the woods and watching those amazing Whitetails!

BIG REMINDER, please send us pictures of your prize bucks to include in our “BIG BUCK SPREAD” in the Winter SE Tines. Email your pics to info@ southeasttrophydeerassociation.com or laurie@bdrlwhitetails.com.

I want to just remind everyone that what makes this association possible is YOU, the members and NOT the Board of Directors. Your support, your voice and your energy to keep this industry alive in Florida is vital to this association. Our industry and life style has been threatened and we will be threatened again. We need to now more than ever, WORK and STICK together in every way to keep what we passion alive. As always, the BOD’s appreciate ALL of you for helping to keep this industry “Florida Strong”!

God Bless, Laurie Cook DVM

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FLORIDA DEER FARMERS

PERSEVERING IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MICHAEL

A

By: Gail Veley - Sponsored by SETDA

fter 150 mile an hour winds from Hurricane Michael ripped apart Bear Creek Mine Preserve in Quincy, Florida, Manager Kaleb Ellis spent the better part of two weeks working in overdrive cleaning up from the devastation of the massive Category 5 hurricane when it made landfall on October 10th, 2018.

His non-stop efforts included clearing preserve trees, mending fences, rounding up deer and assessing damage. Like others affected by the storm, it was a painstaking and exhausting 24/7 endeavor. Ellis only paused from those efforts briefly, to clear a tree ready to fall on his own house. Close to two weeks later, when he was able to finally exhale and think for just a mere moment only about himself, he drove 20 minutes to an untouched, unravaged part of Quincy to The Laredo Grill, and ordered his favorite meal. Now, with a plate steaming steak fajitas in front of him, he reached down for his favorite comfort food that always included sauteed peppers and onions.

However, as he attempted to eat he stopped, his appetite overtaken by emotion. Choking back tears, the reality hit him hard that only 20 minutes from there, houses were flattened. People were homeless.

Deer farms suffered massive damage and devastation. That only a mere 20 minutes away, deer farmers had been forced to look into the eyes of some of their beloved deer too injured from this inescapable storm to ever stand up again, and “do right” by them to end their suffering. To say goodbye to deer they knew so well, fed every day and attached dreams to. Among everything that Ellis had faced after the storm, losing deer was by far the roughest.

Yet, many more deer survived than

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perished in the storm either by running away or laying down and low and waiting for it to pass. And many deer came right back home the within a day or two looking for breakfast, along with the care and shelter they were accustomed to. “We didn’t lose more than 15 or 20 deer,” said Daniel Bontrager of Bontrager Whitetails in Marianna, Florida. “Our big barn stood intact and had so many trees around it, that it was buffered from the wind.

I’m grateful I didn’t lose my house or my lodge. When it’s all over, you can’t count what you lost. You need to count what you have.”

Having adequate supplies such as fencing, wood posts, ample chain saws, generators and manpower enabled Florida deer farmers such as Ellis, Bontrager and Jared Deason from Sweetwater Plantation to start work immediately fixing the damage.

However, those supplies weren’t available in Florida in the immediate aftermath. Most came by way of preserve owner Jason Edmondson in Alabama. “Jason called us and said, ‘what do you need?” Deason explained. “He brought t-posts, extra fencing, wood posts, fuel and extra chain saws all on his dime. He didn’t charge for delivery. He just said, ‘here are my receipts.’ We need to give a big “shout out” to him for helping us so much.”

With the storm now far behind them, Ellis, Bontrager and Deason all feel on a scale of one to 10, that their farms have recovered to the extent of about a “nine.” Remaining work still includes clearing trees and thick brush within the preserve that still remain where the storm put it. Because of initial extensive fence damage due to trees falling on them, all three men share an important lesson learned from Hurricane Michael. “Don’t plant trees closer than 60 feet from your fences

or deer pens,” Bontrager said. “And if you know a storm is coming, go out and take down your shade cloth. That can pull fences right down with it. Yes, it took you a long time to put it up, but you are better off taking it down.”

All three men can’t stress enough the need to be prepared with adequate drinking water, generators and other supplies to get by (as well as machinery on stand-by to help clear fallen trees or rebuild fences) should a storm be predicted and subsequently happen. With chances being very slim that a storm the magnitude of Hurricane Michael (the third most powerful in history) will hit Florida anytime in the near future, none of them are planning to move out of Florida either. “I’ve never thought of moving,” Deason said.

“Our regulations are better than most states and Florida is a good state for deer farming. Our agencies are so supportive. We have better weather overall year-round. Our hunting season is August through February.

And there’s never any snow with Florida hunting.”

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A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL

©2021 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. All rights reserved.

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SETDA 2021

Featured Farm Story DEBBIE AND ANDY DEAN Buck Tales Deer Farm 6320 Harris Rd St Cloud, Fl, 34773 214-493-9841 Bucktalesdeerfarm@gmail.com bucktalesdeerfarm.com

1. HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT DEER FARMING? It started with us looking for a way to buy land as an investment. We wanted some sort of ag exemption to help with the tax burden and did an online search. Once we discovered deer farming as an option, we reached out to a few deer farmers. Laurie and Rich at BRDL Whitetails invited us out to their farm and explained all about deer farming.

2. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START A DEER FARM? When Rich and Laurie invited us out, we were able to not only learn about the operation and financial side of farming, but we were able to bottle feed some babies and even feed a couple of the tame adults. It was such a great match for us in every way, we couldn’t refuse.

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DEER FARMING? We bought land in May of 2020. It was completely raw land with scrub and saw palmettos. By January we had turned it into a fully functional deer farm. In February we got our FWC license, in late February we got our Dept of Ag permit, and in March of 2021, we got our first deer.

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Continued- Continued-

4.

HOW MANY DEER DID YOU START WITH?

We started with 3 bred does. Two are pasture does, and one is a pedigreed/registered doe to be an anchor to our breeding program.

5. DO YOU AI OR LIVE BREED? IF YOU AI, DO YOU USE VAGINAL OR LAP PROCEDURE?

We just picked out our first buck, our plan is to live breed for the time being. In a few years, once we see what our deer are producing, we may introduce AI if there are genetics/traits we want to introduce. When that happens, I expect we will use LAP.

6.

DO YOU BOTTLE FEED YOUR FAWNS?

We had 5 fawns in early June, we ended up bottle feeding 2. We had a maiden doe (first time mother) who had twins. She was only taking care of one of her two babies. The one that wasn’t being taken care of, we pulled for bottle feeding. Since deer are so social, we pulled a second for the benefit of the first.

7.

WHAT FEED DO YOU USE?

For the adults, we are in the process of switching to Purina Record Rack (we are switching due to quality issues with the feed we were using). We also supplement them with peanut hay, forage (grapevine leaves, oak tree leaves, Spanish moss etc) and occasional corn (as a treat).

For the fawns, we use Fox Valley first day formula. Recently, we’ve been giving them calf mana and feed pellets as supplements and to start getting them use to it (they are 2 months old now). We also give the fawns forage and occasional grapes, blueberries and apples for snacks to help with weaning (which is just now starting).

8.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENJOYABLE PART OF RAISING DEER?

Fawn kisses! Oh, and all the photo opportunities! Oh, and seeing the fruits of your labor in such a quick return (great sense of accomplishment!). Oh, and all the awesome people that become your friends. Have I mentioned fawn kisses? Take your pick!

9.

HOW HAS THE ASSOCIATION HELPED YOU AND YOUR FARM?

The association is how we found Rich and Laurie in the first place. Also, the conferences have been amazing! Those are such a great way to meet people, network, learn and have lots of fun! We had to opportunity to meet Keith Warren and Doug Roberts (along with a lot of other great people), win a few auction items and even the occasional raffle.

Also, the association is a fantastic resource for information. Whether it is the conference, general information, vet services, or farm planning, everything about deer farming is at your disposal.

SETDA 2021

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SETDA 2021

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MANAGING BUCKS IN THE RUT ADVICE FOR SAFETY

J

By: Gail Veley • Sponsoed by KALA essica Maloney slipped outside for her normal morning routine of caring for the deer she and her husband owned and loved at Central Kentucky Whitetails.

The air was crisp on that chilly October morning in Jeffersonville, Kentucky in 2017. Little did Maloney know as she welcomed the day, that within minutes she would be on her back fighting for her life. It started first by her noticing a water barrel out of place, in the middle of their deer pen where among others, a deer affectionately named Fluffy lived.

Instinctively Maloney grabbed ahold of his antlers to try and push him off.

After struggling for three to four feet with little success, Fluffy once again pinned her against the side of the pen.

“Thankfully, I had my phone with me,” she said. “We moved about eight more feet and suddenly I’m on the ground and my slip-on shoes are off. He kept trying to pin me and push me. I wrapped my arms around his neck like a choke hold which allowed me to use my other hand to dial the phone. I was pecking with one finger and called my husband.”

“He was fluffy as a fawn and very gentle,” Maloney said. “He was always very gentle. We did bottle feed him, but he was not a breeder buck.” Yet, on that particular morning, Fluffy, a deer she regularly took “selfies” with, turned into a deer she had never known before. “I walked into the pen to get the water barrel and he met me at the gate,” she said. “He pinned me up against the feed through and it startled me. I didn’t know why he was doing that.”

Although always happy to talk to his wife, some mornings Chris her husband was too busy to answer the phone and called her back later.

However, that morning he answered his wife’s call. Her phone was no longer in her hand but on the ground beside her, as she desperately needed both arms and hands to fend off the deer’s aggression. “I kept screaming toward the phone ‘Fluffy is trying to kill me! Fluffy is trying to kill me!” she said. Chris immediately called his

14 SETDA 2021

grandfather who lived right down the road and luckily, he was home. Most mornings, he was not. However, he wasn’t feeling well and was still at the house.

At this point Maloney, a young tough and stout 5’ 10” 170-pound farm raised girl, was starting to fatigue, her arms aching and losing their usual stamina from pushing back against the relentless buck. She decided instead to push with her legs. Within seconds

of raising her legs up, a piercing G2 tine drove a three-inch hole into her thigh, spilling blood and sending excruciating spasms throughout the entire limb.

The only audible noise above her groans was the truck now racing down her driveway. Gravel sprayed as the truck came to a screeching halt and Grandpa Trigger (his real first name) jumped out. Startled by his presence, Fluffy sprang up and ran to the other end of the pen, giving Trigger just enough time to rush into the pen and drag Maloney out. A mere few seconds after gate was shut, Fluffy was right back at the gate looking to finish what he started. But Maloney, safely on the other side, was now on her way to the hospital numb with shock yet filled with angst from intense stomach pain.

For weeks following the incident, she took strong antibiotics and changed leg packing bandages three times a day. She also suffered other smaller cuts and abrasions and spent the next three days after the incident barely able to move.

“She’s lucky to be alive,” said Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association (KALA) President Robert Fondaw, who himself had an encounter too close for comfort with one of his own bucks.

After darting one buck out of several who resided in the same pen last year, another buck went after his downed companion. When Fondaw tried to intervene, the buck turned and came after him. Fondaw started to back out of the pen when suddenly the downed deer stirred, momentarily distracting the aggressor. With a little time on his side, Fondaw slipped out of the pen.

Looking back, Fondaw, owner of FawnDoe Whitetails, would have done one thing differently. He would have made sure someone else was there to help him or watch out for him. Now, he always makes sure he has at least one additional tranquilizer dart on him at all times when he works with his deer.

although Chris came home that night determined to put Fluffy down, the affectionate buck showed absolutely no aggression when he entered the pen. In fact, he acted like he usually did, licking and nuzzling him. The couple, who subsequently got out of the deer business, changed his name to “Killer Fluffy” and later sold him to a hunting preserve, fully disclosing his aggressive incident.

“Even though you love them, there are things you can’t control. Never totally trust them,” Maloney said. “Never let your guard down. Always have your phone on you. And if possible, always have someone else there with you.” In fact, Maloney’s close brush with death impelled her to start a new habit.

“I always answer my phone when it rings,” she said. “You never know if it could be someone’s last phone call.”

Without someone to help and intervene for her, Maloney would have certainly had a much different outcome on that unexpected day. And

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MARRIED - WITH DEER

“

Teamwork don’t seem work” was a phrase I heard several years ago, and it has stuck with me.

Teamwork: a partnership, synergy, assistance, co-operation, combined efforts, pulling together, esprit de corps or group spirit….

Companion courtesy might start with the plugging in of a percolator for a cup of brew in favourite mugs, sugar and heavy cream service for two before one of us says “Daylight’s burning, I’ll grab the go-bucket” as the other puts together iced waters for the morning.

We take our seats on the “side-by-side” and head over to the deer pens to take inventory.

We need to work as a team in this endeavour. Certainly, most days it is a pleasure of course sharing this vocation, although I must confess I have searched Amazon for a t-shirt that would read “I’m sorry for what I said in the deer pens” as a peace offering to Ian…..

Maintaining the medicines go-bucket takes both of us. One to order, one to take the CDT directly back into the fridge for storage, one to organize and replenish the solo cup containers inside the tote, and one to carry the oddshaped go-bucket along with the binos.

It’s a team effort when it comes to darting. I know that each farm has their own way of darting in pens but in our case, a team of two is most successful – not always first shot successful but in a general working sense successful. It takes one to flush the does and one to be hidden and dislodge the dart.

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It takes two to move darted deer on a stretcher. It takes cooperation to both navigate sure footedly the straightest way back to the exit gate traversing dips and bumps en route.

Tandem teamwork is needed during fawning season to search fawn pens for newborns then together estimating how many hours old the newborn is and should we wait to administer the vaccine, probiotics, vitamin complex, and ear tag or go ahead and work it now. In our case, I pick up and hold the fawn and Ian does the working.

We both remind each other and laugh that the buck fawns are tagged in their left ear and the doe fawn in the right ear because girls are always right! Or maybe it’s me who says it each time aloud….

Two opinions are better together when assessing the herd and looking at one or two deer that maybe don’t quite look “right”. Are their ears drooping a little? Think their eyes look a bit off?

Are they limping on left front left leg or hind left? What is that little lump back of the shoulder joint? Is that buck off by himself shying away from the other yearlings?

Filling feeders is always easier with two – one to get off the cart and check immediate gate surroundings as the gate is opened and the other to reverse in the cart. We need one person to lift and pour each of the feed bags and one to fold up the paper bags ready to deposit in the firepit.

Four ears are better than two when it comes to listening to and retaining instructions on how to best treat an injured or ill deer. Specifics can easily get mixed up and order of operations compromised oftentimes without confirmation between the two of us.

Breeder buck shopping is much more enjoyable done together. It is reassuring to talk together about a potential buck’s rack symmetry and presentation, genetics, and into which doe pen he is best suited as breeder.

Having said that, it follows that one of us writes the cheque and other balances the books!

Pen mowing requires a pal during fawn season. One mows areas with a 48” zero turn mower that are off limits to a bat-wing hauling tractor and when mowing large pen pastures, one of us

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Grief in deer loss is better shared.

Discovering and recovering a pen loss is mutually a tangible and intangible burden that is more bearable when shared.

Artificial inseminating procedures are the culmination of teamwork at our place. Weeks preceding the procedure date demand priority of scheduling, semen delivery arrangements, final list of doe candidates and pairing, additional supplements to prepare does, midnight darting sprees, ordering supplies and mustering up a team of volunteers to assist the professionals.

How about the “did I lock the gate?” conversation. This dialogue usually rears itself right after teeth are brushed, house lights turned out and we let the dogs in for

the night … it takes one of us to go and check that “gate” ….

Date night has changed over the decades.

These days we look forward to sitting together on the hill inside a pen watching the deer and being thankful for what we have been entrusted with for a short while. With a pink evening sky back drop we realize how much we appreciate these creatures and this setting.

Ephesians 4:2-3 speaks of attributes that can be applied to marriage as well as our efforts and labours together as deer farmers. Humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and a desire to maintain peace are goals we hope for both in a marriage and in our animal “husbandry”.

Susan and Ian Hall Oak Island Whitetails Florida Hunting Adventures Okeechobee, Florida

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COCCIDIOSIS:

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS DISEASE REALLY?

F

irst, a little “Classroom talk” is in order before discussing how our deer contract this disease along with how we treat and prevent.

This bit of information is really important to understanding how and why these organisms “thrive” in our deer pens!

When we speak of a Coccidia infection in the ruminant, it can be an infection with Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, or Neospora to list a few. Some of the above have a human health concern but for the sake of what we commonly see in our deer pens, the discussion will be limited to the form that causes intestinal disease leading to the classic diarrhea, weight loss, anorexia and sometimes death.

Coccidiosis refers to the clinical “symptoms” that result from an infection with one or more Coccidia. Coccidia are microscopic, spore forming, single celled organisms called Protozoans.

These “protozoal parasites” infect the small intestines of domestic animals.

There are MANY Genera of Coccidia with the most common we see in small ruminants, including Whitetail Deer, being the genus Eimeria. AND within this genus, there is over 10 species known to infect small ruminants, but not all are pathogenic; meaning not all protozoans are bad.

Coccidia have quite a complex Life Cycle with many stages of development. The egg is called an “oocyst” which is passed in the feces from an infected animal.

When first passed, this oocyst is NOT infective. It needs to go through levels of development called sporulation (hatching). This sporulation NEEDS oxygen and moisture and how fast they sporulate is temperature dependant.

The warmer the temperature, the faster they develop into the “sporulated oocyst”, which is the INFECTIVE stage!

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So, in the average deer pen, we will say it takes anywhere from 2 to 4 days for the oocyst to sporulate. This now infective oocyst is VERY resistant to environmental conditions with direct sunlight being the only environmental factor that is detrimental to them.

These infected oocysts can survive for a year or longer if protected from sunlight.

OK, now the deer ingests this “infective oocyst” while grazing or eating treats off the ground where there is fecal matter.

The infected oocyst releases what we call sporozoites that then invade the small intestinal cells. These sporozoites are kinda like strongyle larva, they go through several stages of maturation while in the small intestine, damaging the intestinal lining and then ultimately shed the oocyst in the feces. The time from ingestion of infected oocyst to the shedding of oocyst is an average of 14 days. And the crazy (and scary) thing is, a single oocyst can produce up to 23 million oocysts during the next life cycle!

Now, let’s move from the classroom to your farms.

So, we know coccidia are hardy, love a warm moist environment, are very contagious and invade the small intestine once ingested. An active infection leads to clinical symptoms of diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, anorexia, pneumonia and death. With that being said, there are just as many animals with “subclinical” infections in our pens. Subclinical, meaning they are “carriers” of the coccidia showing little or no symptoms while ACTIVELY shedding the oocysts! The subclinical carrier is usually the adult animals and the symptomatic ones are the fawns or the immune compromised adult. A subclinical animal can become clinical when challenged with stress factors reducing their resistance. Stress factors are anything from weaning, shipping, overcrowding, feed change, weather or if

the animal is battling another parasitic, bacterial or viral infection. Fawns are most vulnerable because they lack a mature immune system and are totally dependent on the passive immunity they acquired from their dam’s colostrum.

So, poor colostrum intake or ingestion of poor quality colostrums puts these fawns on the ”Hit List” to becoming infected with coccidia and many other diseases.

So, HOW do you prevent this disease on your farm? Remember, it is far better to prevent than to treat. Avoid overcrowding, avoid feeding on the ground where there is fecal matter, lime your wet areas, “scoop poop” and of course having healthy does to pass on good quality colostrums to the fawns.

Perform fecal checks on your fawn pens as often as you can!! Like I tell my farms, “you can’t check the poop enough living in the swamp”! DON’T let your guard down; it takes just at “blink” to acquire a fast spreading infection leading to farm challenges and fawn losses.

How do you treat? This can be quite challenging because you are trying to ensure all the animals in your pen is ingesting the medication you put in their water. When it comes to treating the pens, I like Di-Methox solution or powder. Some of you like Corid.

Whatever works best for you, BUT PLEASE READ THE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO MIX AND ADMINISTER! More is NOT better! In my bottle feds, I like Albon first & then Ponazuril (Marquis) for my resistant infections. Ponazuril usually needs to be acquired from a compound pharmacy.

So what about coccidiostats to put in the feed? Adding this to feed is a preventative measure by slowing down the shedding of coccidia and is NOT a treatment. Most feed mills now are apprehensive to add to feed since now

feed additives is very regulated by the FDA in an effort to restrict drug residue in our food animals. So, if you decide to use coccidiostats, use strategically and consult with your veterinarian!

In conclusion, Coccidia are another infectious parasitic disease that can be a HUGE challenge to a deer farmer and

does cause loss of life and production in our industry. But again, with good husbandry and sanitation, outbreaks can be prevented. Check fecals as often as possible especially post fawning in both does and fawns, EVEN if you do not see diarrhea! Any evidence of infection, treat ASAP! As I mentioned, it does not take long before you have an outbreak! And as

always, observation and early detection is the KEY. And not to sound like a broken record, but “nothing bad ever came from good housekeeping”….

Laurie Cook DVM BDRL Whitetail Paradise Farm Okeechobee, Fl www.bdrlwhitetails .com

SETDA 2021

19

NADEFA THANKS CONGRESS FOR WORKING WITH US ON COMBATING CWD

T

DEC 23, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC

he North American Deer Farmers Association (NADeFA), the nation’s leading voice for the cervid industry applauds Congress’ continued increases for funding to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). On Monday evening, both houses of Congress passed legislation providing FY 2021 appropriations legislation. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the end of the week.

This legislation includes $11 million for cervid health under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). That represents an increase of $2 million over what was appropriated in FY 2020. The increased funds are for state efforts to manage CWD in wild populations, leaving $4 million for USDA’s existing programs. That amount is equal to last year’s funding for these functions. USGS also received a $2 million increase more than doubling their previous year’s budget. This brings their annual spending on CWD to $3,720,000.

Also included was an additional $1 million for CWD research through USDA’s Agriculture Research Services bringing the total for that research to $4.6 million for FY 2020. This is the third straight year that funding for this research has been increased by $1 million. In the last four years USDA has gone from not funding CWD research to spending over $10M on those efforts in that time.

USDA also has funding in this bill for a new research program through their Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins Colorado. The $2 million to start this program will make use of existing facilities already constructed for research into the disease. Creating this program was NADeFA’s highest

20 SETDA 2021

research priority for FY 2021 and we offer our gratitude to Congress for providing this funding.

This year has been different in how we interact with our federal partners and Congressional champions.

It is because NADeFA members, leadership, and Capitol Hill Consulting Group have made lasting relationships in previous years with Members of Congress and their staff that we were able to overcome the obstacles and secure increased funding that will help eventually eradicate CWD. NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer said of the increase, “Despite our inability to meet in person, Congress has continued to hear the needs of the farmed cervid industry, and made real strides to meet those needs. Once again Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman John Hoeven (R-ND), was instrumental to this success. These increases show that Congress is not forgetting about

® CWD’s impact while dealing with many issues that have arisen this year.”

NADeFA has worked closely with USDA-APHIS for more than two decades on a variety of issues related to cervid health and national guidelines. The CWD Herd Certification Program, for example, is a voluntary, cooperative program that allows participating cervid producers to achieve herd certification status of their cervid herds and to meet the requirements for the interstate movement of farmed cervids.

Shawn Schafer Executive Director NADeFA Office 330-454-3944

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BEST MANAGEMENT PREACTICES FOR VACCINATIONS

U

BY DR. JUAN M. CAMPOS KRAUER niversity of Florida, College of

the pathogen known as antigens. The next

Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of

time the immune system recognizes these

immunocompromised individuals.

Large Animal Clinical Sciences

antigens, it will immediately trigger the

Inactivated vaccine: Some vaccines contain

& Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Cervidae Health

production of specific antibodies by specialized cells, which will work to destroy

inactivated but previously virulent microorganisms that have been destroyed

Research Initiative

the pathogen.

with chemicals, heat, or radiation. They are

Having healthy animals is the wish of every

How do vaccines work

the inactivated and attenuated vaccines.

deer farmer; however, it is hard work to keep animals healthy and requires a good herd

Vaccines expose the animal to parts of

Examples include IPV (polio vaccine), hepatitis A vaccine, rabies vaccine, and most influenza

health management plan. All animals have

pathogens, challenging the immune system to vaccines.

various defense mechanisms to prevent or deal with infections. These defense mechanisms of the animal can be directly influenced by age, nutrition, or inappropriate management practices. Stress due to heat, weaning, malnutrition, infection, transport, and other factors can impact how the immune system reacts to a pathogen attack.

react to a possible pathogen invasion. by creating memory cells for the antigens belonging to that specific pathogen. In the future, if the animal is exposed to the same pathogen, the immune system will quickly generate a response before the pathogen can cause disease. Each antibody is usually specific for only one antigen. Because of this, the immune system keeps a supply of millions of different antibodies on hand to be prepared to overcome any foreign invader.

For a naïve animal, it may take 7 to 14 days after exposure to an infectious agent for the body to develop immunity to an antigen which is plenty of time for some pathogens to wreak havok on the body. On the other hand, it often takes only 48 hours to mount an immune response to the same antigen in a vaccinated animal.

An important component of any herd health plan is to have a vaccination protocol; yet, in the deer industry, there are few vaccines developed specifically for deer. Instead, vaccines developed for other species such as cattle, equine, sheep, or goats are used, if they have been labeled for use in deer. Still, few studies have measured efficacy of vaccines in deer; for most vaccines only anecdotal data are available.

Most vaccines achieve protection, by priming the system to mount an antibody response.

When an animal has not been exposed to a specific pathogen or comes in contact for the first time, it can be slow to develop antibodies. Most vaccines work by introducing the body’s system to proteins that are pathogen specific. Often, without this “sneak preview” of the vaccine, the animal cannot generate an immune response quick enough to clear or destroy the pathogen, making the animal susceptible to the agent and becoming sick. However, if the animal has a robust immune system or has been vaccinated, it will suppress the pathogen and, in time, clear or significantly reduce the infection.

When an animal recovers from disease (or has been vaccinate), specific cells from the immune system will acquire the ability to remember and recognize the pathogens (virus, bacteria, toxin, or parasite) or parts of

24 SETDA 2021

may not be safe for use in

considered an intermediate phase between

There are several types of vaccines used in humans and animals. The majority of the licensed veterinary vaccines currently in use are inactivated (killed) vaccines, liveattenuated vaccines, or toxoids. All these represent different strategies used to reduce the risk of illness while retaining the ability to induce a beneficial immune response.

Types of vaccines Attenuated vaccine: Some vaccines contain live, attenuated microorganisms. Many of these are active viruses cultivated under conditions that disable their virulent properties or use closely related but less dangerous organisms to produce a broad immune response. Although most attenuated vaccines are viral, some are bacterial.

Attenuated vaccines have some advantages and disadvantages. Attenuated, or live, weakened, vaccines typically provoke more durable immunological responses. But they

Toxoid vaccine: Toxoids are made from inactivated toxic compounds produced by microorganisms that when activated cause damage to cells. Examples of toxoid-based vaccines include tetanus and clostridium. Not all toxoids are for toxins created by microorganisms; for example, Crotalus atrox toxoid is used to vaccinate dogs against rattlesnake bites.

Subunit vaccines: These vaccines contain short, specific proteins that are the same as the antigens of the target pathogen. Rather than introducing an inactivated or attenuated microorganism to an immune system, a subunit vaccine uses a fragment to create an immune response.

Conjugate vaccine: Certain bacteria have a polysaccharide outer coat, which is a weak antigen. By linking these outer coats to proteins (toxins), which are strong antigens, the immune system has a more robust response.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs): OMVs are released spontaneously during growth by many groups of bacteria. They have the ability to naturally provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal and can be manipulated to produce potent vaccines.

The best known OMVs vaccines are those developed for serotype B Meningococcal disease.

Heterologous vaccines: Also known as “Jennerian vaccines,” are vaccines that are pathogens of other animals that either do not cause disease or cause mild illness in the organism being treated. The classic example is Jenner’s use of cowpox to protect against smallpox. A current example is using the

vaccine made from Mycobacterium bovis to

Correct refrigeration. Check instructions on

Read the instruction for proper disposal of used

protect against tuberculosis in humans.

how the vaccine should be stored. Most animal

containers. Regulations can vary by state.

Viral vector vaccines: This vaccine uses a

vaccines require refrigeration at 35 – 45 ˚F (2 – 7 ˚C). Make sure your storage refrigerator

Emergency information. In case of an

nonpathogenic virus to insert pathogen genes

works properly, place a thermometer, and check

accidental human injection or exposure to the

in the body to produce specific antigens, such

the temperature often. Refrigerators held in

vaccine, it is always important to have the

as surface proteins, to stimulate an immune response. The new EHDV vaccine uses this

barns or open sheds can have temperature variations throughout the day, affecting the

emergency number at hand for everyone working on the farm.

technology in combination with the subunit

temperature. Never freeze a vaccine, nor let it

vaccine technology.

get too warm. Always avoid direct sunlight on

I hope this short guide helps you improve your herd health and to be successful in your next

RNA vaccine: An mRNA vaccine is a novel type

your vaccine.

Expiration dates. Always check expiration

of vaccine composed of nucleic acid RNA,

dates, and always start using the oldest first.

packaged within a unique delivery system like

Once opened, always label the bottle with the

lipid nanoparticles. Several COVID-19 vaccines

date, particularly if you will store it for later use.

References.

Correct preparation and vaccine life after mixing. Follow directions on the bottle to ensure its effectiveness. This is very important; some vaccines need to be reconstituted with sterile water or have components that need to be mixed. Make sure you follow the instructions and always mix gently. Remember, vaccines are delicate organic products. Prevent temperature shocks. Grabbing a cold vaccine bottle with warm hands can rapidly change the container’s temperature and affect its efficacy.

COVID-19 and Your Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Different Types of Vaccines | History of Vaccines”. www.historyofvaccines.org.

McVey and Shi, 2010 S. McVey, J. Shi. Vaccines in veterinary medicine: A brief review of history and technology. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Small Animal Practice, 40 (3) (2010), pp. 381-392, 10.1016/j. cvsm.2010.02.001 Meeusen et al., 2007 E.N.T. Meeusen, J. Walker, A. Peters, P.P. Pastoret, G. Jungersen.

Current status of veterinary vaccines. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 20 (3) (2007), pp. 489510, 10.1128/CMR.00005-07 Leo van der Pol, Michiel Stork and Peter van der Ley. Outer membrane vesicles as platform vaccine technology. Biotechnol J. 2015 Sep; 10(11): 1689–1706. doi: 10.1002/ biot.201400395 Sinha JK, Bhattacharya S. A Textbook of Immunology. Academic Publishers. p. 318.

ISBN 978-81-89781-09-5.

Polysaccharide Protein Conjugate Vaccines”. www.globalhealthprimer.emory.edu.

Pollard AJ, Bijker EM (2020-12-22).

A guide to vaccinology: from basic principles to new developments. Nature Reviews Immunology. 21 (2): 83–100. doi:10.1038/ s41577-020-00479Vaccine Types. Vaccines.org. Office of Infectious Disease of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

are RNA vaccines, and have received emergency use authorization in some countries. For example, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have emergency use authorization in the US. Vaccination is only one tool to prevent disease and cannot be used as a standalone practice to prevent disease or infection on the farm.

Vaccination does not result in immediate immunity or resistance against diseases in all vaccinated animals. It takes time for the animal’s immune system to react to the vaccine.

Therefore, if an animal is vaccinated, it does not automatically mean that the animal cannot be infected or develop the disease. The degree of protection is directly dependent on the animal’s health, how well the vaccine is matched to the pathogen, and how well the vaccine is administered to the animal Vaccines come in many types, but all are delicate organic products that need to be managed and administrated correctly to ensure their effectiveness.

Important factors for considering when using vaccines.

Order vaccines from a trusted source. Always order from a trusted veterinary supplier or directly from the company producing the vaccine.

Order the correct amount of the vaccine.

Always add an extra 10 percent to your order to account for possible vaccine losses during animal handling. If possible, order bottles with fewer doses. Shelf life varies for each vaccine.

Some vaccines have hours of efficacy after mixed, some longer. However, it is not recommended to use an open vaccine kept in the refrigerator after long periods. Again, fewer dose bottles help calculate what you need for that day.

Exposure to UV light. Do not expose vaccines to Ultraviolet light from the sun. Some vaccines can be rapidly deactivated if exposed to UV light.

Proper injection techniques. Always inject the vaccine according to the manufacturer’s directions. In animals, most vaccines are injected under the skin (SQ), intramuscular (IM), or intravenously (IV). Using the correct technique and location according to the species is essential. Use the right needle size and do not reusing the same needle in another animal.

Darts can be used for intramuscular (IM) injections, even though it is not ideal. When using a dart, there are many variables that you need to consider. Common mistakes include missing, hitting the wrong spot, darting the same animal twice, or an incomplete discharge of the dose. If you are not sure the animal received the full dose, a second full dose is recommended.

herd vaccination.

Good records. Always record dates, animals ID, and vaccine lot number. Keeping good records is critical to improving herd health over time and may be critical for importing or exporting animals.

Correct disposal of vaccine containers. Some vaccines have products that need special disposal and that you don’t want on your farm.

SETDA 2021

25

SETDA MEMBERS BUSINESS CARD SPREAD Attention Members; Welcome to our first SeTDA members Business card spread.

This is not just FREE advertising but a way members, both old and new, can reach out to each other for your services or to buy and sell deer.

Again, if interested in getting into future business card spreads, send your Farm or Business Cards to; info@southeasttrophydeerassociation.com or laurie@bdrlwhitetails.com. Or you can mail to Laurie Cook at 4600 SW Deer Run Ave, Okeechobee, FL 34974.

The SeTDA wants to hear from you and show new and established deer farms and preserves who you are and where in Florida you are located. We look forward to hearing from you and creating a great advertising spread for our members!

Thank You, SeTDA BOD’s

26 SETDA 2021

SETDA 2021

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Or Mail To: Laurie Cook at 4600 SW Deer Run Ave, Okeechobee, FL 34974.

SETDA 2021

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MISSOURI

EMBRACING IMPROVED REGULATIONS AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by Missouri Deer Association

D

eer farmers and preserve owners in Missouri have been granted a more appealing opportunity to raise and harvest captive cervids with a recently revised Wildlife Code and rule adjusting through the Missouri Conservation Commission.

Provided that transparency is at the forefront in operating breeding farms or big game hunting preserves, deer farmers may now realize increased profit margins and greater time management abilities. In the fall of 2019, sitting together at the same table, much more as friends than adversaries, representatives from the deer industry, The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) came together to develop new provisions and regulations for deer farmers. When it was all said and done, a revised Wildlife Code was recently amended and approved.

“I really appreciate that deer farmers are grateful for the new regulations and code changes,” said Todd Houf, Commercial Wildlife Unit Supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “A key part was that the deer industry representatives were part of putting it together. A lot of folks including our administration, along with The Missouri Department of Agriculture stepped up to this Code change and worked together. That’s the benefit with sitting at the same table and developing these new regulations. Everybody from our department and The Missouri Department of Agriculture were working with the deer farmers on how to move forward with all stakeholders involved.”

34 SETDA 2021

Donald Hill, Missouri Deer Association board member and owner of Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch in Bland, Missouri, feels the new regulations will greatly ease the burden of day-to-day operations, especially when it comes to CWD testing. Under the old regulations, any deer over six months of age that died was required to be tested for CWD. This often involves “dropping everything” and spending the better part of a day taking the freshly expired deer to the veterinarian, as well as spending $250 on the test itself. However, new regulations now require that deer 12 months of age or older be tested for CWD should they expire. “This is a huge money and time saver since a lot of fawns die between six months and a year old,” Hill emphasized. “This obviously makes things much easier for all of us.”

Although changing the regulations was akin to “turning a huge ship around,” deer industry representatives strove diligently to encourage the departments of conservation and agriculture to reimagine the system and accept the difficulties of running captive cervid operations under the old system, explained Dr. Sherri Russell, Wildlife Veterinarian for The MDC. As a result of these efforts, the following Phase I Regulations were created and are presented here in a compressed summary. Title 3 – Department of Conservation, Division 10 – Conservation Commission, Chapter 9 – Wildlife Code: Confined Wildlife, Privileges, Permits, Standards.

1. A New Class III Wildlife Breeder

Permit was established for whitetail deer, mule deer and hybrids. ● Permit Cost: $50. Leg bands are also

required for every cervid eligible for harvest. ● Hunting Preserve Permits: $250 ● New or Renewed Class I breeder permit will be valid from July 1 through August 30 and then a new Class III permit will be issued to begin August 30th, 2021. ● Big Game Hunting Preserves (BGHP’s) who have an associated breeder operation will need to obtain a Class III permit. This is to allow for movement, inventory, and isolation of the operations. Details on the renewal and application process have been provided in individual letters to all permit holders.

2. Elk that are not commingled with

white tailed deer and mule deer and raised for human consumption continue to be exempt from permit requirements. (This is not changing from the way it was previously). ● All BGHP’s are still required to prove the animals they buy were raised in Missouri. (There is to be no importing of elk into BGHP from out of state sources).

3. INVENTORY:

● An online system is being created to unify, simplify and fulfill the record keeping requirements of the Wildlife Code and simplify compliance with the CWD Herd Certification Plan administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. ● Paper inventory systems are still legal, but the online system should resolve many of the frustrations associated with keeping multiple inventories to satisfy permit and CWD/HCP requirements. ● Inventories must remain up to date.

Births still need to be recorded on the inventory prior to tagging.

4. TAGGING:

● Every cervid must have a unique and readable tag such as Yellow 7.1 or 7.2 or 7.3. Under previous regulations, having three “Yellow 7’s” was acceptable. ● For Breeders: Each deer/elk must have a unique USDA identification number and a dangle tag that has a unique number for the animal within the herd. Any animal born in the facility must be tagged by March 31 each year (the year after birth). ● For BGHP’s: One tag must be retained at release. A dangle tag is not required and can be removed so long as the second identification remains in the animal. If an animal is harvested in a BGHP without a tag, the MDC issued leg seal/band can serve as the Unique ID. (This is to accommodate natural additions within the BGHP) ● Reminder: At a minimum, a USDA official ID is required for movement within the state no matter the age of the animal.

5. MOVEMENT: (These new

regulations establish the conditions for obtaining and maintaining Movement Qualified Status for Class III breeders and Hunt Qualified Status for BGHP’s.) ● All Class III deer or elk moving into a BGHP must have a movement certificate issued through the Department of Conservation. ● Movement certificates and movement authorization numbers will be generated using the online system by the seller, the seller’s veterinarian, the sellers authorized agent or (as a last resort) by calling the Missouri Department of Conservation to receive an authorization number over the phone between 11 am and 2 pm weekdays (movement inventory information would be provided orally). ● All online records will automatically be transferred to the Missouri Department of Agriculture once the animals are accepted by the new herd owner (buyer) to meet MDA’s CWD program requirements.

● All other deer (non-native deer) and Class III-exempt elk must have a movement certificate issued by the MDA or may use the online movement system which issues a joint MDA/MDC movement certificate. ● An inventory document that demonstrates the original identification of a Missouri born elk (for example, must be listed at age one on CWD herd inventory) on the originating herd’s inventory will meet the requirement of proving origin, or record of birth in Missouri. ● All permitted facilities will start with movement qualified status for 2021. ● Facilities remain as “Hunt Qualified Status” when in compliance with identification, inventory, testing, and fencing requirements detailed in the Wildlife Code.

Maintaining Qualified Movement Status is dependent upon compliance with identification, inventory, testing and fencing requirements.

6. CWD TESTING FOR BREEDERS:

● Certified Collectors can collect CWD samples (program administered by MDA and MDC.) ● Requirement for testing changed from all mortalities over 6 months to all mortalities over 1 year. ● A minimum number of samples must be provided annually, either from natural mortalities or animals harvested in BGHP’s and test results connected to animal record. (Number of cervids on March 31st x 2.5% and rounding up this number.) ● Facilities with less than 10 cervids on March 31 must submit one valid sample every 2 years. ● Facilities with less than 5 cervids and that do not meet minimum are not revoked but cannot move animals. ● 80% of samples must produce valid test results. ● If minimum test levels are not met, replacement samples can be submitted with various options. ● Submit CWD results through the software program (preferred)

or directly to the state Wildlife Veterinarian. ● Any animals missing from an inventory will counted as a mortality.

7. CWD TESTING FOR BGHPS:

● All BGHPs will begin with Tier 1 status. ● Any existing permit holder as of July 1st, 2021 that can demonstrate the testing of 100% of all mortalities (male and female at least 6 months of age) in the prior year will be moved to Tier 2 status. ● BGHPs with Tier 1 status must test 100% of all males cervid (all species) mortalities 12 months or older. ● BGHPs with Tier 2 status must test 50% of all male cervids 12 or older. To begin in Tier 2 status the BGHP must prove that they complied with prior regulation and tested all mortalities. ● 80% of all samples must produce valid test results. ● Submit CWD results through the software (preferred) or directly to the state Wildlife Veterinarian.

Questions regarding compliance with the Wildlife Code can be directed to a member of the Commercial Wildlife Unit (CWU) at MDC Protection Branch.

In the hope and expectation that all deer farmers and preserve owners will comply across the board with these new Phase I regulations, Phase II plans may be considered down the road, an idea brought forth at the last round table discussion by deer industry leaders. Particulars in regards to Phase II plans might be openly talked about at a later date, however, the current focus is specifically on “monitoring the total compliance of all deer farmers to these new regulations in order to move forward on any other topic,” Houf emphasized. “It’s a work in progress.”

Missouri Deer Association Vice President Amy Nold is optimistic that all Missouri Deer Farmers stand eager to comply. “Everyone suffers if the rules aren’t followed,” she said. “I do hope it leads to a more incentive based program for those following the regulations. We’ll see a bright future and have a lot to look forward to.”

SETDA 2021

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36 SETDA 2021

SETDA 2021

37

Shepherd’s Pie Instructions Make the Meat Filling: 1. A dd

the oil to a large skillet and place it over

medium - high heat for

C ook 5 2. A dd

2

minutes .

A dd

the onions .

minutes , stirring occasionally . the vension , parsley , rosemary , thyme ,

salt , and and pepper .

Stir

well .

Cook

for

6-8

minutes , until the meat is browned , stirring occasionally .

Ingredients Meat Filling:

3. Add to combine .

4. A dd

Worcestershire

the

Cook

for

1

sauce and garlic .

minute .

the flour and tomato paste .

Stir

until well

•

2 tablespoons olive oil

incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain .

•

1 cup chopped yellow onion

5. A dd

•

1 lb. ground venison

liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer .

•

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

•

1/2 teaspoon salt

minutes , stirring occasionally .

•

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

•

3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

•

2 garlic cloves -minced

Make the Potato Topping:

•

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1. P lace

•

2 tablespoons tomato paste

with water .

•

1 cup beef broth

•

1 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots*

simmer .

Potato Topping:

6. S et

the broth , frozen peas and carrots .

the meat mixture aside .

Preheat

Bring

the

Simmer

for

oven to

400

5

F.

degrees

the potatoes in a large pot .

Bring

Cook

Cover

the water to a boil .

the potatoes

Reduce

until potatoes are fork tender ,

to a

10-15

minutes .

2. A dd

butter , half

pepper .

Mash

&

half , garlic powder , salt , and

•

1 1/2 - 2 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

•

8 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 stick

•

1/3 cup half & half

Assemble the Casserole:

•

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

•

1/2 teaspoon salt

1. P our

•

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

•

2/3 cup parmesan cheese

the potatoes and stir until all the

ingredients are mixed together .

the meat mixture into a

baking dish .

Spread

9x 9 (or 7x 11)

it out into an even layer .

mashed potatoes on top of the meat . into an even layer .

2. B ake

38 SETDA 2021

Stir

Sprinkle

uncovered at

400 F

inch

Spoon

Carefully

the

spread

the cheese over the potatoes . for

25-30

minutes .

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PeaceMaker

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PRECISELY FORMULATED TO HELP MAINTAIN A NORMAL AND RELAXED DISPOSITION IN ALL CERVIDS Provides optimal levels of magnesium, Vitamin B1 and inositol to promote calmness and provide help for restless animals Contains no herbals, tryptophan or chemicals, eliminating concerns of unwanted side effects Use PeaceMaker to “keep the peace” during pre-rut, rut, transportation, weaning and anytime destructive behavior may occur

ENTERIC HEALTH FORMULA

HELPS PRODUCE HEALTHY, FAST GROWING FAWNS Helps maintain normal digestive health Supports a healthy immune system Feed powder for 14 days to bottle fed fawns Paste is ideal for fawns left on does

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POWERFUL SOLUTION FOR HEALTH & PRODUCTIVITY Helps maintain digestive health and productivity Contains micro-encapsulated probiotics, targeted enzymes and a novel fiber complex Use in does before fawning, during lactation and all cervids during times of environmental stress

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FAWN ARRIVAL POWDER & PASTE

FAWN & DEER XTR

ROBUST FAST RESPONSE FOR FAWNS & OLDER DEER Innovative formula delivers max digestive support, especially in newborns Rapidly delivers help for GI health and a functioning immune system May also be used post-tranquilization to support healthy recovery

Science Geared For Deer

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Pistols

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WEANING TIME IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO VACCINATE YOUR FAWNS To ensure maximum health of your animals, Evolve your Herd, Today!

The Cervid Solutions LifeCycles program incorporates industry leading vaccines. See why the top Cervid Livestock Operations choose PV2 and EV1 for protecting their herd.

CERVID VACCINE NOW COVERING:

(1) FUSO-BACTERIUM (1) T. PYOGENES (2) PASTEURELLA (3) MYCO-PLASMA

AND

CERVID VACCINE NOW COVERING: (4) E-COLI (1) CLOSTRIDIA TYPE A

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