FL Summer 2025 Full Book

SOUTHEAST TINES Spring 2025 l Volume 13 l Issue 1

FAWN SEASON ESSENTIALS: TIPS FROM CHERI

Sponsored by SETDA

FAWN CARE 101:

Sponsored by SETDA

OVERVIEW OF CWD GEBVS AND BREEDING WITH FAQ’S

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MAY 2025 | SUMMER

Inside This Issue: 20

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Featured

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Content

Fawn Season Essentials: Tips from CHeRI

Advertisers Index.................................................. 59 Board of Directors...................................................4

20

Overview of CWD GEBVs and Breeding with FAQ’s

Business Cards...................................................... 52

27

Genomically Estimated Breeding Value Predictive Genetics and Chronic Wasting Disease

Florida Trapper Reaches Out to Outdoorsman...11

Event Calendar...................................................... 57

In Loving Memory of Gina Bozzer.............................13 Magazine Advertising Information................... 58

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Are You Spraying at the Right Time?

Controling Midges

40

Fawn Care 101

54

Melanistic Deer Showing a Presence on Deer Farms

Membership Application.......................................3 President’s Message...............................................7 Scholarship Information........................................9 SETDA Spring Fling Photos....................32, 33, 51

FALL MAGAZINE DEADLINE AUGUST 5TH, 2025

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SOUTHEAST TROPHY DEER ASSOCIATION Dr. Bill Leffler PO Box 159 Morriston, FL 32668 3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

Dr. Bill Leffler 2 Base Down Farms PO Box 159 Morriston, FL 32668 561-373-2353 Bleffler2011@gmail.com twobasedownfarms@yahoo.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Matt Young Taxidermist Tillman Outdoors LLC 13669 Buckskin Rd Brooksville, FL 34601 352-206-4745 sportsmens9@yahoo.com

TREASURER

Wendy O’Brien 5 Star Bookkeeping & Tax Service LLC Spirit Ranch 26838 Mondon Hill Rd Brooksville, FL 34601 352-584-0971 spiritranchfl@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Laura McWatters T&L Farms 341 SW Ballaed Ct., Lake City, Florida 32024 561-644-8029 buckfeathers@bellsouth.net

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Benny Wilkison Lil Oak Whitetails 3193 NW 216th St Lawtey, Fl 904-424-7233 liloakwhitetails@yahoo.com Mike Vizcaino Osceola Whitetails 149 Sand Lake Dr Pomona Park, Fl 32181 904-814-7214 mvizcain@bellsouth.net Tim Cromwell 18015 NE CR 1471 Hampton, FL 32044 352-727-9528

John Entry Rocking JE Whitetails PO Box 861 Okeechobee, FL 34973 863-610-0965 jedeveloping@hotmail.com Sam Petersheim Crescent Ranch 6547 Midnight Path Road #87 Sarasota, FL 34242 217-273-3331 samkey80@gmail.com

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President’s Message Su m m e r

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ew fawns are already being born across Florida and the country. In this issue you will find a number of articles devoted to fawns and what is recommended in order to help them thrive and survive. If you have not already ordered everything for this year’s fawning season time is rapidly running out. Please don’t forget to eliminate as many fire ants from every pen as best as possible, Extinguish Plus has been what has worked best at my farm. Dr. Laurie Cook reminded us at this year’s Spring Fling, ,that new born fawns don’t have a shake reflex and can be covered by both mosquitoes and fire ants.

The turnout at this year’s Spring Fling was one of the best ever; we had deer farmers from Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Texas come to share their knowledge and experiences in raising deer and their plans on dealing with the threat of CWD. In this series regarding the Truth About CWD, Dr Seabury gave me permission to reprint his Q & A to help better explain breeding for CWD resistance.

The educational seminars were top notch, with the very latest research in how to protect and save our deer. If you were unable to make it to the event, don’t worry. In this issue you will find much of what we all learned. The entire team from UF CHeRI is responsible for helping to save deer nationwide, we are truly blessed to have them in our state and their full support. Please check out the two latest articles from them in this issue. We finally have the upper hand on midge control because of Vilma’s work.

You will also find the next article in a series dealing with the best medical care and treatment for our deer from Tecate Creek and their Ranch Manager, McKenzie Gunter. It’s amazing how passionate many deer farmers are to help share what they have learned to help keep you keep your animals alive and well.

You may not be aware, but in this issue, we say goodby to another deer farmer, Gina Bozzer, who is now resting in peace.

A good friend of mine, Dr. Greg Stewart, recently reminded me of Isaiah 40:11 “ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart. “ May this season be full of joy as new fawns are being born and may your bucks continue to grow into giants, so that the rest of the nation can see what’s happening down here in Florida, and what it means when we say Florida Strong.

This year’s Summer Picnic will be Saturday 2nd and once again held at the Austin Carey Learning Center thanks to the generosity of CHeRI. I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Inclosing, I felt that everyone might want to know about Florida House Bill 1133, which was unanimously passed on April 16th. It restructures the FWC board so that each of the five geographic regions of the state will be represented by a board member from that region. It further PROHIBITS FWC officers from entering private property without a warrant.

As always, myself and your board are here to serve you. Thanks for your trust and support.

Sincerely, Dr. Bill Leffler

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2025

December 15th 2025

December 15th 2025 Mailing Address PO Box 159, Morriston, FL 32668 Email: info@southeasttrophydeerassociation.com Phone: 1-561-373-2353

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Florida Trapper Reaches Out to Outdoorsmen Florida trappers are facing some pretty hard trapping rules changes, and we need some help from other outdoor men & women.

We’re not asking for a lot, just an email to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commissioners. We have seven commissioners and I wrote one letter, then copy/pasted it to each one. It was done before I finished my coffee.

Almost every current rule is being changed to some degree, and some changes won’t be to hard to live with, but some are going to hurt. Some of the new rules being added that, to date we’ve never had to do, will be: annually registering as a trapper, taking a training course for every type of trap you plan to set, and fill out a trapping report every time you set traps. These are not too bad, it’s just “one more” thing to add. Now, here’s some things that’s really going to hurt all trappers, and especially our nuisance or predator trappers.

The max inside spread for all foothold traps will be 5.75 inches. For me, at least 1/3 of my footholds (particularly the ones for beaver), are larger than this. I’ll have to replace my larger coyote traps and stop using footholds for beaver. All snares will have to be modified to meet the requirements for cable restraints. We’ll have to add relaxing locks, cable stops and break away devices.

The worst part is, we can’t hang these new cable restraints on fence crawl unders when trapping cattle ranches, and the ranchers themselves won’t be able to do it either. Lastly, we won’t be allowed to use live bait/attractants even if this animal is completely protected. A rooster in the back compartment of a bobcat trap is going to be illegal if these rules are passed.

These rules (unless changed) are being finalized and written up to be presented to the FWC Commissioners for approval. All I’m asking from you is to take a little time, bust out an email and send it to our commissioners. The following are some easy to do instructions on how to get to the commissioners emails. Go to myfwc.com, type commissioners in the search window. Scroll down till you see Commissioners in blue letters and click. Scroll to the first name in blue, click it and write your email. Then back out one click and repeat for the other six commissioners. You can copy/paste the text for each. I believe on the commissioners page, there is an email all if you’d like.

You can use the info above to get ideas for your emails, or you can write whatever you’d like. Let me say in advance, that your support for the Florida Trappers is greatly appreciated.

I believe the Outdoor Men & Women of America need to stand together for our rights, because they are trying to take them. Message me (fb) if you need more info.

Mark Neely - Florida Trappers Association, North Central Director

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• Fawns 1 week to 1 month of age: Feed 24 to 30 oz. of formula daily, divided into 4 feedings.

• Fawns 1 month to 2 months of age: Feed 30 to 35 oz. of formula daily, divided into 2 to 3 feedings.

• Fawns 2 months to weaning: Gradually decrease formula and number of feedings to approximately 15 oz. of formula once daily until fawn is fully weaned at 12 to 14 weeks of age. Provide a weaning diet and fresh clean water to the fawn.

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Feeding directions for other species can be found on our website.

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In Loving Memory of

Gina Bozzer

L

ike many others, Gina Bozzer and her husband Chris Hayes left the cold northern climate of Michigan for the warmth of Florida. Most deer farmers agree, that our animals are our passion, and that our lives would be incomplete without them.

This was definitely true for Gina and Chris. Shortly after moving to Arcadia, Florida they began developing a deer farm but on a much smaller scale compared to the one they created in Michigan, called Storm’s End. As an active attorney, her legal experience helped her serve as Legislative Chair for the United Deer Farmers of Michigan until

early in 2024. She was a fierce fighter and powerful advocate whose work has benefited deer farmers not just in Michigan but across the country.

I was told that Gina’s two favorite bucks were SE Red and SE Big Lou. I know that she and Chris would be very excited to know that their legacy lives on, and that those bucks’ genetic markers and CWD resistance have been passed onto many offspring which walk on farms across this country, and soon on mine as well.

will always be deeply cherished.

Unfortunately,her time in the warm Florida sun would not be nearly as long as we all had wished.

All deer farmers celebrate the birth of each new fawn, and mourn the loss of each as well.

The pain is far deeper when we lose one of our own, and the entire deer farming community mourns the passing of Gina Bozzer. The life she and Chris lived is a testament for others.

- Dr. Bill Leffler

Our private conversations about the issues that she and my wife both shared and struggled with

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CAT’S CLAW FASTENERS A FATHER’S INGENUITY, A DAUGHTERS VISION AND A MOTHER’S INSPIRATION

Curt Almy and Daughter Toby-Jeanne shown at the historic 1914 Crown W George Ranch, home to the Cat’s Claw shop and many shop cats!

Ever built a fence to keep critters in, or critters out? Chances are, you’ve run into a dilemma that spans back to the dawn of fence building tradition… The underappreciated artform of attaching wire or panel to a post. In a rocky, muddy, sloped field with only-kindacrooked-posts, it comes down to grit and sheer determination to beat a staple into submission, without pounding a finger too!

Gone would be the days of staples popping out and getting stuck in a hoof or a tire! As a financial advisor by day since the 80’s, rancher by evening, it took Curt months of dedicated weekends to create the ultimate “redesigned mousetrap” of the fencing world.

Who would know that such a simple design could be so complicated?

Several iterations of what would become the “Cat’s Claw fence claw” were made and After 60 some odd years of ranching in tested by local fencers. By 2018 a rustMontana, and subsequently responsible for resistant, patented version of the Cat’s Claw over 100 miles of fence, Curt Almy became Fastener was ready for market, and in increasingly disgusted with the “old fashioned” 2019 the “new gold standard” was ever-rusty fence staple. In 2016, Following a protot ype cla released. w particularly rough day on a nasty section of fence, Curt received a bit of divine inspiration Testing production samples and that prompted him to retreat back to the old receiving the patent, were simply the workshop, to tinker with this new idea. He first steps among many, in order to declared the new product would be the successfully launch the business. antithesis of the old fashioned staples, the new Chiefly, and rather importantly, an claws would be simple to use, require only an official name was needed for the impact driver instead of tangled air tools or product! During deliberations with his hammers, be rust resistant, be reusable, and wife Patricia, it was determined that the most importantly the new claws would be historic Crown W 1914 George Ranch would vastly stronger than the old fashioned staples. be used as the official headquarters.

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With the location decided, the naming process was a bit more amusing to the pair. For decades, a plethora of yellow cats dominated the ranch as keen rodent control… At first Curt entertained the idea of naming the product after the Knowlton area where the ranch was located, but Patricia stepped in and suggested that the product resembled a “cat’s claw”, together they came up with “Cat’s Claw Fasteners” as the final answer.

In 2018, the first $50,000 in sales was made, allowing the operation to expand. By late 2019, with a silent plague looming in the near future… Cat’s Claw was set to play a major role in a documentary featuring several Canadian companies working with the USA. The hope was to bring attention to the fire/rot/leech resistant recycled plastic posts made by Full Circle Plastics of Lethbridge, Canada, and that Cat’s Claw could help USA ranchers who had recently gone through one of the worst grassfire years in recent history.

Fence Claws come in 2 variations

1/4 magnetic hex driver is included in every bottle

Left: Recycled plastic posts from Full Circle Plastics, sent to Cat’s Claw for stress testing and other field tests

As video production time in 2020 approached, many warnings were issued, and borders closed a day after the Cat’s Claw crew made it home. The markets were turbulent, and the future of Cat’s Claw was also in question.

Would a small Mom & Pop operation make it through such a worldwide disruption?

Courtesy of Twin Pine farm & exotics in South Carolina

Softwood claws 2” screw stays secure even in a rotten post

With an ever increasing list of invitations and opportunities, Cat’s Claw has been on the road to conventions, and on the road to customer service success. Every story about a successful fencing project thanks to the fence claws, brings great joy to the Cat’s Claw crew. If you have ever used a Cat’s Claw Fastener, the crew would love to hear from you! You can reach out at info@catsclawfasteners.com, or write to:

Surprisingly, the answer was emphatically, “yes.”

While many businesses saw stagnation, the topic of modern homesteading became increasingly popular.

Seeing an opportunity, (Daughter) Toby-Jeanne began advertising to homesteaders and buffalo fencing operations, which in turn lead to connections within Zoos and even the Cervid community.

Mountain lion testing out the fence claws:

Hardwood claws use a 1.5” screw to prevent sheering

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Fawn Season Essentials: Tips from CHeRI By: Dr. Juan M. Campos Krauer The fawning season isn’t just another time on the calendar. It’s one of the most important chapters in the life of your herd. How you manage these first days and weeks can make or break your success for the entire year. From the health of your does to the survival and strength of your fawns, every decision counts. And the payoff? Healthier animals, stronger genetics, and better economic returns.

Here’s a practical guide to help you prepare and thrive this season:

Prioritize the Health & Nutrition of Your Does Healthy does make healthy fawns. It’s that simple.

• Nutrition: Make sure pregnant does have a balanced, nutrient-rich diet to support fetal

development, colostrum production, and postnatal recovery.

• Vaccinations & Deworming: Timing is everything. Don’t vaccinate or deworm too early or too late

during pregnancy. Consult your vet about the best schedule according to your region. In

Florida it would be mid-March too early to mid-April.

• Parasite Control: Stay proactive. Parasites can quietly undermine a doe’s health and directly impact fawn viability.

Get Your Facilities Fawn-Ready Clean, safe, and fawn-friendly. Your birthing areas should tick all three boxes.

• • •

Fill in low, water-retaining areas with limestone, especially around water troughs.

Mow the grass short to reduce tick habitats but leave small patches tall for hiding spots.

Check your fences and gates are tight enough to keep fawns in and predators out.

Train Your Team Even the best protocols fail without proper execution.

• •

Train your staff to recognize fawn distress, handle feedings correctly, and follow proper hygiene.

Create a simple, clear protocol sheet that’s easy to follow, especially during high-stress moments.

Keep Good Records Accurate and detailed records are invaluable.

Track breeding dates, birth outcomes, health checks, treatments, and growth milestones. Over time, this data helps improve herd health, genetics and refine your management strategy.

Fawn Care Timeline Birth to Day 1: Critical First Hours • Allow the fawn to bond and nurse. If anything goes wrong (twins, abandonment, or weakness) step in fast.

• Colostrum is vital. Fawns only fully absorb their protective antibodies effectively during the first

18 hours of life.

• If natural nursing isn’t possible, use colostrum via tubing, bottle, or grafting to another doe.

• Sources of colostrum: another doe that lost her fawn, or clean, disease-free colostrum from cows,

goats, or sheep. (Note: There’s no commercial deer-specific colostrum currently available.)

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Day 1 (8–18 hours): Tag & Protect • Tag, microchip, or tattoo your fawns for ID, but sanitize the area before and after.

• Disinfect the navel with 7% iodine tincture. Silver spray can also be very effective. It dries and protects the cord.

• Consult your vet before administering: • Colostrum substitutes • E. coli or Clostridium C&D antitoxins • Vitamin supplements or probiotics • Usage will vary based on your farm's specific needs.

Day 2–3: Bottle-Rearing Starts (If needed) • •

If you plan to bottle-raise, now’s the time, but only after plenty of colostrum.

Recheck and re-disinfect navels if needed.

Bottle Feeding Tips • Feed 2–4 ounces, five times a day in the first week.

• Offer 10–20% of the fawn’s body weight in milk per day.

• Always use a species-appropriate milk replacer or goat milk, cow milk is not recommended.

The wrong milk can cause scours.

• Keep bottles, nipples, and mixing tools scrupulously clean.

• Provide access to fresh water, a small amount of “creep” feed, and hand-picked greens.

• House fawns separately at first to avoid disease transmission and encourage human bonding.

• Plan to wean around 60 days, based on body condition and feed intake.

Be Ready for Illness Fawns are fragile. Quick action can save lives.

• • •

Learn to spot early signs of illness, behavioral changes, lethargy, refusal to eat.

Build a relationship with a local veterinarian familiar with your area’s disease challenges.

Have emergency protocols in place for fast treatment.

Vaccination Reminder: EHD Virus Fawns should be vaccinated against Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) before weaning: • • •

Two doses are needed.

Space them at least three weeks apart.

Start the process early to finish before weaning day.

Wrapping Up Fawning season is a time of new beginnings and a golden opportunity to improve your herd’s future. With preparation, teamwork, and attention to detail, you’ll set your animals up for long-term health and success.

Good luck this season, and may your pens be full of strong, healthy fawns!

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Overview of CWD GEBVs and Breeding with FAQ’s Dr. Christopher M. Seabury BS, MS, PhD The genomically estimated breeding value (GEBV) you received reflects the additive genetic merit of your animal, in relation to differential susceptibility to CWD. Q1: What exactly do extremely negative GEBVs specifically express or say about an animal?

A1: The animal possesses an overabundance of desirable alleles that reduce susceptibility to CWD, as compared to a nationwide sample.

Q2: What exactly do extremely positive GEBVs specifically express or say about an animal?

A2: The animal possesses an overabundance of undesirable alleles that enhance susceptibility to CWD, as compared to a nationwide sample.

Q3: How should I treat or think about the GEBVs of my animals, particularly in comparison to other traits I commonly record and keep track of?

A3: You should essentially consider the GEBV to be a “new trait” that you could not see, record, or track up to the present point. You should also consider it to be a quantitative trait that summarizes SNP effects inside and outside of genes, across the white-tailed deer genome (i.e., across the individual chromosomes). Some SNPs have effects that enhance susceptibility, and some have effects that reduce susceptibility. The GEBV summarizes these effects, cumulatively, for each animal.

Q4: For breeder animals (and their lines) that I find to be very reliable in terms of reproducibility of production traits on the farm (i.e., antler characteristics, early maturity, longevity, durability, etc.), why don’t I see the same degree of reproducibility or predictability in the GEBVs of their offspring?

A4: This is a new trait. You have never selectively bred for superior GEBVs until now, and for this reason, you have not yet enriched your breeding lines for all the beneficial additive alleles that lead to superior (extremely negative) GEBVs, and to fawn crops that routinely meet or exceed the recommended cutoff. You cannot assume that the degree of reproducibility you see in production traits will similarly and immediately manifest in the GEBVs of the offspring, especially under certain circumstances described below.

Q5: I thought the GEBVs of my fawns would always be somewhere in the middle of the sire and dam GEBVs, yet I see some that are outside of this bounded range. Why is that?

A5: Fawn GEBVs often do fall somewhere in between those of the sire and the dam, especially when the sire and dam have very dissimilar GEBVs. However, there are instances where the fawns can have GEBVs that outside of the range of the parents. For example, how does this happen: Parentage Verified Sire GEBV = 0.069 Parentage Verified Dam GEBV = -0.024 Parentage Verified Fawn GEBV = 0.157 Here we have a sire and a dam, where neither makes the recommended cutoff, and together produce a fawn that also does not meet the cutoff, but appears more susceptible than the parents. The fawn has essentially inherited a lot of the susceptibility alleles (red lines below) from both parents.

Let’s use deer chromosome 1 to simply Illustrate this process, knowing that there are 35 pairs of chromosomes in living white-tailed deer (except sperm and eggs). The red lines are alleles that enhance susceptibility to CWD.

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Note, upon fertilization, this fawn has inherited the worst paternal and maternal copies of chromosome 1, with the most susceptibility alleles possible, making it cumulatively more susceptible than the parents with respect to chromosome 1. If this occurs with any tangible frequency across multiple chromosomes, it becomes obvious how the fawn can score outside of the range or distance between the parental GEBVs. Note, the “susceptible copies” of the paternal and maternal chromosome 1 above, which were given to the fawn by way of sperm and egg, each contain 4-5 times as many susceptibility alleles as does the other copy of chromosome 1, which also could’ve been transmitted to the fawn.

Q6: Well, I see this above. I follow it and I understand it, but how do I make breeding decisions to ensure that I have the greatest possibility of meeting or exceeding the cutoff?

A6: You need to treat the GEBV as a new trait you are selecting on, because that is precisely what it is. The greatest insurance for making sure your fawns meet or exceed the recommended cutoff is to engage in more extreme matings. More specifically, the probability that your fawns will meet or exceed the recommended cutoff is maximized by breeding bucks with does where both have more negative breeding values. For example, the probability of fawns meeting or exceeding the recommended cutoff for the following three scenarios is not the same: (Buck1 GEBV = -0.115 x Doe1 GEBV = -0.125 versus Buck2 GEBV = -0.225 x Doe2 GEBV = -0.252 versus Buck3 GEBV = -0.325 x Doe3 GEBV = -0.352. To illustrate this point, I’ve asked NADR to identify some trios that can be binned in this way with respect to GEBVs, and to then calculate the number of fawns that meet or exceed the recommended cutoff in each scenario. Ideally, I’d like 100 trios for each GEBV bin to be used for the calculations, but we will see what we get.

Q7: Well, I can’t do extreme matings because I don’t have deer with extremely negative breeding values, so what should I do? I’m frustrated.

A7: All you can really do is breed the best to the best, unless you can source materials elsewhere, especially if you need a certain number of animals to maintain your operation this year. However, based on the Q5 figure and explanation above, be advised that matings near the cutoff, with sires and dams that Have GEBVs which are similar (not far apart and closer to zero) will produce fawns outside the GEBV range between the parents. So, you will not be able to predict exactly how many will meet or exceed the cutoff.

Q8: How do I achieve the highest level of predictability in the GEBVs I get in my fawns in terms of meeting or exceeding the cutoff? Give it to me simply.

A8: Try to engage in as many more extreme matings as you can, with your best animals, because that will increase the probability that the fawns will meet or exceed the recommended cutoff, and even do much better than that! Treat the GEBVs like any other trait. Examine your animal records and pedigrees. You will quickly see that some bucks, when bred to certain does, will throw fawns that meet or exceed the recommended GEBV cutoff more times than not; if the parents have more desirable (negative) GEBVs. Q9: I question the heritability of this because my lines produce reliably for the traits I’m interested in, but from my data so far, I can’t predict where the fawns GEBVs will be, or whether they will meet or exceed the recommended cutoff.

A9: The heritability of your production traits has nothing to do with this trait. You’ve never knowingly selectively bred for this trait. If you’re breeding deer with GEBVs that are pretty close together along the number line, the fawns may somewhat often have GEBVs outside the parental range. This problem is exacerbated when you are breeding one animal that barely meets the cutoff to one that doesn’t meet the cutoff; or two that barely meet the cutoff, etc. The greatest degree of reproducibility in terms of ensuring that the fawns meet or exceed the cutoff comes from breeding animals with GEBVs that are more extreme (i.e., not hugging the cutoff). The heritability estimate for differences in susceptibility to CWD is “high” with small standard error (h2 = 0.611 ± 0.056). This has been confirmed in three different studies, culminating in one new paper currently under review. Notably, the upper limit of the genomic prediction accuracy should be roughly equivalent to the square root of the heritability estimate, and it is, as demonstrated in Table 1 here: https://www.g3journal.org/content/10/4/1433

Article continued on page 24...

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Q10: Are deer with similar or nearly identical GEBVs really equivalent? More specifically, do they have all the same alleles, and thus will perform the same?

A10: No. Deer can have nearly identical GEBVs, but not necessarily achieved those GEBVs in exactly the same manner. Specifically, all SNPs that enhance susceptibility don’t do so in an equal manner. Likewise, all SNPs that reduce susceptibility don’t do so in an equal manner. To be precise, some SNPs have small, moderate or large effects on differences in susceptibility. Therefore, a deer could achieve a GEBV of -0.20 by having many desirable small-effect SNPs, and very few moderate or large-effect SNPs that reduce susceptibility. In comparison, another deer could have a GEBV at or near -0.20 by way of having nearly all possible moderate and large-effect SNPs that reduce susceptibility, but fewer small-effect SNPs. These two deer have nearly identical GEBVs, but they didn’t achieve them the same way.

Q11: If I run my deer on this test multiple times, will the GEBV always be the same?

A11: No, there will be a little variation in the GEBV when run on the same training data. Two DNA samples from the same deer will not perform identically on the 50K SNP array we use. Additionally, we are currently on CWD training data set 1, and will update those training data with more CWD positive and CWD non-detect deer from positive facilities all over the U.S. Q12: Why update the CWD training data? I thought my GEBV would last forever (and never change)?

A12: All genomic prediction initiatives for selective breeding of production and health traits should be updated for the following reasons: 1) More trait and genetic data leads to more precise GEBVs; 2) It is desirable to have at least some proportion of the training data that is only one generation away from the animals that you want to predict on (for GEBVs).

Q13: This seems complicated, and like a moving target, how can I most easily understand this?

A13: Genetic improvement for reduced susceptibility to disease in livestock or deer is NOT a single step (i.e., one-time) process. The very best future estimates of any deer’s GEBV for CWD will come from increasingly larger training data sets, across time, which accounts for the shared ancestry and genetic change induced by the selective breeding decisions we make now. This is standard practice in commercial/production livestock species.

In the simplest terms, it’s a work in progress; just as if you were a new breeder trying to consistently create big deer, and reliable does.

Final thoughts: Take the GEBV and consider it as a trait; then select for production quality animals that throw fawns in the desired GEBV range. A codon 96SS layered on top of that is also beneficial.

Thank you and kind regards, CM Seabury

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Genomically Estimated Breeding Value Predictive Genetics and Chronic Wasting Disease What is a genetically estimated breeding value (GEBV)?

How is the GEBV for CWD susceptibility determined?

A GEBV is a statistically generated number or score that estimates the total genetic potential of an animal with respect to a heritable trait. Traits are influenced and controlled by many different genetic regions, or loci, across the genome. In this situation the trait is susceptibility of white-tailed deer (WTD) to chronic wasting disease (CWD). The regions of interest are those that have a role in the CWD disease process, which is stated more simply as susceptibility. Seabury et al.1,2 found over 120,000 different regions that have a role in the CWD disease process. Each region provides a small contribution to the overall CWD disease process. However, some regions provide a greater contribution than others, and those are the genetic regions used in the current commercially available GEBV testing through the North American Deer Registry (NADR).

The GEBV is produced by comparing and analyzing the effects of genetic regions from deer that have CWD to those that do not have CWD.

www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth

What does the score mean?

The score, which is presented as either a positive or negative number, reflects the potential for that deer to get CWD. The higher the number (on the positive side of zero) the greater the potential for that deer to become CWD positive if exposed to the disease. The graph below shows the percentage of 1,554 farmed WTD found to be CWD positive at various GEBV scores, ranging from the worst on the left (0.20) to best on the right (-0.40). The percentage of WTD with CWD decreases as the GEBV score decreases (becomes more negative). The arrow indicates the highest GEBV score (-0.056) animals should have to begin to generate a herd that has reduced susceptibility to CWD. This is the starting point for herd improvement, not the end goal, which is having a herd of deer scoring as low as possible.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

August 2024

Article continued on page 28...

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Article continued from page 27...

What about variations in the prion gene like codon 95, 96 and others?

While some codons (the parts of DNA that code for a specific amino acid) in the prion gene, particularly codon 96, can strongly influence incubation period, the contribution of any codon to the total genetic merit (GEBV score) is rather low.

While codon 96 contributes more to susceptibility than any other individual region elsewhere in the genome, most of the overall susceptibility is due to the cumulative genetic contributions of these other regions. In other words, breeding for specific codon 96 genetics (GS or SS) alone is insufficient to significantly reduce herd susceptibility. That said, there is a role for codon 96 in reducing herd susceptibility, just not on its own.

Steps to using GEBV scores for herd improvement: Get GEB scores which include codon 96 genetics on all animals within the herd, regardless of age. Good scoring animals can be GG, GS, or SS. Do not cull a good scoring animal simply because it is a GG! •

value of -0.056 (i.e., above means less negative; and those that are closer to zero, or that are positive numbers).

•

The generation of herds with reduced susceptibility to CWD is only achievable when the steps below are diligently followed.

Leaving poor scoring, highly susceptible animals within a herd allows CWD to rapidly spread and contaminate the environment. Even good scoring deer may not be able to withstand infection in highly contaminated environments or in herds with a high CWD prevalence.

Keep meticulous herd and breeding records that includes GEBV scores and codon 96 data.

•

Determine if the herd has a sufficient number of deer with scores below the cutoff to sustain a viable breeding population without breeding too tightly. Tight breeding to get

How can you use GEBV Scores and Predictive Genetics to Reduce Herd Susceptibility to CWD? The primary goal of predictive genetics using GEBV scores is to generate herds that are less susceptible to CWD, either avoiding the establishment of CWD after an exposure, or limiting the spread within the herd if infected. Additionally, predictive genetics can be used in certain circumstances to clean up CWDinfected herds within and/or beyond a quarantine period.

Identify all animals with scores above the minimum cutoff

desired scores is not recommended. Tight breeding will unmask negative recessive traits.

•

Develop a culling plan to remove as many deer above the cutoff as possible. Some herds may not contain a sufficient number of deer below the cutoff to sustain the herd. In this situation purchasing good scoring animals or semen straws from good scoring bucks is recommended to selectively breed with best scoring does on site. With careful breeding over several generations, the overall GEBV scores can be significantly improved, and the herd susceptibility reduced over time.

•

Good scoring deer with GS and SS at codon 96 in the prion gene are ultimately the goal. However, good scoring GG and GS deer can be bred with good scoring mates to generate desirable offspring with GS or SS at codon 96. This allows for genetic improvement without tight breeding.

For More Information Ask for professional help at CWD@usda.gov when circumstances are unusual or complicated. This will save time, money, and perhaps even your herd in the long run.

1 2

Accurate Genomic Predictions for Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. White-Tailed Deer. 2020. Seabury et al.

Genotype by Environment Interactions for Chronic Wasting Disease in Farmed US White-Tailed Deer. 2022. Seabury et al.

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SETDA Spring Fling The Southeast Trophy Deer Association recently held our annual Spring Fling Fundraiser. The two-day event provided an opportunity to meet, and ask questions of, and learn from other deer farmers across the state and country. We welcomed speakers from Texas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania share their success stories of raising deer and concerns. All agreed that breeding CWD resistance into their herds is critical for the future of deer farming. The free educational seminars provided vital information on how to become better stewards for our animals. The doctors and staff at UF CHeRI shared the newest breakthrough in combating hemorrhagic disease.

Ashley Petersen, traveled from South Dakota to update us on Medgene’s progress with vaccines. While Mike Russin from Mixlab, covered various meds for deer immobilization.

This year we presented two Scholarship awards, one to Miranda Imeri and the other to Presli Busby. We also offered new Florida deer farmers an opportunity to WIN A FREE DEER, thanks to the generosity of the following sponsors: Dr. Bill Leffler from 2 Base Down Whitetails, Sam Petersheim from Cresent Ranch, and Mike Vizcaino Deer Farm. The biggest winners were our audience, those attending in person and online.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, vendors, lecturers, and all those who placed ads, consignments, and donations for helping to make 2025 SETDA’s Spring Fling a huge success.

Sincerely, Dr. Bill Leffler SETDA Pres.

Congratulations to our new deer farmers who won a Free Deer: Donnie Turner Laura McWatters Ryan Langford

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Are you spraying at the right time?

Controlling biting midges Biting midges

• Biting midges are small blood-feeding flies.

• There are more than 150 species of biting midges in the United States • Some biting midge species in the United States can carry viruses that are dangerous for deer, sheep, and other ruminants.

• Some biting midges can transmit epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV), which cause great morbidity and mortality in deer.

A survey of Florida deer farmers indicate that farmers rely on insecticides for biting midge control • In Florida deer farms, biting midges are typically managed using ultra-low volume (ULV) spray applications, commonly known as “fogging“ or “spraying”.

• Deer farmers generally apply permethrin-based products against biting midges. Some examples include Permanone 30-30, Perm-X, and PermaSease 4-4. Although the product name varies, all of them are made with permethrin as the main ingredient for killing midges.

What is the best time for spraying?

• Pyrethroid insecticides such as permethrin, applied as ULV do not last a long time in the environment.

Therefore, sprays should take place at the time of day when the target insect (biting midges) are most active, to ensure that the insecticide finds and kills the insect.

• Deer farmers generally spray during dusk and dawn, under the assumption that this is the time of day when biting midges come out (like most mosquitoes). However, we recently found out this is not the case.

• Trapping conducted in Florida deer farms showed that biting midges that transmit EHDV and BTV are most active late at night.

• We recommend deer farmers to spray between 9 pm and 4 am (during the dark period of the night) to maximize the effectiveness of permethrin-applications.

Additional considerations • “The label is the law”.

Please follow the product label for instructions in how to use the product safely.

Additional resources

• Pest Information Office https://pested.ifas.ufl.edu • CHeRI educational resources https://wec.ifas.ufl.edu/ch eri/additional-resources/

Spray during this time

Contact us for more information: wec.ifas.ufl.edu/cheri @vilmalikesflies @UF_IFAS_CHERI vilma.montenegro@ufl.edu

Authors: Vilma Cooper, M.S., Samantha Wisely, Ph.D., Juan Campos-Krauer Ph.D., & Nathan Burkett-Cadena, Ph.D. University of Florida, Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) and Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.

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FAWN CARE 101: SUMMER, One of the most stressful, tiring, and crucial times in the deer farming calendar. It is essential to take the initiative to plan prior to fawns dropping what supplies you may need to have, and what protocols you, as a deer farmer, should follow to ensure fawn weaning success rates throughout your farms breeding program. In this article there will be a breakdown on basic fawn husbandry you should know in order to meet your goals for that fawning season.

-McKenzie Gunter

BUCKLED KNEES AND KNUCKLED OVER FEET

Fawns are born with weak and still maturing joints. Some joints will have the tendency to bow outwards or buckle inwards. This can correct itself during fawn growth/maturation. However, some cases may require secondary assistance depending on the fawn's severity.

TREATMENT 1CC LA200 AND .5CC B-COMPLEX EVERYDAY FOR 3 DAYS SPLINTING IS OPTIONAL BUT WE PREFER TO BASE TREATMENT DEPENDING ON THE CASE AND SEVERITY.

SOFT SPLINTS 1. Identify which direction the legs need to move towards in order to be anatomically correct.(If the legs are bowing inwards, the leg needs support on the inside of that weak joint.)

2. Apply a thin layer of 2’’ cotton roll or vet wrap as padding for joint support in later steps.

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3. Place a wooden tongue depressor on the side of the joint that needs support to keep it from falling in or outwards. Again, if the knee is bowing inwards, put the wooden depressor on the inside of that knee joint.

4. Wrap once more to keep the support up against the leg.

(I have found that with knuckled over feet, vet wrap is enough to correct and help strengthen these joints and tendons.)

At no point in this process should your wrap be tight enough to cut off circulation or cause pressure sores.

ANT MAINTENANCE AND TREATMENT Unfortunately, there are natural elements that are possible to affect your deer/fawn crop. One of those things being ANTS! The best way to beat the ants is to prevent the ants. Typically, around March/April is the best time to start putting out ant killer to rid them of your pens before fawns start dropping.

Below, I will have the recipe listed for my recipe that kills fire ants and big south texas red ants. I love this recipe because it is safe for children and animal consumption (within reason).

ANT BITE TREATMENT 1.

Apply a Coldpak compress to help with swelling and numbing of the bitten area.

2. Express all pus filled bites.

3. Clean the area thoroughly with 7% Iodine tincture.

4. Lightly coat bitten areas in a baking soda paste to help neutralize the acid pH of ant venom.

5. Apply Hydrocortisone to bites to help with itching,pain,and swelling. May need to lightly shave or wrap area to provide highest bioavailability of the ointment for this to work as effectively as possible.

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______ Starting an IV on a Neonate/ Fawn: Supplies you will need: • Electric Trimmer • Isopropyl Alcohol • 24G x 0.75” Cathete • IV line • Bag of Saline/LR(Lactated Ringer) • White Porous Medical Tape(IMPORTANT) 1.

Set up Iv line and bag and Hang high so the gravity rate to drip will be adequate.

2.

Lay fawn on the right side on a flat surface.

3.

Shave inside of the front right leg.

4.

Prepare the Catheter and tape: Take the Plug off the back of the catheter to enable a fast flash. (Flash-Appearance of blood in catheter hub) Tape- Prepare a 10 inch piece of tape. Split one of the ends into a Y shape (I typically stick it to the surface I’m working on until I need it)

5.

Douse shaved area of the fawn’s leg with rubbing alcohol

6.

With your non-dominant hand, hold the fawn’s leg firmly and slightly twist counter clockwise.

Making sure that needle is exposed from inside catheter tubing, Use your dominant hand while keeping the needle/ catheter combo ALMOST parallel to the fawn’s leg to advance the needle into the raised vein. It is ok to have a small angle of approximately 15 degrees upon puncture, be sure to gradually straighten your needle position once flash is seen in the hub.

8.

Once you have achieved a flash in your hub you can advance the catheter only. Be sure to go slowly while removing the needle simultaneously. The Stem of the catheter should fully be in the vein with only the hub sticking out of the skin.

9.

Use your plug from step 4 to plug the hub of the catheter that now remains in the vein.

10. Before you have successfully placed this IV line, you will need to tape it securely because once Dextrose is pushed via syringe through the catheter hub the fawn will try to stand up shortly, and will result in pulling out your line. Use half of the Y shape to go below the catheter hub and the other half of the Y shape to go above the catheter hub, then use the rest of tape to firmly but not tightly wrap above your Y split around the catheter hub in vein/leg

______ The Importance of Clean/Dry Navels:

Fawns when freshly born are left with open wound that once attached them to their dam within the uterus providing a nutrient source during pregnancy. This is a direct highway into the body for bacteria. It is important to see to it that your fawns’ navels are sprayed with 7% Iodine within a timely manner after birth to aid in the prevention of your fawns being exposed to bacteria in the dirt and around the pen. Vetricyn makes a Super 7 ultra naval spray/dip for cattle that has proven to be more successful in the effectiveness of the drying out and blocking of bad bacteria.

______ POX (Cochliomyia Hominivorax)

When I First Visited Florida in March of 2025 to attend TDA, I spoke about EHD and New Characteristics to look at when it comes to selecting breeding pairs in these upcoming breeding seasons. In doing so, I had the amazing opportunity to meet and have conversations with so many extraordinary people. wwOne Conversation in particular really caught my attention, and the subject in discussion was “Pox”. From my own personal experience, this is what I know…The first time I believe I saw pox was October of 2021 in East Tx. Symptoms presented as spontaneous dime to half dollar size sores around their hooves and faces that were very hard to get rid of. At the time, I treated like most other “small” Superficial infections I would see: Debride area with Tweezers/Forceps, scrub with toothbrush and 7% Iodine, Excede 1.5cc/100 lbs. Then I eventually turned to Nuflor because the sores kept oozing pus and becoming bigger rather than drying up and starting the healing process. Catching early and cleaning thoroughly was the best treatment I had at the time for this specific issue that I saw in a handful of deer in 2021. Below will contain what I have been able to additionally learn through reading case studies/ reports, comparative studies, and data collected across the world pertaining to the treatment of this parasite.

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Also known as the New World Screw worm, C. Hominivorax is a obligated parasite of warm blooded mammals(humans included).

Most commonly found in warm tropical-like climates, the new world screw worm can cause Myiasis. Myiasis occurs when an ectoparasite, such as the new world screw worm, lives inside of and eats the host’s tissue in order to mature and develop. The larvae will rip through tissue using its hook shaped mouth to go deeper and lacerate more blood vessels and gain a blood meal. Although the NWS was considered eradicated by the United States in 1966, the invasive fly still persists boldly through livestock herds and even in humans!

After everything I have learned about the Cochliomyia Hominivorax over the past few months this is how I would treat now: I would first start by cleaning/ debriding the infected tissue. Removing all pus, larvae, and/or necrotic tissue. Flush and rinse wounds repeatedly with diluted chlorhexidine and curved tip syringe. Fun fact: Studies show that it’s VOLUME of flushing wounds, and not exactly what you are flushing with. I would then dress the wounds with the topical Durvet brand Ivermectin drench solution. In the case that the wound grows in size or produces more pus, I would clean the wound a little more invasively with tooth brush and ivermectin and rinse thoroughly.

Medications I would give: • Ivermectin 1% Sterile injectable solution 1cc/110 lbs • Excede 1.5cc/100 Lbs • Capstar(nitenpyram) oral tablet • Vitamin C injectable solution 1cc/100 Lbsr • Vitamin B- Complex injectable solution 1cc/100 lbs

Why would this be my treatment ?

Let’s talk about CAPSTAR! Nitenpyram, the active ingredient in Capstar, is an over the counter insecticide in the neonicotinoid class.

The drug works systematically to start killing the parasites residing in/on the animal. Capstar being a neonicotinoid, it will quickly bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(nAChRs) in the nerve cells of the larvae, thus, leading to paralysis and death of the C.hominivorax larvae. This rapid action can provide relief to your animal in as short as 30 minutes. This drug has a short half life and can be given daily without bioaccumulation. This drug is safe to be given to pregnant and lactating animals, animals as little as 2 lbs, and is also safe to give with other antibiotics, vitamins, and. Dewormers without side effects.

Excede-A good overall antibiotic to aid in the healing process of the fawn.

Ivermectin- The amount of case studies between the success of the expulsion of the Cochliomyia Hominivorax screwworm not only in livestock, but in neonatal humans were outstanding.

Vitamin C and Vitamin B- Complex- I believe vitamins are one of the most important things you should have in your medicine cabinet at all times. But in this case I would believe it to be extremely important to give these vitamins to aid in immune system support, the creation of white blood cell production, skin health and healing, and Energy production.

I hope all of this information is found helpful and everyone has a fabulous 2025 fawning season!

Good luck and have fun!:)- McKenzie Gunter

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SETDA MEMBERS BUSINESS CARDS Welcome to our SeTDA members Business card page. This is a way for members, both old and new, to reach out to each other for your services or to buy and sell deer.

If interested in getting into future business card pages, send your Farm or Business Cards to; info@southeasttrophydeerassociation.com.

Business cards will be rotated quarterly, if your card isn’t in this issue it will likely be in next quarters magazine. All cards can be viewed at https://www.southeasttrophydeerassociation.com/page-18108.

Thank You, SeTDA BOD’s

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MELANISTIC DEER

SHOWING A PRESENCE ON DEER FARMS

I

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association

t was a beautiful cool May morning this past spring, when Adam Lindsey casually walked past the pen of a doe who had just given birth at his farm Size Matters Whitetail, in Bronson, Michigan. He glanced over and immediately stopped to refocus on the new fawns, still wet, pure black and glistening, curled up on the ground. Holding his breath, he couldn’t stop staring. Literally blown away that their breeding efforts had come to fruition, he then ran to his wife Ashley to announce the great news. They now had two melanistic fawns, one buck and one doe.

“We were proactively trying and that was our hope and dream to have melanistic fawns,” Lindsey said. “But we’d never had one born before then.” Melanistic deer, first discovered and recorded in 1929, are the rarest known form of whitetail deer. Their morphologically dark bodies contain a high deposition of the dark pigment known as melanin, caused by specialized cells called melanocytes responsible for producing the darker pigmentation.

A rare genetic recessive gene mutation can produce a melanistic deer, with a believed average of

a one in every 10,000 chance. In addition to melanistic whitetails, melanistic fallow deer and mule deer have been spotted in the wild. And unlike albino deer, whose life spans tend to be shorter, melanism is not believed to hinder a deer’s lifespan, nor do melanistic deer appear to be more susceptible to typical whitetail ailments.

Melanistic whitetail deer have been found in states such as Mississippi, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. In a quest to add to their uniqueness, Mick

and Mike Goodman of Goodman’s Whitetail Haven in New Stanton, Pennsylvania, are creating their own melanistic piebald deer herd.

“I always loved piebald,” Mick said.

“About 10 to 12 years I really started pushing them and wanted to breed the melanistic deer into them. After a lot of effort, we now have melanistic piebalds.”

The Goodman’s and Lindsey credit Bob Rosebrock of Rosebrock Whitetails in Lott, Texas for allowing them to follow their dream.

Goodman subsequently produced his breeding buck “Black Velvet,”

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their very first melanistic piebald.

While melanistic deer can be every bit as hardy and substantial in terms of frame as their brown and white pelage counterparts, piebalds can be smaller bodied. Goodman’s future breeding plans include breeding “Outstanding,” one of the top piebalds in the country right now, whose 317” and 7 x 7 typical main frame includes a little extra, in order to continue producing piebalds who are every bit as large and hearty as brown whitetails.

“Looking ahead, I feel the market should be really good for melanistic deer,” Lindsey said. “I have had a lot of interest in people wanting to buy those babies. Both are “SS” with negative GEBV values. That will be a plus side for the industry.

But you can’t necessarily get more melanistic deer just from breeding them to those that are melanistic.

As we predictably breed, we can increase those chances over time. At our farm, the goal in to breed for 75 percent brown deer and 25 percent melanistic.”

Goodman feels that while the market for melanistic deer has yet to be officially established, it looks very promising. “Never give up on your dreams,” he said. “Although it may be more difficult to produce melanistic deer, we went after what we wanted and are very happy with the results.

We look forward to more success.”

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Tranquility Springs Whitetails............. 35-35

Fox Valley Animal Nutriton........................ 12

Walnut Ridge Whitetails............................. 45

HeadGear, LLC............................................50

White Ghost Ranch..................................... 18

High Wide & Heavy Whitetails.................. 10

Woodard Whitetails.................................... 47

Magazines Published Quarterly By:

Meet Our Team

D K &

D E S I G N

305 E. 350 N., Ivins, UT 84738 260-222-3478 • Fax: 435-359-5333 Website: deersites.com Facebook: DeerSites (Editorial Provided by Contributing Writers)

Customer Care / Sales / Design

Editor / Publisher

deerassociations@gmail.com

advertising4@mac.com

Samantha Uchytil

Kathy Giesen

Journalist

Gail Veley

gbveley@live.com

59

SUDOKU The rules for sudoku are simple: A 9x9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically.

To challenge you more, there are 3x3 squares marked out in the grid, and each of these squares can’t have any repeat numbers either.

Skill Level: Difficult

Word Search Everywhen Meldrop Obelus Titter Whippersnapper Salopettes Biblioklept Accubation Foppish

Flabbergast Cattywampus Octothorpe Skirl Widdershins Festooned Flibbertigibbet Fipple

All of these are real words!

Look them up in the dictionary for a good laugh!

60

Answers to puzzles will be available in the next issue, or can be found on our website: www.deersites.com

Develop strategies to reduce mortality and improve herd production by:

• HD testing • veterinary consultation • nutrition analysis • vector monitoring • extension workshops

CHeRI Crew 2025

Call the deer hotline at 352-565-DEER to get in touch with us about your diagnostic needs and cervid health questions.