Management calendar

Iodine deficiency

Limited information in deer. May cause calving difficulty and weak calves at birth. Iodine can be tested in blood or milk of hinds and long acting injections can be given during pregnancy (off label).

Learn more about iodine >>

Ticks on fawns

Ticks are in their adult stage at the time of fawning and are often in high numbers in the same areas that fawns like to hide (rushes, scrub). High levels of ticks can remove enough blood from fawns to weaken or kill them. It is difficult to check fawns without disturbing the hinds. Preventing the build up of ticks prior to calving is the best option. Pyrethrum containing ear tags in hinds can help reduce ticks on fawns.

Learn more about ticks >>

Selenium deficiency

Limited information in deer. Many NZ soils are low in selenium. May cause weak fawns at birth or sudden death due to heart failure in older fawns. Selenium can be provided through fertiliser or supplements.

Learn more about selenium >>

Cryptosporidiosis

Rarely occurs in deer. Causes diarrhoea, dehydration and death in the first few weeks of life. Only a problem with high stocking density, intensive situations or calving in lowland paddocks that have been used for rearing cattlebeast/dairy calves.

Copper deficiency - fawn lameness

Copper deficiency can cause swollen joints, lameness and broken limbs in young fawns. Monitoring fawns for this will provide information on the cost benefit of supplementing the hinds with copper during winter. By the time these signs are seen in fawns it is too late to remedy.

Learn more about copper >>

Test for cobalt if risk area

Cobalt deficiency may cause reduced growth, ill thrift poor coat and watery eyes (extrapolated from other species). There is limited information in deer. Cobalt can be tested in liver and blood samples and the information used to determine an appropriate supplementation programme for the farm. Volcanic soils are often low in cobalt. Supplementation can be applied in the fertiliser or directly to the animals as vitamin B12.

Learn more about cobalt >>

Optional vaccines, boosters

Yersiniavax for Yersiniosis. Leptospirosis vaccine. Clostridial vaccine (off-label). Decision to vaccinate should be on an individual farm risk and cost-benefit analysis. All of these vaccines require a sensitiser and a booster shot 4-6 weeks apart with both given after 12 weeks of age and before the risk period. The risk period for leptospirosis and yersiniosis is late autumn and winter.

Learn more about yersiniosis >>
Learn more about Leptospirosis >>

Scabby mouth - parapox

Deer specific parapox virus can cause scabby lesions around the mouth and face of young fawns that affect their ability to suckle. Severe lesions are most likely in immunocompromised animals. Outbreaks are more common when there are a lot of thistles. Natural exposure to the virus provides good and possibly lifetime immunity.

Tagging, sexing mothering

Fawns can be caught and tagged at birth (depending on farm set-up) or later when they are at least a month old. Hinds and fawns can be very carefully mustered, fawns tagged and separated from the mothers for a period of time. On release back with the dams, the mothers can be identified by fawn suckling. Note that some cross suckling does occur so this method is not 100% reliable.

Learn more about deer management >>

Ryegrass staggers

Deer can be affected by ryegrass staggers in the late summer. They may be susceptible to misadventure due to their natural flighty nature. Avoid grazing young deer in high risk paddocks for prolonged periods. Develop a pasture renewal plan to avoid ryegrass staggers in all stock.

Learn more about ryegrass staggers >>

Leptospirosis vaccine

Yersiniavax for Yersiniosis, Leptospirosis vaccine, Clostridial vaccine (off-label). Decision to vaccinate should be on an individual farm risk and cost-benefit analysis. All of these vaccines require a sensitiser and a booster shot 4-6 weeks apart with both given after 12 weeks of age and before the risk period. The risk period for leptospirosis and yersiniosis is late autumn and winter.
 
Learn more about yersiniosis, about Leptospirosis, or about clostridial diseases >>

Foot abscesses

Injuries to the feet and lower limbs of young deer can be infected with virulent bacteria, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Actinomyces pyogenes. These can invade the blood stream and spread to the lungs and liver causing death. Prevention involves preventing injuries, keeping yarding surface clean and smooth, careful handling to avoid skidding on concrete, elimination of rough stubble and sharp objects in pasture, cleaning of transport crates and possibly footbathing in zinc sulphate or zinc hetachloride solutions (not for malin). Infected animals require immediate antibiotic treatment.

Learn more about abscesses >>

Fecal egg and larval counting

Fecal larval counts can be useful for determining the level of lungworm infection in undrenched deer. Fecal egg counts do not correlate well with gut worm burdens in adult deer. FECs are useful for determining the  general level of parasitism in young deer during their first autumn and can be used to help develop a parasite control programme. FECs are not able to accurately determine drench resistance. At least 10 (preferably 15) samples should be tested due to variation between animals and frequent zero counts. Counts >100 epg are likely to be significant.

Learn more about parasite control >>

Winter scours

Diarrhoea in weaners during their first winter should be investigated and the results used for future planning. Nutritional scour does not require treatment, make dietary changes slowly. Yersiniosis requires anti-biotic treatment to prevent outbreaks and death. Leptospirosis requires treatment (difficult) and isolation  and possible vaccination of others in the herd. Johne’s disease cannot be treated but infected animals should be culled to prevent spread of the disease. All of these diseases are better managed by prevention rather than treatment.

Learn more about yersiniosis >>
Learn more about Leptospirosis >>

Mismothering

Failure of hind-calf bonding in the first minutes and hours after birth causes great loss on some farms. Social and environmental factors are most likely. Plan ahead to ensure appropriate paddocks and social groups are used for calving. Pay particular attention to Hiding placed for hinds to calve - fence pacing indicates distress and lack of hiding spaces Shelter from wind and sun.

Learn more about reproduction management >>

Weigh yearling hinds - 12 month weight

Knowing 12 month weights help to determine. Whether growth and nutrition was adequate during spring. Target growth rates from now until mating and whether supplements will be required to achieve puberty. Whether subclinical disease or parasitism is likely to be occurring. Target 12 month liveweights of 70-75% of mature weight are realistic.

Learn more about weight and condition >>

Dystocia

Hinds may have difficulty calving because the calf head or leg is tucked back or the calf is presented breach or deformed. Overfatness and lack of fitness in hinds also increases dystocia. Intervention, if done, should be sooner rather than later. Within 12 hours of start of labour and 1 hour from calf seen at the vulva. Hinds may require sedation and calf rejection is common after an assisted calving. Weigh up the value of the hind and calf against the risk of disturbing the rest of the mob to muster the hind.

Learn more about reproduction management >>

Lactation

Hinds are lactating for 3-4 months in pre-rut weaning systems. Lactating hinds require nearly twice as much energy from food compared to non-lactating hinds. Good quality feed is required to ensure adequate intakes. Hinds that produce high milk volume and large weaners usually lose condition but should not fall below BCS 2.5 or mating will be compromised. There is little information regarding the protein and mineral requirements of lactating hinds.

Learn more about deer lactation >>

Copper deficiency risk - swayback

Monitor hinds for hind limb weakness, collapse and unco-ordination during summer. May indicate copper deficiency. Judge number of hinds affected to make future decisions. Too late to treat. Prevention should be targeted for winter and spring and based on cost-benefit analysis and other risk factors.

Learn more about copper >>

Weigh yearling hinds

Weighing R2 hinds prior to mating will help determine: Mating weights (target 80-90% of mature liveweight).Nutrition level during summer. Nutrition level during summer. Whether a drench is necessary pre-mating. Whether supplements are required to achieve puberty and pregnancy.

Learn more about yearling management >>

Wean, teeth, BCS, udder

At weaning hinds can be checked. Udder: Did the hind lactate and rear a fawn to weaning? Udder: Did the hind lactate and rear a fawn to weaning? Teeth: Does she have sufficient teeth for another winter? Culling before mating will allow more feed for hinds that are to be kept. Condition Score/Weigh. Hinds in poor condition are likely to have reared a fawn. BCS<2 decreases chances of conceiving. Poor condition hinds at higher risk of parasites and winter stress.

Learn more about condition scoring >>

Drench some hinds if high parasite risk

High parasite risk in adult hinds. Wapiti genetics. Grazed on same areas as youngstock. Warm, wet autumn, especially following a dry summer. Drought and poor nutrition causing weight loss in hinds during lactation. Concurrent diseases. Old age, poor condition. Drench before winter with a drench effective against ostertagia-type parasites. E.g moxidectin injection (off label) or oxfendazole double dose (off label).

Learn more about parasite control >>

CIDRs

One or two sheep + goat CIDRs 14 days prior to planned AI. Careful planning and preparation of hinds is required for successful AI. Hinds should be weaned, in moderate condition, on excellent nutrition, proven breeders and in good health. CIDRs should be inserted by a trained person carefully and fully into the anterior vagina. Anecdotal evidence suggests no difference between 1 or 2 CIDRs.

Learn more about artificial breeding >>

Artificial insemination

Take time to consider the benefits, costs and risks. Ensure CIDR removal and PMSG injection were timed correctly (50-56 hours prior to AI). Use only a competent AI technician. Hinds should be fed well before, during and after AI to help ensure conception. Conception rates of 80% + have been achieved. Late March/early April is best time but can go earlier depending on farm.

Learn more about artificial breeding >>

AI Back up stag

10 days after AI will allow easy differentiation of AI versus backup conceptions at ultrasound scanning time provided scanned less than 60 days after AI. Most hinds that missed AI will cycle 18 days later but short cycles do occur.

Learn more about artificial breeding >>

Pregnancy

232 days for straight red deer, 250 for straight wapiti and somewhere between for hybrids. Nutritional requirements = maintenance until last month. Problems during pregnancy are rare.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Pregnancy testing/BCS

From 30 days after stag out or earlier if not keeping late hinds. Use information to: Cull empty hinds; Sell in-calf hinds; determine whether anything went wrong with mating; estimate calves/weaners to sell; determine rate of abortion by checking pre-calving. Fetal aging allows separation of early and late fawners, investigation of problems with stags or hinds cycling, determine AI vs backup conception, determine conception date profiles for consecutive years, select and keep early fawners and cull late fawners. Ultrasound is safe for the hind and fetus and is highly accurate with a skilled scanner. Condition score at scanning to monitor changes during mating and winter.

Learn more about pregnancy diagnosis >>

Copper tests dry hinds livers at works

Testing liver copper levels will give an indication of the body’s reserves and farm copper levels. Copper intake lowest in late winter, animal levels lowest in spring, problems seen early summer. Testing in June is ideal as it gives time to provide supplements if needed. Dry hinds going to the works are a good group to test as these will tend to be the animals on the farm with lower copper status. Early kill weaners could be tested but are unlikely to reflect the situation in adult stock. There is large variation between animals so a large number of samples is required. Ideally 15 liver samples. If 15 hinds are not available a minimum of 10 samples or blood samples can also be taken later.

Learn more about copper >>

Lice

Lice is not commonly seen and this may be due to widespread use of ML pour-on drenches. Lice is more likely to cause problems in poor-doing animals. Hair loss and itching/rubbing are signs of lice, itchy bites on the arms of operators after handling stock. They are difficult to see on the animal. Treat with an IGR or SP product specific for lice in cattle (off label), not an ML drench to avoid unnecessary drenching of adult stock and development of drench resistance in gut worms.

Learn more about calving environments >>

Abortion

Abortion is rare in deer but has been identified in some herds where losses of up to 15% have occurred. The causes of abortion in deer have not yet been identified. There are several diseases of cattle and sheep that could potentially cause abortion in deer. If abortions are noticed, testing the animals and especially testing the aborted fetus will help determine the cause and the control measures that can be put in place. Many causes of abortion in sheep and cattle are preventable by vaccination or other control measures.

Learn more about abortion in deer >>

Johne’s disease testing

Annual testing for Johne’s disease can provide information about that status of the farm and help to make decisions about Johne’s management on the property. A Johne’s consulting vet can advise on the most appropriate testing programme. For screening this would target adult hinds in poor condition during the winter as these are most likely to show up as test positive. The tests are not very good at detecting infected animals that are carrying the bacteria but not showing signs of disease. Either pooled faecal cultures or blood tests (paralisa) are good options. Note though that a negative result indicates a low chance of infection but does not guarantee freedom from infection. Any animal that shows wasting and diarrhoea during the winter should be tested with a blood test and/or culled and postmortemed to avoid shedding of Johne’s bacteria that can infect other deer.

Learn more about Johne’s disease >>

Copper testing - blood tests

If insufficient hinds were available for liver testing at the works, blood tests can be taken to measure copper. It is best to do this later in the season as blood levels do not drop until liver reserves have been depleted. At least 10 and preferably 15 samples are required due to variation between animals. Ensure samples are taken from animals that have not been supplemented if the aim is to determine whether supplementation is required. 

Learn more about copper >>

Carry over/surplus R2 to works

Timing of sending R2 stock to works depends on weights, availability or surplus of feed, risks of running overweight, predicted schedule and contract arrangements with processors.

Learn more about venison production >>

Pre- fawning check

Checking hinds prior to fawning can be useful for determining whether they have aborted and planning calving groups. Hinds that have failed to carry a fawn to term can be sent to the works on the high spring schedule. Visual inspection of the abdomen can detect most pregnant hinds. Weighing can also give an indication of pregnancy as most should be about 15-20kg heavier at full term than their empty weights. Suspect hinds can be scanned to determine pregnancy status.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Set stock for fawning

Careful selection of fawning paddocks and fawning mobs is required to ensure good survival rates of newborn fawns. Hinds should be completely familiar with the calving paddock and given time to select a calving site. Fence pacing may indicate that hinds cannot find a suitable calving site in the paddock. Allow 1-2 weeks for settling for hinds that are already familiar with the farm and 1-2 months for new hinds. New hinds take up to 12 months to completely settle in to a new farm. Do perform daily checks of calving mobs but avoid disturbing or unsettling hinds. If hinds were fed silage during winter, they will be used to regular, unthreatening visits. First fawning hinds should be given the best paddocks and always fawned separate from MA hinds

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Johne’s hinds separated

Deer are susceptible to infection with Johne’s disease when they are young and relatively resistant to new infections when they are adults. Infection can occur in-utero, from suckling milk of infected hinds or eating feed contaminated by infected feces. Infected adult hinds are an important source of infection for young fawns. If whole herd testing has been done, infected hinds should be calved separately so that the fawns of uninfected hinds are not exposed to the disease at the most vulnerable time of their lives. Fawns from infected hinds are likely to be infected so these can be marked to go the the works and not kept as replacement stock. 

Learn more about Johne’s disease >>

Velvetting

Prepare in advance for velveting. Record books, drugs, equipment, facilities, storage, vet visits and/or drug dispensing. Review velvet grading, and the most appropriate time to harvest. Cutting first cut antlers early can increase the amount of regrowth.

Learn more about velvetting >>

Post-velveting problems

Post-xylazine deaths occur in about 1/1000 stags. Some farms have a lot more deaths than others. All deer have reduced oxygen exchange when given xylazine. Identify any stag that reacts to xylazine. A stag having difficulty breathing should be velveted as quickly as possible and given a full dose of reversal immediately. Avoid post-velveting pneumonia by having a clean velveting pen, and allowing enough space for stags to have their heads clear. Use as low a dose as is safe for your stags. If safe, standing sedation is preferable. There are fewer problems with stags that are velveting in a crush without sedation.

Learn more about velvetting >>

Regrowth velvet removal

Remove regrowth for sale and to prevent injury.

Learn more about velvetting >>

Tick risk

Avoid tick habitats (humid, rushes, scrub, swampy) for velveting stags. Check antlers early in season. Treat infected stock with Bayticol. Tick control starts in spring.

Learn more about ticks >>

Join stags with yearling hinds

Yearling stags can be joined with yearling hinds from January or earlier. Yearling stags should be used at a ratio 1:10, be in excellent health and well grown to ensure puberty. Older stags can be used at 1:15. A long socialisation period prior to mating may help conception.

Learn more about reproduction in yearling deer >>

Leptospirosis booster

Leptospirosis may cause disease or abortion in deer and can cause serious disease in humans exposed to the urine of infected animals. The main risk period for leptospirosis transmission is during a wet autumn and winter. Wallows may provide an ideal transmission site between animals. Vaccination prevents shedding of leptospires in the urine and reduces transmission of the disease in the herd. The vaccine probably provides less than 12 months protection so boosters are required.

Learn more about leptospirosis >>

Join stags with MA hinds

Red hinds start cycling about mid March. Early joining induces early cycling in well-fed hinds. Joining on or before 1 March increases the chance of early cycling and can advance calving dates. Joining early allows more time for socialisation and settling but there is risk of stag fatigue. Most MA hinds conceive last week March/1st week April. Have best stags in at that time. Most hinds conceive on their first oestrus of the season. Fallow deer have a silent ovulation.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Back-up stag

Changing stags decreases the risk of poor conception due to infertile, injured or sulky stags.

Single-sire mating groups – change stag.

Multiple-sire mating groups – remove dominant stag.

Allow at least 18 (red hinds), 21 (wapiti cows) or 22 (fallows) days before the end of mating for all hinds to cycle at least once with the backup stag. Best stag should be with the hinds in last week March/1st week April. Replace stag earlier if suspicious about the primary stag. If using AI the backup should go in 7 days after AI to allow differentiation by foetal aging using ultrasound.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Post rut BCS/Drench

Body Condition Score stags post rut. Drench wapiti bulls and poor condition red stags with a drench suitable for your farm. Eg. A combination of albendazole and fenbendazole (White drenches); combination of ivermectin injection or oral (double dose) and albendazole oral (double dose) Moxidectin injection. These are just examples, you should consult your parasitologist or vet for a drenching programme specific to your farm including off-label use and with-holding times. Drenching before winter may help prevent hypobiotic stomach worms entering hibernation and leading to fading elk disease.

Learn more about parasite control >>

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) risk

Malignant catarrhal fever is caused by a herpes virus shed from normal sheep. No disease is seen in sheep and it is shed in greater amounts at lambing or times of stress. MCF is fatal to susceptible deer after clinical signs are seen. Some deer appear to be more susceptible than others. Action taken should depend on the history of the animals on the property. Deer of all ages are susceptible but adult stags post-rut may be most at risk. Avoid grazing susceptible stock near ewes.

Learn more about Malignant catarrhal fever >>

Copper supplement if needed

Copper deficiency causes swayback in hinds after fawning; swollen joints, broken limbs and lameness in new fawns. In stags it can cause reduced velvet growth, and potentially cause swayback. Pasture copper levels are lowest during winter and animal body reserves are lowest during spring. Ensuring pregnant hinds have adequate levels will protect the fawns. Tissue copper needs to be very low to cause problems. It is unlikely that a response to supplementation will be seen if tissue levels are marginal or better, during spring. Copper is toxic if too much is given and is toxic to many bacteria and fungi. Fertilizer application is not guaranteed to lift animal copper levels especially when molybdenum alone or a combination with sulfur is used and soil pH levels are high. Copper supplements last a variable period of time from weeks to months depending on the farm and supplement used. They should be given close to the risk period (Spring). Intraruminal boluses and injections increase copper significantly and prevent deficiency for several months. Water treatments and copper sulphate drenches increase levels for a shorter time period. Copper supplementation should be based on farm history, blood or liver test results, and farm finances.

Learn more about copper >>

Winter lean weight

Weighing in late winter will provide information about lowest weights and provide a benchmark for measuring weight recovery. Winter lean weight targets should be >75% pre-rut weight in stags.

Learn more about weight and condition of deer >>

Priority feed for velvet growth and condition recovery

Nutrition during spring has an effect on antler weight and grade at velvet harvest time.

Learn more about deer nutrition >>

Parapox monitoring and control

Parapox is caused by a deer specific pox virus. It can cause serious lesions and loss of antler and sores on humans resembling Orf. Parapox can also affect fawns around the mouth and face and interfere with suckling. Pox virus is shed from blisters and scabs and gains entry through small abrasions. Pox infection is usually worse when thistles are abundant. Young stags are more susceptible than older stags and natural exposure will likely provide life-long immunity. Pox infected antler should be harvested and destroyed, regrowth is usually unaffected. Yearling stags can be put into paddocks that have had pox outbreak to allow natural exposure and immunity. Infected antlers can be thrown into the paddock as well.

Dehydration

Stags are particularly susceptible to dehydration in the summer. Ensure troughs are working daily and natural water sources have adequate supply.

Learn more about dehydration >>

Separate breeding stags

Remove sire stags from velveting mob and preferentially feed them to prepare for mating and to avoid social issues.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Spiker removal from hard antler

Remove hard antler from spikers for transport and to prevent injury. Once antlers are completely stripped, analgesia is not required.

Learn more about velvetting >>

Stag testing

Stags should be in peak physical condition and not lame prior to the breeding season. Semen samples can only be checked once the stag starts rutting (late Feb). Poor samples are produced before this time. Semen is collected by electro ejaculation. Semen can also be cultured for Brucella ovis and other bugs. Stags can be examined for injuries, structural problems or ulcers on the penis and prepuce. Testing stags in February requires heavy sedation. Social problems can only be identified through observation. Libido is indicated by rutting behaviour.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Monitor during rut

Watch for: Lameness, especially of the hind legs; staying near the gate/sulking – especially in wapiti bulls; too much or too little weight loss; roaring, wallowing, thrashing or chasing hinds. Actual mating is sometimes seen. If in doubt about a stag, change it or add a backup stag.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Stag removal

Depends on latest calving date desired. Red hinds mated to red stags gestation = 230-235 days. 5th May removal = last calf Christmas day. Wapiti hinds mated to wapiti stags gestation = 245-250 days. Removal 5th May = last calf 7 January. Hybrids fall somewhere between red and wapiti.

Be guided by whether there has been a lot of late mating activity. The trade-off is empty hinds vs late born calves.

Learn more about reproduction in deer >>

Fading Elk Syndrome

Can affect stags and hinds over 2 years old during autumn and winter. Wapiti/Elk are more susceptible than red deer. Probably caused by parasites in the wall of the abomasum causing nutritional disturbances. Signs include wasting, vacant, disinterested behaviour and strange gait. Animals don’t respond to treatments and there may be a scour. While difficult to treat, Moxidectin injection is best option along with good nutrition. Check copper status. Best to prevent by drenching in autumn pre and/or post rut and using other parasite management measures.

Learn more about Fading Elk syndrome >>

Johne’s disease

Johne’s disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis; cases are most common in the winter. Signs of Johne’s include wasting and diarrhoea. Adult animals with Johne’s diarrhoea shed large numbers of bacteria that contaminate the environment for susceptible young stock. Adults deer with diarrhoea should be removed and tested or culled ASAP. Some lines of deer may be more susceptible to Johne’s disease than others. There may be genetic resistance. Management depends on farm history.  DeerPRO Ltd has vets available to help with Johne’s control on an individual farm basis.

Learn more about Johne’s disease >>

Lungworm - stressed adults

Lungworm usually causes disease in young deer during late summer and autumn. Adult deer have good immunity to lungworm, however infection can occur when adult deer are stressed and immunosuppressed. Severe malnutrition, mineral deficiency, extreme weather conditions, social factors, old age or concurrent diseases such as chronic gastrointestinal parasitism or Johne’s disease may predispose to lungworm. Deer with wapiti genetics may be more susceptible. Lungworm is easily treated and prevent by anthelmintics. This should be considered after weaning and only in hinds or stags that are at high risk. Preventing stress and other risk factors should mean adult stock do not require treatment for lungworm.

Learn more about lungworm >>

Button drop

Buttons should be cast in August for mature stags and later for younger stags. Button drop date can be used for mobbing velvet stags. Occasionally buttons fail to cast prior to growth of the new antler. These should be removed if possible. 

Learn more about velvet antler growth >>

Mob velvet stags

For management it is advisable to mob stags based on expected velveting date and age. This will reduce the number of times that stag mobs have to be brought into the yards risking damaged antlers. Mobs can be fed more appropriately and social issues may be reduced. 

Learn more about stock management >>

Summer Feed Management

Maintaining feed quality during summer is particularly important for deer. Prepare last of winter crops for sowing into pasture, drill swedes and turnips for winter (South). Make hay – preferably away from fawning hinds. Prevent pasture running to seed and losing quality by topping. Shorten rotations or take some paddocks out of rotation for hay or re-sowing. Monitor porina moth flight dates and numbers.

Learn more about nutrition >>

Johne’s prevention

Young deer probably become infected with Johne’s disease in the first months of their lives either before birth or after birth. Infection may occur from suckling infected hinds or ingesting faecal contaminated feed. Separating hinds that are likely to be infected from those that are not, prior to calving may prevent transmission to the new fawns.

Learn more about Johne’s disease >>

Summer feed priorities

Lactating hinds require good quality feed at least 1200 post grazing residuals. Suckling fawns will transition better at weaning if consuming good quality feed prior to weaning with dams. Consider providing high-quality supplements to hinds with fawns at foot late summer. Sire stags require good nutrition to ensure top condition prior to the roar. Yearling hinds require quality feed to ensure they reach puberty by March. Velvet stags can be held at maintenance after velveting provided they are in good condition.

Learn more about feed intake requirements >>

Autumn sowing plan

Consult farm advisor or feed consultant for appropriate sowing plan. Consider winter active crops, annual rye grass for rapid weaner growth, early brassica crops for conserved feed, or re-sowing into permanent pastures after cropping. Pay particular attention to correct preparation, weed control and fertiliser needs.

Learn more about pasture sowing options >>

Parasite management plan

Parasite management is just part of animal health planning which in turn is part of whole farm planning. Different aspects of management shouldn’t be considered in isolation. For example, what impact do decisions have on financial outcomes, pasture production and productivity, environmental sustainability and lifestyle?

Learn more about parasites >>

Weaning Plan

Options to decrease weaning stress: Plan weaning date (from mid Feb) and minimum weights (30kg red deer). Put weaners onto a familiar paddock, keeping hinds far away. Feed grain for 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks post weaning. Leave in 3-4 nanny hinds (dry at weaning). Feed good grass/forage prior to weaning to develop weaners’ rumen. Bring hinds and fawns through yards prior to weaning. Review weaning success and plans for next year.

Learn more about weaning >>

Facial eczema spore counts

Most veterinary practices perform regular spore counts at monitor sites. These can be used as a guide but individual paddocks can vary considerably. You can have counts done on suspect paddocks. Risk factors for facial eczema include warmth, high humidity, warm rain, accumulation of dead matter at the base of the sward and forcing stock to eat down into the base of the sward. Facial eczema can be prevented by ensuring good soil activity and breakdown of dead litter at the base of the sward, cultivation, avoiding risk pastures, maintaining high post-grazing residuals and providing supplementary feed such as hay or baleage. If risk remains high, zinc dosing with intrarumenal boluses (off-label) can be implemented. Water application may not be effective. While Red and Wapiti deer are relatively resistant to FE, Fallow deer are quite susceptible.

Learn more about facial eczema >>

Early weaning

Pre-rut weaning results in better condition of hinds, earlier conception dates for hinds and more efficient utilisation of pasture. Early weaned fawns are smaller at weaning and lighter going into winter and may require extra supplemental feed at weaning. However, they may be better adapted to a grass diet by the time winter comes. Weaning date should be determined based on farm goals, resources and preferences. 

Learn more about weaning >>

Autumn feed priorities

Lactating hinds require good quality feed of at least 1500kg DM/ha post-grazing residuals. Suckling fawns will transition better at weaning if consuming good quality feed prior to weaning. Consider high-quality supplements to hinds with fawns at foot late summer. Stags require good nutrition to ensure top condition prior to the roar. After weaning, put hinds on maintenance plus to ensure weight gain and conception (post-grazing residuals 1200kgDM/ha) with weaners on best quality feed.

Learn more about feed intake requirements >>

Winter feed budget

Make a simple feed budget to determine expected requirements. Consider shutting up paddocks to build a feed wedge coming into winter. Assess feed on hand and whether extra feed needs to be bought or whether stock should be sold or grazed off. Determine risks of long cold winter with poor growth versus costs of buying extra feed. Avoid having to sell stock in poor condition or at market lows.

Learn more about winter feed requirements >>

Late weaning

In most cases it is more economical and efficient to wean prior to the rut (late Feb/early March). In some situations later weaning may be more appropriate for management or health reasons. For example: Late fawning deer, hinds fed high levels of supplements, when there is a high risk of yersiniosis, or when weaners are being sold to finishers.

Learn more about weaning >>

Winter feed priorities

Prioritise feed to weaners during winter to maintain growth at 100g/day. Hinds on maintenance after mating, for example, can be provided with crops. Stags should be tempted with high-quality feed and supplements to help recover condition after the rut and prevent stress-related diseases such as MCF. In cold weather, microbial activity in the rumen produces heat so roughage should be provided in the form of stored pasture or hay.

Learn more about winter feed requirements >>

Soil and herbage tests

Soil and herbage tests should be done at the same time each year and can provide valuable information to help determine soil management and fertiliser requirements. Soil tests can be useful to understand limiting factors for pasture growth and herbage tests are useful to determine limiting factors for animal nutrition. Consult a soil advisor to decide on the most appropriate tests to maximise return on investment. Comprehensive soil + herbage tests are likely to be of more use than simple soil tests.

Learn more about soil and pasture management >>

Midwinter weights

Midwinter weights are useful as a benchmark for monitoring weight gain and loss throughout the year.  

Learn more about deer management >>

Tb testing

All deer farms must be registered with the AHB and tested at an interval dependent on the area the farm is located in, history on the farm and farm stock movement practices. Very few deer herds are infected with Tb but there are still large areas of land with infected wildlife. Vigilance is required in areas where 3-yearly testing is done and few animals are going to the works. Your veterinarian or contracted Tb testing officer can provide information on testing requirements.

Learn more about bovine tuberculosis >>

Plan spring sowing/Summer feed budget

Consult your seed/nutrition representative for options and preparation for spring sowing. Consider late maturing winter crops such as kale or beet for hinds or weaners. Pay attention to adequate high-quality feed required during late summer for lactating hinds, weaners and stags. Options such as chicory, plantain, red clover, lucerne and late heading grasses should be considered depending on the location of the farm and soil conditions. 

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Spring feed priorities and management

Early spring growth should be allocated to weaners to maximise spring growth prior to slaughter. Then to stags for velvet growth and weight gain coming out of winter lean. Hinds are generally restricted to prevent overfatness but can be allowed to put on weight if winter has been hard. Aim for BCS of 3.5 at fawning. Prevent spring flush from getting too long and losing quality by topping, cultivating or grazing with extra stock or shutting off some areas for silage.

Learn more about pasture management >>

Low pasture selenium

Consider supplementation of pregnant hinds if selenium deficiency has been a problem on the farm.

Learn more about selenium >>

Check calving paddocks

Failure to bond between the hind and her fawn can be a great area of loss on some farms.

Check that calving paddocks include:

• Shelter, contour, scrub, rushes
• Hiding places for hinds and fawns
• Shelter from wind and sun.

Check:

• Fence security – hinds can dig under fence lines and fawns can squeeze through large gauge netting.
• Waterways that fawns could drown in
• Disturbance from roads or neighbouring farms
• Ticks – run sentinel animals through paddock or trowel for ticks.

Learn more about calving environments >>

Spring sowing

Carry out your sowing plan, adjusted for any unpredicted changes in the season. Do not take shortcuts in preparation and planning.

Learn more about feed sources >>