Muddy areas...?

Here in WI the mills can't put it in our deer feed mixes. They can put it in the cattle feed and such, but not the deer. The law. Seems strange, as if they just want to make things more difficult for us deer farmers.

No! The state would never do that would they???

Compare the analysis label of the cattle feed with your deer feed - bet it is closer than you think and is made for a ruminant anyway. If you want the medication, feed a batch of cattle mixed with your deer feed.

So are you guys feeding antibiotics to your heard several times a year as a prevenative? Sorry if i have misunderstood. I need to learn alot on the prevenative side of things.

Robbie said:

Compare the analysis label of the cattle feed with your deer feed - bet it is closer than you think and is made for a ruminant anyway. If you want the medication, feed a batch of cattle mixed with your deer feed.

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The feed mill where I am currently getting my deer feed from can't believe how basic my mix is. I took in the antlers from this year and showed them and they just can't believe that such a basic mix could grow antlers like that. They said it is nothing more than a simple heifer feed, so you are correct Robbie. Same feed really.

But the thing is if you tell them your feeding cattle and something happens to your deer are they liable?

I had an analysis run on my feed a couple months ago. It came back at 14% protein and 7% fat. I don't know maybe I should raise the protein some, but so far I seem to be growing good deer staying simple about it.



Trigger, I hate to say much more than I have about this. Seems like no one else wants to talk about it. Again I am not a vet and I have no expert knowledge about this stuff.

I can only say I have been doing this for many years and have not had issues from it.

I use it for periods of about 2 weeks on and then 2 weeks off. I try and time the use of it so it coincides with changes in the weather such as cold snaps or warming trends, or freezing rain and such. I try and time it with up coming TB and Bruc testing dates. Or any event that will be added stress to the animals system.

My understanding is it provides a minimal amount of antibiotics in the blood stream to aid in fighting off sickness. So for instance if you have a storm with freezing rain move in it gives just a little boost to help them maybe fight off getting sick. It is not a cure all by no means.

Any stress event could lead to a sick deer because the immune system is zapped just enough to let it get sick.

It is supposed to aid in feed efficiency as well.

It does have a negative affect on the kidneys or liver though if used for too long of time. I think it is the kidneys. But again it depends on how long you use it and at what concentration it is being used.

I stick to what I know which is the 4 gram strength. If I can't get 4 gram I use 2 gram and adjust from there. But this comes in much stronger strengths as well. Educate your self and I highly recommend speaking with your vet before using it to be sure you have a good understanding of this stuff.

Roger - good point, but they aren't any more liable for you feeding it off lable than the drug manufacturers are for us using different meds off label for deer. We take that responsibility on ourselves, until such a time that there is more clinical data and things start being labeled for deer.

I got my feed formula from a very reputable Top nationaly known breeder and we(he) feed CTC 4 gram crumbles 12.5 lbs. per 1000 year round. I had never thought about them building a resistance, but they have been on it over a year now with no sign of problems. I'm not saying it is how to do it just what we do.

Robbie said:

Roger - good point, but they aren't any more liable for you feeding it off lable than the drug manufacturers are for us using different meds off label for deer. We take that responsibility on ourselves, until such a time that there is more clinical data and things start being labeled for deer.

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I know what you mean about the off label stuff Robbie. And your are correct.

But what I meant about the liability stuff with the mills was more in terms of if I tell them I want heifer feed, and feed it to deer and there is say a mold issue for example, and I have deer die or get sick they might say I mislead them what I was feeding and use that to avoid being liable.

gcw matt said:

I got my feed formula from a very reputable Top nationaly known breeder and we(he) feed CTC 4 gram crumbles 12.5 lbs. per 1000 year round. I had never thought about them building a resistance, but they have been on it over a year now with no sign of problems. I'm not saying it is how to do it just what we do.

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Matt, Same holds true here in my area. even know some who have had deer 15+ yrs that even triple it or more acouple times a year or as they see fit.

IndependenceRanch said:

say a mold issue for example, and I have deer die or get sick they might say I mislead them what I was feeding and use that to avoid being liable.

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Gotcha - but I think moldy feed is moldy feed. If they are selling bad feed to cattle ranchers, goat farmers, or whoever, they would have a problem. I don't think it would matter if your dog ate it and got sick, if the feed is bad, it is on them. I know with horse feed, you know when you open the bag if it is bad, old or moldy. I don't have to tell them what I was feeding it to, I just take it back. Also, if you are ordering a batch of medicated feed, I would imagine that is something they would probably have to mix for you, so it should be fresh. Or, check their floor, and order it when you see they are low on stock, so they have to make it fresh for you. Most tags on feed bags have a coded date on them, so you know when it was made.



I guess there will always be a scenario that you could get trapped in, but I think any reputable mill will honor their feed, regardless.

Whitetail Sanctuary said:

Matt, Same holds true here in my area. even know some who have had deer 15+ yrs that even triple it or more acouple times a year or as they see fit.

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W/S, That would be at a treatment level then and they must be doing it for certain issues they have pop up in the herd.



I have never had an issue here that warranted a treatment level in my herd so I have never done that.



Matt's 12.5 LBS per 1000LBS of feed is only slightly more than my 1/2 LB per 50 LBS of feed. So Matt is right in the ball park for the preventative level.

Back 15+ years ago when I started deer I fed it all the time also. I got that from guys who had been in the biz 25+ years before me. But from doing some research and talking with certain vets I adopted the plan I use now.

Everyone has to use what works for them.