Preparations for calving should start during the breeding season. Have the elk cows that you plan to breed on a rising level of nutrition. This is very important. Feed them as much as they will eat. If they are gaining weight, conception rates will increase. If possible, turn your cows out into fresh pasture – … Continue reading →

In 1998, the Ministik Wildlife Research Station was granted a permit to accept up to 30 whitetail and mule deer fawns orphaned in the province of Alberta. The Station located about an hour east of Edmonton, Alberta Canada is affiliated with the University of Alberta. At the recent Alberta Whitetail and Mule Deer conference, Barry … Continue reading →

There are several principles for scour prevention in elk calves. These good management practices apply to all cervids and include the following strategies. Removing sources of infection High infection pressure is a major risk factor on many elk (and deer) ranches. A key management step is to reduce the environmental contamination to a level that … Continue reading →

Perhaps the most troublesome time for the reindeer farmer occurs during calving time. Every effort must be made to ensure that calves obtain the first milk or colostrums which is rich in antibodies. If a calf is orphaned and unable to receive colostrums within the first few hours of life, then antibodies should be administered … Continue reading →

Under normal conditions, very little needs to be done to healthy, newborn deer. In fact, nothing should be done to a fawn/calf that is still wet with uterine fluids. Excessive disturbance before the newborn is completely dry may cause its mother to reject itNewborns are generally left alone by the dam when she goes off … Continue reading →

There are many reasons for wanting to hand raise a fawn, it may be part of a set of triplets, the mother may have abandon it, or you may want to have an animal that is desensitized to human contact. Regardless of how or why, the methods to which you will care for this “baby” … Continue reading →

Bring up the subject of weaning to a group of elk or red deer farmers, and you’ll get a lot of different opinions. That’s partly because we are still fairly new at intensively managing these animals in a farmed environment and partly because management philosophies vary between different styles of elk farms. There are several … Continue reading →

The usual gestation period for a cow is seven months (approx. 220 days). Individual cows will vary. Calves are usually born during daylight hours, typically in the morning. This is natural for reindeer; in the wild, calves need enough time to gather strength before nightfall so they can keep up with the herd. Calves will … Continue reading →