KY Spring 2020

KENTUCKY Spring / 2020 / Edition

Vol 3 • Issue 1

ennedy ridg

680 Earl Payton Rd. Olaton, KY 42361 owner: Reggie Kennedy 713-751-9818 Manager: Weldon Miller 260-350-8929

28 Yards @4

Sons @2

NADR #224579 Yard Dog / 20-28 / Silver Storm

your species well, speaking to other cervid farmers and paying close attention when the due date is nearing is important to having a healthy fawning experience. The severity or mildness of the winter season will affect the amount of fat on your cervid. Keep all these factors in mind when thinking about what to feed and how much.

Most likely you will want to feed a diet full of rich nutrients, with adequate and balanced amounts of protein, fat and fiber. If a quality ENHANCEMENT 7. HABITAT PRESIDENT commercial feed is unavailable consider a custom ration. ra- Create Deer-FriendlyCustom Refuge, Terrin Mike Sulfridge Sponsored by IDEFA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 226 Meadowbrook Road London, KY 40744 mwsulfridge@aol.com 606.594.3116

CONTENTS 8.

VICE PRESIDENT

OKLAHOMA DEER FARMERS – Feeling Resilient About 2020 Sponsored by WOO

Barry South

147 Nobob Road Glasgow, KY 42141 southbcc@aol.com 270.925.7074

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HEALTH PREPARATION PRIOR TO FAWNING Sponsored by PDFA

SECRETARY / TREASURER

Cindy Mills Matlock 350 Tye Bend Road Barbourville, KY 40906 cindy.m_21@yahoo.com 606.627.2103

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PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM - Offering Short Term Assistance in a COVID-19 Era Sponsored by NYDEFA

CHAIRMAN

Larry Brock

3387 Rough Creek Road London, KY 40744 mossyridgehunts@aol.com 606.682.0352

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DIRECTORS

27.

Danny Richardson

1300 Gastineau Lane Versailles, KY 40383 stonebrookewhitetails@gmail.com 859.621.1737

HUMIC ACID DEGRADES CWD PRIONS IN SOIL Sponsored by UDFOM MEDGENE LABS – Offering Experimental EHD Vaccines Sponsored by WOL

IN EACH ISSUE

Reggie Kennedy

Advertising Information NEXT DUE DATE IS JULY 24..............................11 Board of Directors.................................................................................................. 1 BOD Message........................................................................................................... 2 Membership Application .................................................................................... 5 Word Search Puzzle............................................................................................... 6

680 Earl Payton Lane Olaton, KY 42361 kytrophy@yahoo.com 713.751.9818

Dale Eddington

3759 Energy Road Flemingsburg, KY 41041 606.748.6623

Randall Bentley

ADVERTISERS INDEX

206 Hunters Loop London, KY 40744 606.224.5480

Antler Ranch............................................................28

Limitless Genetics .................................................. 4

C&E Wildlife Products................... Inside F. Cover

PNEU-DART, Inc............................. Inside B. Cover

Joe Miller

Cedar Breaks Ranch..............................................18

Prime Acres..............................................................26

Cervid Solutions, LLC...........................................15

Purina.........................................................................10

Cross Canyon Whitetails......................................20

ST Genetics................................................................ 9

Dan-Inject North America..................................24

Stewart Creek Whitetails....................................... 3

4195 Penchem Road Guthrie, KY 42234 jmgreenlandsod@safelink.com 270.483.2140

Fred Sulfridge

226 Meadowbrook Road London, KY 40744 gsulfridge@cvosinc.com 606.231.1702

Kevin Bartlet

432 Woods Store Etoile Rd. Glasgow, KY 42141 amybartlett18@gmail.com 270.670.4678

Deerstore.com........................................................18

Sunrise Supply, LLC...............................................23

Fox Valley Animal Nutrition, Inc..............Back Cov.

TownsEdge Whitetails..........................................13

GKR.............................................................................19

Trophy Whitetail Deer..........................................11

Head Gear LLC........................................................14

Whetstone Brothers.............................................21

Hilty Whitetails.......................................................25 Kennedy Ridge Whitetails........................... Cover

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WELCOME!

BOD’S MESSAGE

G

reetings members! First, and foremost, I hope this edition finds you and your family healthy! While we currently live in unusual circumstances, perhaps there have been a few silver linings. We’ve been able to spend more time with our families while anticipating the arrival of spring. Things are greening up here on our beautiful Kentucky landscape and not all is doom and gloom. We have a lot to be grateful for.

Fortunately for us deer farmers, fawning season is just a short time away. Not only will this give us an opportunity to get out of the house, it will take our mind off what’s going on in the world right now and allow us to merely focus on the fawns. Although it’s disappointing that we have not been able to meet as an association these past couple of months and discuss fawn care and fawning protocols, I’m sure each of you will rely on past fawn care discussions.

As fawning season approaches, I would encourage each of you to reach out to your local and state politicians, farm bureau agents, 4-H & FFA educators, etc. and invite them to your farm to educate them on the deer farming industry. The more people that understand what deer farming is, and why we do it, the better off our industry will be in Kentucky.

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Here is a brief summary of where our industry stands with regards to pending Kentucky legislation: HB 485 – This bill requires that all states that we import from, test all deceased deer at six months of age instead of the current protocol of 12 months of age. However, this bill has died in committee and may not be brought up again until the next regular legislature meets in January of 2021.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture – Updating/Changing Kentucky regulations to meet the USDA’s CWD Guidelines. Mr. Clint Quarles (The KY Dept. of Ag. Attorney) is currently working on changes. The current timetable for implementing any changes is January 2021. In addition, I know during our meeting with Mr. Quarles as well as representatives from the KY Dept. of Ag., there was much discussion about tagging fawns.

Please note that there is currently a Fish and Wildlife regulation (301 KAR 2:083 – Section 4) that requires all captive cervids over the age of six months to have a visible floppy tag.

Double Fence Proposal (KY Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) – This proposal requires all new and expanding deer farms and hunting preserves to run an 8-foot-tall perimeter fence around your pens. The proposal would also require existing deer farms and hunting preserves to run two strands of electric fence around the bottom of your existing perimeter fence. Pending an additional meeting with the KY Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Commissioners, the proposal has been put on hold.

In addition, due to the COVID-19 quarantine, no large public/private gatherings are currently allowed thus prohibiting the proposal to be brought forth for public comment. Lastly, we are hoping, pending State Regulations for large group gatherings, to have our Annual Picnic/Fundraiser Auction sometime this fall. We will welcome the chance to come together, reunite, acquire annual membership dues and raise much needed funds through the auction. I have spoken with NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer, and he has tentatively agreed to be our guest speaker.

As we continue on in 2020, we put great faith in those who run high fence operations to welcome back hunters from the previous year and also welcome new guests. Several hunting preserve owners are anticipating the return of hunters from last year and the excitement of the fall hunting season.

As always if you have any questions or suggestions etc., please feel free to contact me.

Mike Sulfridge 606.594.3116 mwsulfridge@aol.com

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Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association

Join KALA!

Membership Application

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Member Name: _______________________ Farm Name: __________________________ Address: _____________________________ _____________________________ Phone: _______________________________

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Email: _______________________________ MEMBERSHIP DUES: KALA Lifetime Membership Regular Voting Membership Associate Membership

$1,500 $50 $25

I hereby make application for membership in the Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association.

I agree to conform to the bylaws and code of ethics governing the association. _____________________________________ Signature DATE: __________________________ Mail to: KALA PO Box 576 London KY 40744 KALA SPRING 2020

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Spring KALA Word Search

Spring Word Search!

Welcome to our first KALA word search!

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These words will make up the search list.

Circle the words on the puzzle and mail in by July 10, 2020. If all 15 are correct, your ticket will be entered into a drawing.

The winner will receive a

$25 Gift Card!

1 entry per membership, per quarter This whole original form must be submitted * Answers will be printed in next newsletter.

Winner will be announced.

WORD LIST:

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I J K H W C D L R E I N T B K B R O O K L Y N B R I D G E D I C A C I M U H S

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KALA Spring 2020

Habitat Enhancement

CREATE DEER-FRIENDLY REFUGE, TERRAIN By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by IDEFA

I

ncreasing the number of free-range deer, wild turkey and other types of wildlife on your property may be as simple as rearranging the layout of your land. While this may be a popular subject to talk about, few private landowners have the time, equipment or expertise to make it happen. Hiring a land management company for this task can be one of the most lucrative and smartest investments you will ever make.

“Natural habitat in America is decreasing all the time and is happening all over the place,” said Derek Borkholder, manager for a habitat enhancement and land management company in Bremen, Indiana. “If you enhance your own property you won’t have to worry about what is going on around you. From a resale perspective, people are always willing to pay more for an enhanced property that attracts wildlife, should you ever decide to sell.”

Well-equipped land management companies can cover all aspects of habitat enhancement from eliminating less productive trees and vegetation and replacing them with perhaps younger, more desirable trees, vegetation and tall grasses. Taking into account the lay of your land and the direction of the wind, land management companies specialize in physically accessing your property, while addressing your goals for attracting wildlife. Aerial view drawings are typically created along with recommendations for making your property align with these goals. A “vision” for your property begins to take shape.

Some recommendations include building hunting stands and planting food plots near the edge of your land, while creating a sanctuary in the middle of your property for wildlife such as deer to bed

down, feel safe and hide at night. “When that deer gets up to go eat, it’ll head right toward the food plot,” Borkholder said. “If it ever gets spooked and runs off, it’ll just go deeper into your property.”

Deer populations may increase by 10 or 20 times on your property with the right habitat enhancement. As part of the enhancement, older trees are harvested to make way for young ones. Additional attractants such as man-made ponds, acorn trees, ever greens, white pines and spruce may be added to increase the likelihood that your property will thrive with native wildlife and provide them with a much-needed refuge. While land enhancement projects might produce highly desired short-term results, it can take up to two years to see the full fruition of these efforts.

Land management companies can provide additional services as well, such as regular year-round mowing, hunting blind installation and camera installation on trees or posts to catch and monitor wildlife activity. However actively managing a property ceases from October through December during the hunting season, and usually starts up once again in the beginning of the year.

Land enhancement projects can range in size from a 20-acre parcel of land all the way up to 250 acres or even larger.

Customers of land enhancement projects are generally very happy with the end results. “The feedback has been very positive,” said Leon Miller, owner of the same land management company managed by Borkholder. “There is a science behind it. You need the right ideas and approach, so you make the very most of what you have.”

NYDEFA KALA SPRING 2020

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OKLAHOMA DEER FARMERS

FEELING RESILIENT ABOUT 2020 By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by WOO

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he demand for deer is high in the state of Oklahoma this year, concurring with an available vaccine for EHD. “We’ve had a lot more ranches open up,” said Whitetails of Oklahoma President Chris Ezell. “No one here is going to be selling their deer outside of Oklahoma. We’ve got too much demand right here. The price of our deer will be top dollar.”

That’s great news and a welcomed way to forge ahead in 2020, according to Ezell and various members of WOO. Events in 2019 challenged the resolve of virtually every Oklahoma deer farmer as unusual amounts of rain, an EHD epidemic and the inability to acquire the EHD vaccine caused many farmers to lose insurmountable deer and subsequently “close up” shop. However, several established deer farms have ridden out the storm.

Their optimism will be rewarded.

Through the networking efforts of NADeFA and Executive Director Shawn Schafer, an EHD vaccine is available this year through Medgene Labs located in South Dakota. While the vaccine is still considered experimental, it has been produced as a result of meticulous technology and numerous hours of field testing, in an effort to ensure its safety and effectiveness, said Ashley Petersen, Clinical Research and Development Lead Scientist at Medgene. In fact, Schafer’s own deer herd in Turtle Lake, North Dakota served as a test group in the late fall of 2018.

News about the vaccine and the recent national annual convention for Whitetails of Oklahoma held January 31st – February 1st helped to reignite

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enthusiasm for the deer industry in Oklahoma and also served as a vehicle to welcome a new set of guests also holding their national annual convention – The North American Elk Breeders Association. Close to 40 members of NAEBA representing approximately 30 farms joined forces with WOO for a first-time event.

“We wanted to do something in the southern region and chose Oklahoma as they have been very active in recent years with CWD research,” said Brenda Hartkopf, office manager for NAEBA. “We wanted to support them in their efforts.” As a result, NAEBA members staffed six booths at the convention.

As popular as raising whitetail may be, raising elk has begun to rise in popularity. States well-known for raising elk include Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, Nebraska, Utah and Idaho, according to Hartkopf.

Although NAEBA routinely explores various other areas of the country for their national convention “we would certainly consider joining with (WOO) again in the future,” she said.

Likewise, Oklahoma deer farmers are joining together to make 2020 the year where optimism and perseverance pay off. “I’d say we’re a seven in terms of optimism,” Ezell emphasized. Although rain amounts this year are “keeping pace” with rain amounts from 2019, the vaccine will help substantially combat the forces of Mother Nature, Ezell reassured. “We will do business with any state that does business with us,” he added.

WOO President Chris Ezell 918-697-5389

KALA SPRING 2020

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HEALTH PREPARATION PRIOR TO FAWNING

There are many steps you can take in anticipation of fawning.

Below are some practical ways you can actively ensure a successful fawning.

By: Josh Newton • Sponsored by PDFA BREEDING PENS Does need to be placed in breeding pens at the least several weeks and preferably 30-60 days prior to fawning to ensure they establish a social order. Before deciding which does should go into pens together, think about their social interactions and which are dominant versus which are more submissive. Sometimes placing the more aggressive does together is best as they are able to hash out the hierarchy and establish a healthy social environment. This is where paying close attention and taking notes can be helpful. Know how your animals interact and place them in pens for optimal health and the least amount of stress prior to fawning. They need time to acclimate to the new environment and animals, especially ones they have never been introduced to before.

CONDITIONING AND FEED It’s always important to pay close attention to the conditioning of your doe(s) prior to fawning. Healthy adult does need some body fat but not too much. Excessive body fat or over-conditioning could cause difficulties when fawning. Dystocia, a difficult birth, is not often seen in Whitetail due to multiple births, but is sometimes seen in Elk. Knowing your species well, speaking to other cervid farmers and paying close attention when the due date is nearing is important to having a healthy fawning experience. The severity or mildness of the winter season will affect the amount of fat on your cervid. Keep all these factors in mind when thinking about what to feed and how much.

Most likely you will want to feed a diet full of rich nutrients, with adequate and balanced amounts of protein, fat and fiber. If a quality commercial feed is unavailable consider a custom ration.

Custom rations can be tailored to best fit your farm conditions and animal type.

Always use the best possible ingredients when researching or mixing feed. Not all ingredients are created equal and it will show in your herd health over the course of time. Outside of labor costs,

12 KALA SPRING 2020

feed should be your largest expense by far, therefore make it the best for your money. View the Red Ridge Whitetails Feed power by MaxRax [C & E Wildlife], with all guaranteed analysis and ingredient information.

Additionally, think about adding variety to your feed. You can look to feed seasonal fruit that may be left from a local orchard.

Deer love apples and many times there are “seconds” or bruised fruit you can obtain from your local apple orchard with a heavy discount. Cervid are browsers by nature and benefit from browse (branches, leaves etc) from a maple, oak or fruit tree placed in their pasture or cut branches brought in. If you have access to fresh alfalfa and clover consider placing some in their enclosure for them to graze on. Another important aspect of feed is the addition of probiotics for your does preparing to fawn. C & E Wildlife produces probiotics for all your needs, at a minimum, including their “Farm Pack” in your regimen would be very beneficial.

The Farm Pack is an all-natural micro encapsulated probiotic which is mixed into your feed and maximizes consumption, nutrient absorption and conditioning.

A variety of all these feeds along with supplemental probiotics will help maintain a healthy rumen, intestinal tract and optimal health.

WORMING Coccidia are parasites that many Cervid have to contend with. There are some ways you can facilitate preventing the infection of Coccidia. This parasite causes diarrhea and can be prevented with some practical steps. First of all the more room your deer and elk have the less likely they are to contract this parasite, so overcrowding should be avoided. Also, if past farm history suggests coccidia issues may be present, administering a preventative medication in their feed or water approximately 30 days prior to fawning should assist in keeping them clear from transmitting Coccidia.

There are a host of other parasites cervid could become infected with so it is important to keep good records and have your animals on a worming schedule in accordance with you VCPR. You can choose to use injectable wormers, oral wormers or topical applications. If you suspect your does have parasites, take a fecal sample and have your veterinarian or lab analyze the sample for Coccidia and other parasites. This is a very inexpensive test and provides a target result if a parasite(s) is discovered.

RECORD KEEPING Good records are essential in diagnosing or noticing any problems within your herd. “The shortest pencil is better than the longest memory.” Know your animals as best you can and know their normal behaviors. In the cervid industry you would most likely use an ear tag or another method for identification. On your records you want to track their ID (official or unofficial), dates of any care, dates and dosage of any medication administered and any other physical characteristics or notes. You also need to record how many fawns they freshened and their condition upon birth. Note their udder before and after fawning to get a whole picture of how the doe performs. Cervid Solutions Life Cycles provides all the tools needed for record keeping.

SIGNS OF FAWNING Many experienced owners can recognize the signs that their doe will freshen imminently. Many will notice the appearance of a tight belly. Their bag will drop and udder will fill, sometimes this is called “bagging up.” Udder size is different on all animals so play close attention when the expected fawning date is close.

Another factor in recognizing fawning is the does behavior; she may pace or walk the fences more often than normal. Overly aggressive behavior is another signal that a doe may be close to delivering fawn(s).

Pay close attention and you should have an idea when fawns will arrive.

KALA SPRING 2020

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PEACEMAKER

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FORMULATED TO HELP DELIVER A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BUCK BEHAVIOR Delivers optimum levels of key ingredients designed to enhance mood and metabolism in cervids Helps reduce costly injuries, broken antlers, and death loss in high value bucks during fall/winter breeding season Contains no herbals nor tryptophan, eliminating concerns of unwanted side effects Use PeaceMaker to “keep the peace” during pre-rut, rut, transportation, and other key times during the year ™

ENTERIC HEALTH FORMULA FORMUL

Supports digestive health and bolsters immune system All natural formula contains Encrypt , targeted egg proteins, enzymes and microencapsulated beneficial bacteria Top dress or mix in feeds during times of disease outbreaks or expected stress periods until conditions improve

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HELP AVOID COSTLY HEALTH PROBLEMS IN NEWBORN FAWNS Targets 98% of the causes of scours Feed powder 14 days to help avoid scours in newborn fawns Administer paste during onset of scours

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NYDEFA SPRING 2020

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PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM OFFERING SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE IN A COVID-19 ERA By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by NYDEFA

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ederal loans are available to offer hope and relief to small business owners. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP), a recently initiated federal loan program, is accepting applications from now until June 30th, 2020. Any business with less than 500 employees, any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, any 501(c)(19) veteran’s organization, any Tribal business concern (sec. 31 (b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act with the greater of 500 employees, any NAICS Code that begins with 72 (hotels and restaurants), any sole proprietors, independent contractors and those self-employed may apply for a loan in an amount deemed necessary to maintain and pay employees, rent, interest on mortgages and utility bills. Determination for loan amounts should be based upon the lesser of $10 million dollars or two and a half times what it has cost a business to maintain their operation for one month during the previous year of business.

Included in payroll costs are hourly wages and salaries, commission, other work-related compensation, payment of equipment costs, cash tips, vacation and sick leave, group health care benefits as well as premiums for worker’s compensation. All employee wages are capped at $100,000 and all mandatory federal and income taxes still apply.

In New York, a state hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, these small business loans are offering a sense of much needed hope, said David Vanderzee, President of the New York Deer and Elk Farmer’s Association. As a consultant offering professional advice and assistance to his clients “we share stories with clients about what others are doing to get

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through this,” Vanderzee said. “People feel paralyzed and are wondering how they are going to survive. These small business loans can truly help.”

“Those businesses that have incurred a supply chain disruption, or decrease in sales, or closure or employee or staffing problems are eligible,” Vanderzee said.

While an initial $3.49 billion was allocated

by Congress for the PPP, $2.5 billion of additional funds are speculated to be added to that amount. Perhaps one of the best and most important components of the PPP is that many loans could be forgiven (not paid back) if the money is solely spent to keep employees on the payroll and/or to pay rent, mortgage interest and utilities if used in an eightweek period after receiving funding. Loans can also be used on business related or equipment debts accrued prior to February 15th, 2020. However, at least 75% of a loan qualifying for forgiveness must have been used only for payroll, Vanderzee said. He also strongly advises potential loan recipients to open a separate bank account, should a business receive funding, so as to not co-mingle the money with other accounts and perhaps have a greater chance of loan forgiveness. Forgiveness may be declined if the number of employees or wages has decreased during the required eight-week fund disbursal period.

Businesses receiving loans will have deferred payments for six months, should payback be required, and will also have between two and ten years to pay the loan back at a mere 1% interest rate. Amortization begins at the time a business applies for a loan. If granted, no

prepayment penalties are incurred and no fees or administration costs are added to the loan. Businesses can apply for a loan through any existing SBA lender such as your local bank, a federally insured depository institution or a participating Farm Credit System.

“A lot of deer farmers have other businesses and their farm is just a piece of their total business operations,” Vanderzee said. “They need to realize the benefits of this loan.”

Perhaps the greatest silver lining with any received loan is that “the cancelled debt is excluded from gross income,” Vanderzee emphasized. “This could truly be free money.” In addition, the filing deadline for 2019 taxable earnings has been extended until July 31st.

Dave Vanderzee offers advisor and/or consultant services through his business.

If any deer farmer is seeking these services during this difficult time they can reach Dave at 518/210-8889.

TO PRINT AND FILL OUT: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/ files/2020-04/PPP%20Borrower%20 Application%20Form.pdf To fill out on your computer: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/ files/2020-04/PPP-Borrower-ApplicationForm-Fillable.pdf

Photo: Triple Digit - Pine Creek Deer Farm Brooklyn Bridge in New York City - with american flag

NYDEFA KALA SPRING 2020

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HUMIC ACID DEGRADES CWD PRIONS IN SOIL!

By: Dan Harrington • Sponsored by UDFOM

C

WD is a disease that seems to be increasing in prevalence throughout North America and beyond. This is especially important to deer farmers who are affected by burdensome regulations and restrictions. It can ultimately put us out of business if we have the misfortune of having a positive test.

It has definitely stifled our once overwhelming enthusiasm for what we do. There is hope.

Although the route of transmission is still unknown, it has been hypothesized that CWD can be transmitted indirectly through environmental contamination, most commonly believed, through contaminated soil.

The CWD prion is thought to be very resilient. It has been shown to exist in soils for many years. The Centers for disease control (CDC) states that the CWD prion can remain in the soil for a very long time. It is termed PrP resistant, because of its resistance to harsh chemical treatments, as well as its inability to be degraded naturally in the body. Autoclaving, a common method of sterilization has proven ineffective on the CWD prion.

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ALONG COMES HUMIC ACID. HUMIC ACID is a naturally occurring component of soil. Through years of abusing our soils with herbicides, pesticides and pollution we have depleted the once sufficient amounts in our soils. In 2018, Judd Aiken at the University of Alberta demonstrated that humic acid at various concentrations degraded the CWD prion in infected brain tissues. Even though, humic acid degraded the prion in brain tissues, Aiken was un-able to conclude that humic acid would degrade the prion in soil, due to the complexity of soils.

Many of us believed that humic acid would degrade the prion in the soil and wanted to test this theory. If confirmed we believed it would give deer farmers a major tool to fight CWD. There were many skeptics, but the United Deer Farmers of Michigan was not one of them. They stepped up and committed to funding a project, to verify if humic acid was capable of degrading prions in the soil.

METHODS Wilderness Whitetails of Wisconsin, a longtime leader in the Deer Farming community agreed to allow testing at one of their facilities. Greg and Shorty Flees had already been involved with helping to find a solution to CWD, through their involvement in resistance research with Dr. Haley. Testing sites were focused on feeding and watering areas. Samples were taken with a 1 inch diameter stainless steel soil sampling probe at depth of 1 inch. Twenty Four samples were taken. These samples were packaged and sent to CWD Evolution for prion testing.

RESULTS Testing was done using RT-QuIC. The initial testing indicated that 3 of the 24 samples contained prions. The samples were retested with the same results.

These positive samples were then treated with humic acid. The humic acid was dissolved in deionized water at the equivalent concentrations of those used in the Aiken study for comparison purposes. These concentrations were the equivalent values of 2.5 grams/ liter, 15 grams/liter and 25 grams per liter of humic acid. The humic acid source did vary from the Aiken study.

Obtaining pure chemical grade humic acid was expensive and problematic. It would also be cost prohibitive for future practical application. The decision was made to use the New Mexico Mesa Verde Humates source, seeing this is easily available and affordably priced. The incubation period was also extended from 24 hours to 72 hours, reasoning that this increased period is not significant to practical deer farming purposes.

ALL SAMPLES TREATED TESTED NEGATIVE for CWD prions. The humic acid at the highest concentration (25 g/l) interfered with positive results and therefore the negative values obtained at that concentration could not be used.

However, all samples treated tested negative so we could assume that the highest concentration would also be negative at 25 g/l. These results show a 10 fold increase in the degradation of the prion at the extended incubation period used, verses the Aiken study.

INTERESTING THOUGHTS Prions may not be as hardy as previously thought. The facility tested has a 70% CWD prevalence rate and we could only find prions in 12% of the samples, using state of the art technology. Keep in mind that the samples were taken in high congregation areas around feeders and waterers.

Recent studies with Scrapie, a prion disease of sheep, has shown that differing soil types can present either inhibitory results or no difference in the replication efficiencies depending on soil composition (Saunders it al. 2011). High organic matter soils showed greater reduction in detections where high sand soils showed no apparent reduction in replication efficiency (Saunders et al.

2011). This may be explained in this study, in that High organic matter soils have higher humic acid content vs sandy soils, which have very little humic acid.

GOING FORWARD I believe this study showed that if Deer Farmers want a solution to CWD, we are going to have to figure it out on our own. Currently, with the help of Scott Follett, we are setting up a study in Wisconsin at Apple Creek Whitetails. This study will look at the life expectancies of CWD positive deer on humic acid feed. It will test prion shedding on CWD positive deer fed Humic acid. It will test prion presence in semen of CWD positive deer fed humic acid. It will also continue exploring mineral levels and their effect on CWD. Finally it will also test the effects of CWD on markered deer. If you or your organization would like to participate in helping to solving CWD, please go to the website at www. solvecwd.com. You can also call Dennis Simpson at 313-218-0105. Whitetails of Wisconsin has already committed to supporting this project.

CONCLUSIONS First, I’d like to thank the Deer farmers of Michigan and Wisconsin for their forward thinking, and generosity in funding these studies. Finally, we’ve already covered this in other articles, but if you haven’t, think about using humic acid in your operation, and do your part to prevent CWD. Feel free to contact me at any time if you’d like to discuss anything.

My cell is 906-282-7555, or email me at: dan@wideandhighwhitetails.com.

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research laboratory turned immunological services provider/ vaccine manufacturer, Medgene Labs, anticipates having 150,000 doses of an experimental EHD vaccine available for use in 2020.

The company, based in Brookings, South Dakota, has been the answer to several deer farmers’ prayers, and although their vaccine is still considered experimental, it’s shown promise thus far at holding off Serotype 2 of the usually fatal disease.

Since the development and release of the experimental vaccine, deer farmers in South Dakota, Florida, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Texas, North Carolina and Louisiana have used it, according to Ashley Petersen, Clinical Research and Development Lead Scientist at Medgene Labs.

in those herds occurred in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In those settings, the vaccine was shown to cause little to no adverse reactions in the deer and was able to elicit the intended immune response.

Based on those studies, the USDA granted Medgene permission to test the vaccine across the U.S., shipping directly to livestock producers and veterinarians.

Confidence to develop vaccines began taking shape when Medgene Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Alan Young, was asked to develop a vaccine for Rift Valley Fever, a foreign animal disease affecting hooved animals in Africa. “If the disease ever makes it into the U.S., it could present a real problem and we want to be ready,” Petersen said.

“In the beginning of the summer of 2019 we got permission to field test the experimental EHD vaccine with interested livestock producers in the U.S.,” Petersen said. “It’s still considered experimental because we don’t yet have a license for it.” The first vaccine shipment went to the state of Florida at the end of July. Under the direction of Dr. Samantha Wisely and Dr. Juan Campos of the Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) in Gainesville, Florida, CHeRI provided the vaccine and diagnostic testing to several Florida deer farmers at no cost. By the end of 2019, about 7,000 doses of experimental EHDV-2 vaccine had been distributed throughout the U.S., including the doses used under the direction of CHeRI.

Dr. Young, in collaboration with Dr. Juergen Richt of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases at Kansas State University, developed and tested an experimental vaccine against Rift Valley Fever virus for sheep and cattle. Following this success, Medgene took the technology further, receiving two substantial grants from the Department of Homeland Security and creating a Rift Valley Fever vaccine that could be commercially licensed. Using the same platform technology, Medgene began working on a vaccine for EHD, and Dr. Young expanded his previous relationship with NADeFA that had focused on helping deer farmers understand the emergence and spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the U.S.

However, prior to ever testing the vaccine on a widespread basis, NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer offered to test his deer with the experimental vaccine, as well as Chuck Blain of Twin Creek Farm in Fedora, South Dakota. Preliminary testing

“EHD is very devastating and the worst thing deer farmers have to put up with,” said Daniel Thomas of Daniel Thomas Whitetails in Springhill, Louisiana. Thomas, having purchased 310 doses of Medgene’s EHDV-2 vaccine last year, administered it to

his herd in February, followed by a booster shot three weeks later. As expected with any vaccine, his deer were a bit lethargic and backed off feed for a few days after receiving it. However, within a week after receiving the vaccine, all were behaving and eating normally again, he said.

“One of my favorite veterinarians told me this,” Thomas said. “Less will get sick if you vaccinate and less of the animals that get sick will die.”

By this coming November, Medgene will have collected sufficient data to understand the role their vaccine played in holding off EHDV-2 and EHDV-6 and may acquire the necessary data for the final approval for the vaccine license. “We have had feedback from farmers who feel it did work,” Petersen said. “Although there is a lot of criteria to consider.”

In order to handle the anticipated number of doses needed by deer farmers this year, Medgene has added vaccine production staff, and is continuing ongoing vaccine research in five other animal species. Since inception, the company has grown to over 20 employees who are dedicated to the health and well-being of animals and the farmers and veterinarians they serve.

“We’ve had many celebrations here because we realize we are making a difference,” Petersen said. “I’m glad we can make a difference to an industry that perhaps doesn’t get the attention of bigger companies.” For more information or to order the EHD vaccine, please contact Ashley at ashley@medgenelabs.com or call 605-692-1268.

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