DEER TRACKING
". . . the many dimensions of the Canadian deer industry"

Tracking The Industry Editor - Randy Barks Box 59 - Cut Knife, SK. - S0M 0N0 - Phone / Fax (306) 398-2293 - Email: ohdeer@sk.sympatico.ca Tracking the Industry values your input! Click here to find out how to contact us! Next deadline is January 3, 2002 Print version available by subscription! All articles and advertising in this issue are copyright © of Tracking The Industry. . . and may not be used in any form without express written permission from the editor.

December 2001 - January 2002 Issue

CONTENTS

SWAMDPA PRESIDENT'S PEN

It seems I barely finish writing one letter and Randy phones me to remind me that an other letter is due. A lot has happened in the short time since I last wrote to you.

The board met with the Hon. Clay Serby, Minister of Agriculture, in September, and were quite encouraged by his attitude towards our industry. He assured us that he considered game farming one of the bright spots of agricultural diversification, that we had the strong support of his department, and that game farming is here to stay. We took the opportunity to emphasize that we wished to be completely under his jurisdiction and completely removed from SERM's.

As many of you are aware, at its convention on Nov 6&7, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) considered a motion asking the provincial government to put a moratorium on the expansion of game farming. This motion was motivated by a fear of CWD and a general misunderstanding of the industry. We arranged for Dr. Connie Argue, the District Veterinarian for CFIA in Regina to speak, and I went to Regina and spoke against the motion as well. Meanwhile many of you were contacted by e-mail and fax and you in turn spoke with your councilors and reeves. SEBA also contacted their members and handed out information sheets to the delegates. The result was an overwhelming defeat of the motion. This tells me that when the farming public is given the facts about our industry, they will support us. It also shows the importance of aggressively defending our industry when someone challenges it.

I was driving back from Regina, feeling pretty good about our victory, when I heard John Gormley announce that there would be a debate on game farming on his show the next day.(Groan, here we go again!) Well, a few quick phone calls and Lisa and Tara e-mailed everyone on their list requesting that they man the battle stations (phones). Once again Mark Bencze did an excellent job of defending us, and you the membership flooded the station with calls in support of our industry. Thank you to everyone who called in, including those of you left on hold, and those who couldn't get through because the lines were all busy.

By now most of you have signed up for the CWD surveillance program. If you haven't, I would encourage you to do so immediately. In talks with Sask Ag and Food, we have been told that the program will become mandatory in the near future. This is the only way to ensure that trade barriers are not unnecessarily put up by other jurisdictions. Once it is established the entire province would have one CWD enrolment-effective date. This will also aid in trade within our province, since trading with other farms within Saskatchewan would not affect your status. This would be a much simpler way to administer this program. We are also pressing for our status to be separate from that of the elk since there have been no cases of CWD in farmed deer in the province.

Our convention isn't that far away (March 15-17). Look for your information packages to arrive in the not too distant future. As always we need volunteers, donations, etc. Think about what you can do to help support the industry and our Association.

Ron Friesen

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AWMDA PRESIDENT'S PEN

This will be my last opportunity to address all of our members before the holiday season. Therefore I would like to extend best wishes to all, on behalf of the board, our professional staff and myself. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.

The past year has been one of continuing change. The profound and devastating events of 9/11 will result in a changed world forever. We will all have to adjust and adapt. Individually and collectively we must embrace and address the challenges and opportunities of the future.

What do we want to accomplish, as an industry, in 2002?

Certainly we want to proceed with the development of our domestic CHPs market. We want to expand opportunities for on-farm slaughter. We want to create new, easily accessible and exciting outlets to a strong, well defined and economically attractive and viable venison market for our surplus animals. We want to encourage the development of other industry segments in order to fully realize the potential of our wonderful and unique animal. Our collective, relative success in continuing the development of opportunities in the foregoing market segments will, of course, determine the strength and breadth and depth of our breeder markets. The economic value of our animals in the commercial market place will ultimately determine the value of our breeding stock. It will also determine which genetic attributes should be developed and which are of marginal economic benefit.

So, what needs to be done?

It is not all that complicated. We have a planning framework in place. We need to fill in some of the spaces. Collectively, our producers with support from other stakeholders have the ability and capacity to make it happen. We will see continued, sustained success toward accomplishment of our common goals and objectives as soon as we see all deer producers actively participating in the zone and committee processes.

Thank you for your strong support and co-operation over the past year. We look forward to everyone having just a super 2002.

Bryan G. Taitinger, CMA, CFP

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OWTDPA PRESIDENT'S PEN

Where did the summer and fall go? Each month seems to me to have gone quicker than the month before. My October message was short due to being at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Navan near Ottawa.

Our whitetail deer display now has an excellent base and we can add detail as time progresses. Thanks to those who made a special effort to complete the display on time and especially to those who helped me out with manning the display: Randy Hentz, Nancy Dougherty, Lloyd Lee and Don Herron.

We now have a colourful, informative producer's pamphlet, thanks to Steve Yantzi and his efforts.

When Tara called me on September 23rd, an article was furthest from my mind. We had arrived home on September 22nd and tried to move our breeding buck into the front pen, without any cooperation on his part. On Sunday A.M. when I got up, it was a foggy fall morning. From one upstairs window I can survey most of the pens, except what drops over the hill to the creek. A dog barked in the distance, but nothing seemed amiss. I had breakfast and walked to the family room, tea in hand, to contemplate where to start, after a week away. A burgundy suburban sat between our gate and Ken's, our oldest son's place. This always signals Native hunters and trouble with dogs or guns; possibly both. The middle of September, when they start hunting in our area, I always go out and talk to them about our deer and the concerns I have about dogs and hunters and ask for their co-operation, since they do not have permission to hunt on any property in our area. I had a chat with this young Native about his reasons for being parked here. His reply was that he was watching a deer in the hollow and he knew he couldn't hunt here, so I returned home. Just a little later, our does were running to the west fence behind our younger son's. I watched with binoculars and saw 2 young bucks. I showed my husband and called David to take a closer look at the beautiful buck eating apples across the road. As he turned, I recognized his strut, as did David. In two minutes he was calling from outside that our fence had been cut.

What a good job they did. Cut six times methodically up, across, and down over 5 posts, another cut, six cuts in all, ten bucks on the loose. Where do you start? I called 9-1-1, police on their way. I called a neighbour vet for a tranquilizer gun, and then called the police headquarters, Humane Society Animal control for our area, and Ministry of Natural Resources. Eventually we got a blowgun and a tranquilizer pistol. The police came and said Natives had shot two bucks on the side-road 1/2 mile from our home. Our son had been sent to ID them. That info was the payoff; I had a heart attack. You know the old saying: everything goes wrong that can go wrong. It did!

Well neighbours came, relatives came, and neighbours, friends and relatives supplied food for all the volunteers. One buck walked back in with a little coaxing and they tranquilized one on Sunday evening. Monday A.M. early, Donna was going back to explore. She came up and said two bucks were crossing the bridge. As we went out, Wayne and Anthony from animal control arrived with a 4-wheeler and another pistol. As they encouraged the bucks to enter the funnel that had been created with extra fence, Nancy and I each drove down the hill to move them across to the opening. Great. Two more in. At this point, I went to the doctor, then to the hospital for a much-needed rest, even though not the holiday anyone wants to experience.

Charges were laid under the fish and game act, for discharging a firearm on a public thruway, by the O.P.P. The fellas worked hard repairing fence, working, scouting at night and had all but our largest buck back home by the time I was released from the hospital. A couple of persistent neighbours assisted every day as well. Six Pac, the big buck, was another story. He alluded everyone for another week, but after many challenges, we had them all back home.

No one needs this type of vandalism, cattle rustling, or whatever with all the other trials and tribulations that the industry sets out for us. I am only thankful for health, family, friends and neighbours and whoever was watching out for us on that fateful morn. My heart goes out to our American neighbours during this time of tremendous tragedy as well.

Well, with breeding season in full swing, all the best. Be careful, not careless around our bucks whether mature or immature. Watch your fences for wild challengers as well. Keep alert. Keep Alive!

Mabel E. Dougherty

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FROM THE EDITOR

Now this is farming! The weather's cooling off and about the time it's 30 below and no one feels much like being outside, I don't have to be. As my cowboy neighbour labours over his tractor that won't start, to haul ever-increasing loads of expensive feed to his complaining cattle, and completes his day by fighting with frozen water lines, I'll be enjoying some R & R on my deer farm. Our deer have already noticeably cut back on feed and soon their inactivity will lead us to wonder if they're really eating it at all. With feed costs way down, no need to start a tractor, and snow being a rather low maintenance water source, I'll try not to smile too brightly as my neighbour complains about the long cold winter ahead.

We, too, have our busy times of tagging fawns, bottle-feeding, sorting, vaccinating, antler cutting, and AI ing. But, hey, we're through all that now and the weather was rather pleasant through those times! It's now time to anticipate the progeny products of strategic breedings.

It's also time to move a few animals. Believe it or not, this should have begun over a year ago. The selection of top genetics last year combined with a year of letting people know what your farm has to offer brings us to the winter sales season. We've all heard words of woe from a new acquaintance who suddenly wants to sell animals from lines we've never heard of. Plan ahead, friends, and it will work! If genetic "programming" and marketing aren't "your thing," get connected with someone. Then sit back and enjoy these wonderful critters and the healthy returns they are capable of creating.

Every year at this time, we hear concerns that "things just aren't moving." Of course they're not! The animals are breeding and will be until January. Expect inquiries for the next little while and don't panic. When did you purchase your animals? My guess is it was sometime between January and April with a few "limited edition" animals selected before then. A healthy number of breeder bucks sold or leased this fall with a tremendous amount of AI ing going on as well. That speaks of confidence in our industry - an industry I am grateful to be a part of!

Christmas is upon us! Our tree usually goes up by Nov. 1, as my family figures this birthday party really should last longer! I agree! Christmas makes me thankful, thankful for Tara and my 3 treasures, thankful for the opportunity to do something as fulfilling as deer farming and writing about deer, thankful for all the super friends we've got out there, and thankful for all the support that flows our way. Most of all though, I'm thankful for the "reason for the season." Enjoy deer farming, but take time to explore and enjoy the full meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas, friends, and have a happy New Year!

Randy Barks

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DON'T FORGET - UPCOMING!

3RD ANNUAL BREEDER'S CLASSIC - (Saskatoon) December 16, 2001

2002 NADeFA ANNUAL CONFERENCE / WORLD DEER FARMING CONGRESS III (Austin Texas) February 20 - 23, 2002

DEER DYNAMICS 2001 (Saskatchewan Convention - Regina) March 15 - 17, 2002

ALBERTA AWMDA CONVENTION 2002 (Red Deer) April 5 - 7, 2002

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TAILS WITH A DARK SIDE

(Reprinted with permission of author)
The truth about whitetail - mule deer hybrids
By Jim Heffelfinger

The Minotaur of Greek mythology was a creature that was half man and half bull. Hybrids have always fascinated us throughout the history of mankind. Many of our monsters are a mixture of man and beast (Wolfman, Dracula, the Fly). Likewise, consider our heros: Spiderman, Batman, and Cat Woman. Our obsession with creatures that are half one thing and half another extends to our enjoyment of wildlife. Early naturalists often described new animals as a combination of parts from animals already known to man. The mule deer was described by John J. Audubon in 1846 as having fur like an elk but hooves like a whitetail.

Whenever hunters gather, there is always abundant talk about the types of deer from different areas: Kansas whitetails, Montana mule deer, Sitka blacktails, Key deer, Coues deer, Carmen Mountain whitetails, fat Wisconsin does, and wide South Texas giants. Despite all the differences across the country, there are actually only 2 species of deer in North America: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). The different-looking black-tailed deer of the pacific northwest is actually a type (subspecies) of mule deer.

All native deer in North America are either mule deer or whitetails. On rare occasions, however, we hear of a deer which can not neatly be labeled as one or the other. This mysterious deer looks mostly like a mule deer but has a tail with a dark back-side like a whitetail.

Different species of animals, even closely related ones, are normally kept from breeding by being geographically isolated from one another, or by separating themselves into different types of habitat. If the animals coexist in the same habitat then they generally have different courtship and breeding behavior to prevent interbreeding.

In most areas of the West where both deer species are found, mule deer inhabit the higher mountain areas and whitetails occupy the lower valleys and river systems. This habitat preference is reversed in the southwest where Coues whitetails are found in the mountains above 4,000 feet and the desert mule deer occupy the lower-elevation valleys and foothills. Because of the interspersion of whitetail habitat (mountains) throughout mule deer habitat, the southwest has an extensive zone where the two species coexist. This results in the animals being in close proximity to one another during the breeding season. It is not uncommon to see a group containing both whitetails and mule deer in these areas of overlap.

In the case of whitetails and mule deer, courtship and breeding behavior is different enough that body language and scent cues given off by a female mule deer during rut are not "understood" by a male whitetail and vice versa. Also, in many areas where their range overlaps, the rut peaks at slightly different times for the 2 species. This system of species segregation has worked remarkably well throughout their evolutionary coexistence. However, in rare cases this system breaks down and genetic material slips across the behavioral barrier, resulting in a deer that is half whitetail and half mule deer. This hybridization between the two different deer species is extremely rare but does occur throughout the West where their ranges overlap.

These bucks show characteristics which are intermediate between mule deer and whitetails. Body size and facial features indicate a mule deer but the tail is usually dark chocolate brown or black on top and white underneath. The tail of a hybrid looks very much like a typical whitetail, but is frequently much darker. Ears are normally larger than a whitetail but smaller than a mule deer. The preorbital gland in front of the eye is also intermediate between the deep pits found in mule deer and the shallow depression of whitetails.

What about the antlers? Forget about the antlers; this is a worthless characteristic to judge whether an animal is a hybrid or not. Most documented hybrids have whitetail-like antlers but you can't count on antlers alone. I have 3 sets of antlers in my livingroom: 2 are whitetails with forked primary tines (G2) and the third is a desert mule deer with 8 long points, all arising from the mainbeam. There is simply too much variation in antlers to serve as a reliable indicator of hybridization. The whitetails in the Carmen Mountains of northern Mexico have been shown to exhibit a high degree of forked antlers like mule deer.

The best feature to determine if a deer is a hybrid is the size of the metatarsal gland, which is located on the outside of the lower portion of the rear legs. This should not be confused with the tarsal glands on the inside of the legs. The metatarsals on mule deer sit high on the lower leg and are 3 to 6 inches long and surrounded by light brown fur. The whitetail's metatarsals are at or below the mid-point of the lower leg, usually less than 1 inch, and surrounded by white hairs. A whitetail-mule deer hybrid has metatarsal glands that split the difference, usually measuring between 2-4 inches and encircled with white hair.

Two year-old mule deer are most frequently mistaken for hybrids. This is because of their smaller antler development and the fact that the dichotomous branching, producing the big "forks", usually does not occur until the buck is 3 years old. Young mule deer sometimes give the appearance of a very large white-tailed deer, especially if its tail has a dark stripe down the back, as sometimes occurs. Mule deer in some areas, like southern California, have a dark band running down the back of their tails.

Hybrids have been reported from captive facilities as early as 1898 when a whitetail-mule deer cross was produced at the Cincinnati Zoo. Occurrences were later reported from the Zoo in Minot, ND, deer pens in Alberta, and others. Researchers in Tennessee also successfully produced whitetail-blacktail hybrids in a captive situation.

In the 1930s, biologists in Arizona produced hybrids by mating mule deer males to whitetail females and also mule deer females to whitetail males. These matings resulted in 9 hybrid fawns, of which only 4 survived the first few months. The research ended abruptly and the deer had to be released before any meaningful data could be collected. In the 1970s, Gerald Day also produced hybrids in captivity in Arizona. Ten hybrids were born but only 4 lived past 6 months of age. Survival appears to be very low in hybrids even when pampered in a captive facility.

Survival in the wild is even more difficult when food doesn't come from a feed trough and there's no fence between them and animals with sharp teeth. To complicate matters, hybrids inherit predator avoidance strategies from both types of parents; the problem is, whitetail and mule deer have drastically different techniques for escaping predators.

As Valerius Geist explained in the June 1995 issue of (Deer and Deer Hunting), the whitetail's key to escaping is speed. They put their head down, follow established trails, and try to put as much distance between themselves and the predator as possible, as fast as possible. Mule deer, on the other hand, have developed a pogostick-like bounding called "stotting", where all four hooves hit the ground at the same time. This strategy developed in mule deer because they evolved in wide open and rugged country throughout the West. Their escape by stotting is not as fast as the whitetail's, but in rugged terrain it is effective for putting obstacles between the predator and the deer. Mule deer can bound over boulders and stumps that the predator must run around.

Research by Susan Lingle using captive animals in Alberta, has shown that stotting is so specialized that only deer that are 100% mule deer can do it. Even a whitetail X mule deer fails miserably. The hybrid's escape behavior is chaotic; the deer will typically approach the threat and jump around in confusion. Such behavior is not conducive to passing their genes on to another generation.

Whitetail-mule deer hybrids have also been reported in the wild from Alberta, British Columbia, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Washington, Texas, and Arizona.

Biologists have documented the presence of hybrids in the wild on only a few occasions. The relative scarcity of confirmed hybrids among the hundreds of thousands of deer that have been seen throughout the area of range overlap illustrates how rare they are. Every year numerous reports are received of "hybrid" deer from hunters. Arizona researcher, Gerald Day (who produced captive hybrids) investigated over 200 reports of "hybrids" and did not find a single legitimate whitetail-mule deer hybrid. Most of these hybrid reports come from hunters who have a whitetail tag on the leg of a mule deer and are trying to convince the Game Warden that they are at least half right.

Recent advances in DNA analysis technology has allowed us to look at more definitive things than ears and antlers. The production of proteins in the body is regulated by genes so by analyzing differences between some proteins, researchers can identify what species a sample of tissue came from. Serum albumin is a protein that has proven particularly useful. Analyzing this protein with a process called electrophoresis produces a series of horizontal bands on a gel surface like we all saw during the O.J. trial. This protein produces a band in a different location for whitetails and mule deer. When a hybrid is tested, both the whitetail and the mule deer bands are present. The same result can be had by mixing whitetail burger with mule deer burger and running the test on the mixture. There seems to be some exceptions to the unique banding patterns but this test is at least 95% accurate.

In west Texas, managers have reported an increasing trend in the number of hybrids they see on their ranches. In the early 1980s, whitetails and mule deer in a 5-county area were tested using serum albumin and researchers found that on the average 5.6% of the deer they tested were hybrids. Individual ranches ranged from 0% to 24%!

At the same time, other researchers were busy analyzing the genetics of whitetails and mule deer on a ranch in west Texas with a different method. This method looks at mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is a type of DNA that every animal inherits from only its mother. This is useful because a hybrid that has a whitetail mother and mule deer father, will have only whitetail mtDNA (the rest of the DNA will be from both mother and father). If the hybrid was a female, it would continue to pass whitetail mtDNA through its daughters and their daughters even if bred by mule deer bucks. After a few generations, the results of these matings would look like mule deer but would have pure whitetail mtDNA from their mother and grandmother.

And that's apparently what happened; these researchers found that the mule deer on the ranch had mtDNA that was indistinguishable from the whitetails on the ranch. They concluded hybridization was common on this ranch. Even more surprising, a different type of analysis showed that the mtDNA of mule deer on this ranch was more closely related to whitetails from South Carolina than to blacktails (a type of mule deer) from northern California! This relationship indicated, that hybridization must have occurred between mule deer bucks and whitetail does because the whitetail mtDNA they carried was inherited from their mothers.

These findings run contrary to the conventional theory that most hybridization occurs between a whitetail buck and mule deer doe. This theory is based on the different breeding strategies of the two species. The whitetail buck is accustomed to chasing a whitetail doe relentlessly until she allows him to breed. The mule deer breeding behavior is much more relaxed with the doe only moving a few steps if she is not ready. A whitetail doe would run far away from a pursuing mule deer buck, confusing him; but a mule deer doe would not run far from a whitetail buck in pursuit. It seems more likely then, that a persistent whitetail buck would be more likely to breed with a mule deer doe.

Another researcher in Montana used both of these methods (Albumin and mtDNA) to determine the extent of hybridization and found very little, if any, had occurred in that state. Interestingly, like the west Texas study, whitetails and mule deer were found to be more closely related to each other than blacktails and mule deer which are the same species (different subspecies).

This relatively close relationship between whitetail and mule deer and their genetic differences from blacktails has spawned a new theory that the mule deer itself is actually a hybrid form; the result of a mixing of genes from coastal blacktail bucks mating with whitetails does when the glaciers of the last Ice Age receded, bringing the two species together. The resulting offspring then changed drastically over the last 10,000 years in response to environmental conditions. This would explain the similarities between whitetail and mule deer mtDNA. Analysis of the rest of the DNA (nuclear DNA) with Polymerase Chain Reaction-based microsatellites or any of the other rapidly developing techniques will add much to our knowledge of the origin of deer.

This theory is interesting since black-tailed deer actually look like a cross between a whitetail and a mule deer. This observation is not solely mine, nor is it new. Early explorers, Lewis and Clark noted in their journal that black-tailed fallow deer are peculiar to this coast and are a distinct species, partaking equally of the qualities of the mule deer and the common deer [whitetail]. In 1939, famous outdoor writer, Jack O'Conner also remarked that a whitetail-mule deer hybrid more nearly resembles the Columbian blacktail than it does either of its parents.

Regardless of the origin and evolution of our deer species, whitetail and mule deer hybrids do occur. However, they are extremely rare in the wild and almost impossible to accurately identify on the hoof because of the large variation in characteristics in each species. Some whitetails have characteristics (tails, forehead) which look like mulies and some mule deer may have whitetail-like features (no antler forks, black line on the back of the tail). Hybrids can not be identified with certainty at a distance, and it is highly unlikely that a hunter will see a hybrid while afield. The low number of interspecies matings and the low survival of hybrid offspring reduce the chance of encountering one in the wild to near zero.

Jim Heffelfinger

Editors note: Jim Heffelfinger has worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, University of Wisconsin, Mississippi State University, and in the private sector as Manager of a trophy whitetail ranch in South Texas. He now works for the Arizona Game & Fish Department as the Regional Game Specialist for southeastern Arizona.

LITERATURE REFERENCED

Carr, S.M., S.W. Ballinger, J.N. Derr, L.H. Blankenship, and J.W. Bickham. 1986. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of hybridization between sympatric white-tailed deer and mule deer in west Texas. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 83:9576-9580.

Cronin, M.A., E.R. Vyse, and D.G. Cameron. 1988. Genetic relationships between mule deer and white-tailed deer in Montana. J. Wildl. Manage. 52:320-328.

Day, G.I. 1980. Characteristics and measurements of captive hybrid deer in Arizona. Southwest. Nat. 25:434-438.

Lingle, S. 1989. Limit coordination and body configuration in the fast gaits of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and their hybrids: Adaptive significance and management implications. M.S. Thesis, University of Calgary, Alberta.

Nichols, A.A. 1938. Experimental feeding of deer. Agr. Bull., Univ. Ariz. Exp. Sta. 75:1-39

Stubblefield, S.S, R.J. Warren, and B.R. Murphy. 1986. Hybridization of free-ranging whitetail and mule deer in Texas. J. Wildl. Manage. 50:688-690

Editor's Note: Thank you to Tod & Sherri Molesworth, Black Canyon Ranch www.blackcanyonranch.com. They raise hybrids on their ranch in Michigan. Email: blackcanyon@ameritech.net

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MANAGING YOUR BUSINESS RECORDS

As a deer producer, your paperwork supports and validates your business. You need to be able to file and retrieve your animals' records with accuracy and confidence. When you can supply a potential buyer with breeding records, you are making a statement about your operation--you are a reputable producer with a saleable product, ready to do business!

Everyone has their area of expertise in their business. As an entrepreneur, you reflect that knowledge and proficiency. A person excels where their passion lies. But it doesn't matter whether your passion is being organized or not, your deer operation requires that you pay attention to the management of your mail, your records, and your overall office environment!

Some producers don't enjoy time spent in their office. You may prefer focussing your time and energy on raising your livestock, marketing and selling your deer, and interacting with customers and suppliers. However, to run a successful business, accurate business records are a must.

As a business owner, you have daily opportunities and challenges. Having the right information at the right time can create opportunity; looking for a lost file or a vital piece of information could spell disaster! An effective record keeping system will increase your ability to access vital information at a moment's notice!

How to get started

Break down your areas of disorganization into workable projects. Decide what areas in your office need organizing: your desk, your files, or eliminating general clutter. List the jobs in order of priority. Attack one area at a time.

Establish what actions are required to get each area organized

Do you need to organize your filing system? Is there a growing population of paper piles in your office that need to be tackled? Consider purchasing some additional office supplies to make your office function more efficiently. Make an investment in new skills, equipment and tools. The return on your investment will be substantial!

Estimate the amount of time each organizing project will take.

Be realistic, otherwise you can become discouraged by the length of time it may take for you to get in control! Schedule the time. It is vital to establish a schedule because you will not get organized in your spare time.

The Benefits of Maintaining Good Records

In the process of getting your desk clear and your office in order, you may feel worse before you feel better. However, keep your sight set on the overall goal. You will benefit from increased organization!
-You will be less frustrated because your ability to find information will be increased!
-You will experience greater productivity and efficiency in your work.
-You will gain control of your time, space and activities.

Having an efficient system for filing and retrieving your information will increase your sense of control over your deer farming operation. The importance of well-organized records cannot be stressed enough. I encourage you to take that first step. Start now! Your efforts will be rewarded!

Getting Organized Is Half Knowledge and Half Action

Are you ready to take action, but feel you could use some more organizing information? Learn how to get organized FAST! My FREE Getting Started Guide is full of practical tips that will get you going in no time. Go to www.paperchasesolutions.com.

About the Author: Karen D. Wright is author of Paper Chase Solutions, Solving Your Organizational Dilemmas. She combines her role of wife and mother with her growing consulting business. She resides on their farm in west-central SK, Canada. To contact Karen, call her at 306-398-3662 or e-mail her at karen@paperchasesolutions.com

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FARM FACTS - Feeding Kochia

During times of feed shortages, alternative forages not normally fed are often used. Kochia (Kochia scoparia) is a plant that can be used for feed. If baled early and harvested before the plant is mature, the feed quality is excellent, rivaling alfalfa in protein and energy levels. However, what sets kochia apart from common feed forages is that it contains a component called an oxalate. Soluble oxalates can be normally found in plants such as kochia or redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), rhubarb leaves (Rheum rhaponeticum) or may also be produced by some fungi on moldy feedstuffs.

Danger in feeding kochia

The danger in feeding kochia is that oxalates bind to calcium in the bloodstream, forming calcium oxalate by precipitating the calcium, leading to hypocalcemia or low calcium levels. Calcium oxalate will not only severely reduce the calcium availability to body systems, calcium crystals can also block renal systems in the kidneys causing death. Upon post mortem, gross pathology will show swollen kidneys, hemorrhages and edema of the rumen wall as well as the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in kidneys and rumen.

Short-term problems from oxalates will occur when unconditioned ruminants (such as sheep or cattle) are turned out onto pasture and allowed to graze kochia. Symptoms of short term poisoning include labored breathing, depression, weakness, coma and death with some animals showing convulsions and tetany within two to four hours of eating a feed containing high levels of oxalates.

Short-term results will be typical of hungry animals more so than animals that were fed prior to ingesting oxalate laden feeds. If an animal is showing obvious symptoms of having consumed oxalate laden feeds, it generally means serum calcium levels have been reduced by up to 20 per cent below normal -death usually occurs in animals registering more than a 20 per cent reduction in serum calcium.

How to use kochia as a feed source

With proper management, kochia may be used as a feed. Depending on the stage of maturity, kochia may be fed in cattle diets for up to 40 per cent of the diet if the kochia was baled at later stages of maturity. If kochia was baled at an earlier maturity stage, beef recommen-dations suggest feeding at up to 30 per cent of the diet.

Kochia feeding recommendations for deer, elk and bison do not exist. It would be prudent to feed kochia sparingly to these species, particularly to bison as they retain feeds for a longer period of time in their rumen. If kochia were to be fed to deer or elk, it would also be prudent to limit the level of kochia in the diet and offset the rest of the diet with a forage source high in calcium such as alfalfa or ensure adequate calcium intake by way of mineral supplementation.

As an insurance measure when feeding kochia, feed additional calcium supplements to negate any effect of kochia on calcium utilization. Prepared minerals containing calcium and phosphorus can be used, or if a mixed diet is fed, additional limestone can be added as a source of calcium.

For more information on the feeding of kochia, please contact your local nutritionist, Provincial Extension Agrologist or Livestock Agrologist.

Murray Feist, M. Sc., P.Ag.
Provincial Feed Industry Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 933-5570
Fax: (306) 933-5605

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ASK THE EXPERTS
On aging whitetails by teeth wear:

Question: I realize there is science behind aging deer by toothwear. But in reality, is this absolutely accurate to the year?

Answers:

*Aging whitetails and mule deer by tooth replacement and wear is nearly 100% accurate for 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5+ because of changes in tooth eruption and wear of a few definite cusps. After 3 years, wear rather than eruption of new teeth are used for aging and things get a little less reliable.

Research shows that "Field Aging" (tooth replacement and wear) is more accurate than cementum annuli for deer 3.5 and younger. For deer older than that cementum annuli gave better results. There can be variability between observers on the same deer, but for management purposes, field aging is a very useful tool. In Arizona we place deer into 6 age classes, grouping some of the older ones because it is not reliable (nor necessary) to differentiate between a 6.5 year old and a 7.5 year old when managing a wild population.

Our age categories are 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 to 5.5, 6.5 to 8.5, and 9+. We feel reasonably confident we can place most in these categories accurately and these classes are useful for management purposes. The half ages are because the fawns are born in summer and we normally age them during the fall hunting season so they are always at half ages.

If you are interested in more, our department sells a $3 age guide that shows how to age deer, elk, and most other big game species. The guide is called "Age criteria for Arizona game animals", but the aging methods are applicable to these species throughout their range. You can order (by mail, not on-line) the age guide by following this link: www.azqfd.com/frames/whatsnew/idf_pub.htm

Jim Heffelfinger
Regional Game Specialist
Arizona Game and Fish Department
and Adjunct Professor, University of Arizona

*Aging white-tailed deer by tooth eruption is quite reliable through about 3.5 years of age, relatively good for 4.5 to 5.5 years of age and just a guess beyond 6.5 years of age (other than to say "It's old."). The procedure depends on the presence and replacement of deciduous premolars ("baby teeth") and the eruption of the last molar. For older animals, the wear of the permanent teeth is used. This procedure is easier in hunter-killed animals where you can either cut the cheek skin or pull the lower jaw. It is more difficult in live animals as visualization of that last molar can be tricky. As with any procedure, it is not 100% accurate, but it is good for estimating age structures within populations.

Ken Waldrup , DVM, PhD
Texas Animal Health Commission

*No. It works well for the first 3 years and then starts to get progressively more error prone. You could still separate old deer from young deer without hesitation, but you could not identify an 8-year-old or even a 5-year-old with confidence. As deer get older, individual differences start to dominate the general wear pattern that comes with age. It's just like people - most of us start out with good teeth but by middle age there are huge differences between individuals, some who still have good teeth and others who have terrible teeth. You could start a reference collection of your own by saving lower jaws of known-age animals that die or are slaughtered from your farm.

Dave Hirth
Wildlife Biology Program University of Vermont

*Ken Gee with the Noble Foundation in southern Oklahoma evaluated the tooth-wear and eruption method for aging deer; his results were less definitive than those that Heffelfinger reported for AZ. The abstract from a talk that Gee gave at a deer symposium a couple of years ago reads:

"Abstract: Aging white-tailed deer using the tooth replacement and wear aging technique is widely used and accepted. We established a reference collection of known-age free-ranging deer from south-central Oklahoma to evaluate the accuracy of the technique. Results from that study indicate that the technique allows us to confidently place deer into 3 age-classes only, i.e. fawn, yearling, and adult. Attempts to place adult deer into specific year age-classes using traditional methods were very inaccurate. Management or research programs requiring accurate and precise age determination of adult white-tailed deer should carefully review and critique the method." More details at: http://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/genetics/p18.htm

I know that Dr. Charles DeYoung of (then) Texas A&I University in Kingsville compared ages as estimated by tooth wear vs. cementum annuli, but I cannot recall his exact findings (these are likely the results that Heffelfinger is alluding to). Perhaps someone else on the list has those data or conclusions in electronic form?

Dale Rollins
Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist
Texas Cooperative Extension
San Angelo

*We studied this a bit with deer from NE Illinois. For adults (2.5 +), experienced agers were quite variable relative to cementum age. Agers tended to overestimate the ages of 2.5 yr olds (more so for male deer). For 3.5 yr olds, agers were somewhat underestimating the ages of females but were about right for males (errors of over estimation = errors of under estimation). For deer older than 3.5, agers tended to under estimate deer ages for both sexes.

In all cases, agers tended to over estimate the age of male deer relative to females of the same cementum year class. This made sense because measurements of visible dentine of the occlusal surface were larger for male deer - even when we corrected for small differences in tooth size. I know from experience that I make most of my errors in trying to separate 2.5 and 3.5 yr olds.

Cite: Van Deelen et al. 2000. Sex affects age determination and wear of molarifom teeth in white-tailed deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 64:1076-1083.

Tim Van Deelen
Research Scientist
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Question: One more question... Consider aging farmed deer (by pulling teeth or deaths), given the different browsing choices available to them and more grains, peas, pellets, etc., would you expect them to wear differently than wild deer? Less wear? More wear? And would this same method be accurate in determining age of deer on farm and from farm to farm?

Answer:

*It's been my experience (with WT deer only) that when I use the tooth wear technique on known age, adult deer, born and raised in confinement, I almost always underage them by a year and in most cases two. In all the cases the deer had been fed in troughs. If they had been fed on the ground, heaven forbid, where they would likely ingest a lot of soil, I don't believe the above situation would necessarily be true.

Larry Varner
Wildlife Nutritionist
Purina Mills, Inc.
Seguin, TX

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CANADA'S FIRST VELVET EXPORT
Would your believe it?

You must be joking. No way it's been done before. It will no doubt come as a surprise to many, as it did to me, to learn that the first exports of velvet antler from Canada to the orient had nothing to do with elk, or Western Canada for that matter. It was in 1928 that Horace Freeman, who was the research director of the Consolidated Paper Corporation at Trois Rivieres, Quebec, had the idea of selling white-tailed deer velvet as "an aphrodisiac to elderly gentlemen in China".

Apparently Freeman, who had been a friend and fellow bank clerk of Robert Service in Yukon, developed the notion after a delegation of Russian scientists visited his laboratory. The antlers were said by the Russians to contain pantocrin, which had been used to heal wounds during the First World War. Freeman did some research of his own and found that one ounce of sliced antler could be sold for $5.

Not one to hold back, Freeman invited U.V. Dmitrenko to visit him on Anticosti, the almost three hundred kilometer long island which lies north-east of Quebec's Gaspe peninsular. On a map it looks like a large throat lozenge in the maw of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Dmitrenko, a Russian refugee from the communists, who had gone to live in Los Angeles, was said to be the foremost export alive on "panti". Freeman learned how to process the velvet antler according to Russian standards and then an astonishing two hundred deer were killed on the island. The antlers were processed, and half of them were shipped to Manchuria, where, according to Dmitrenko, they should fetch better than $600 a pair.

Nothing was heard for several weeks, and then the British Consul in China found the shipment, somewhat high by now, lying unclaimed on the docks. He contacted the corporation back in Canada and told them something that we all now know well, that it was difficult to break into the Chinese market without an agent. The agent he recommended acted commendably quickly, considering the state of the cargo, and suggested that although the quality of the panti had somewhat declined he thought he could still sell it for $100 per pair of antlers.

Sadly, he neglected to mention what sort of dollars were involved. The corporation had expected about $10,000, but the sale generated only a fraction of that target. Worse yet, it came in Mexican dollars, the currency in use in China at the time. As the exchange rate was only about 30 cents, the venture was a financial flop. The other hundred pairs of antlers, rotting in the Trois Rivieres warehouse, were dumped into the sea.

So there you have it. White-tailed deer antler has been used in oriental medicine, but the next time that any enterprising deer farmer in Canada tries to market it overseas it might be a good plan to set up a broker ahead of time, and the of course there is the little matter of killing of wild deer to make a profit. Departments of Natural Resources might not approve. Nor would the various deer farming associations.

Author: Jerry Haigh FRCVS

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BOOK PREVIEW

"Wrestling With Rhinos: Adventures of a Glasgow Vet in Kenya"

Imagine it's 1965, and you've just fulfilled a boyhood ambition and graduated from the vet college in Glasgow, Scotland. The very next week you find yourself in Kenya, and are soon treating wild animals. This is what happened to Dr. Jerry Haigh who in Wrestling with Rhinos takes us into the post-independence Kenya of 1965, and shows us a glimpse of the way things were until he left ten years later for a teaching post in Canada.

An early patient was a giraffe with a very sore (and very big) front foot. Of course Jerry hadn't seen many giraffes in Glasgow, but relying on his knowledge of cattle, he improvised a treatment, and luckily cured the animal. Along the way, he encountered traditional domestic animal patients as well as rhinos, elephants, wildebeest, lemurs and pelicans. Among them was Joy Adamson's cheetah, and we get a first-hand glimpse of the Adamson's Born Free experiences. While living in a country that had just become independent, Jerry also met President Jomo Kenyatta and treated his cattle.

During the years he lived on the equatorial slopes of the 17,000 foot Mount Kenya, Jerry met and married a Dutch doctor (who had earned her degree in India); several anecdotes deal with Jerry and Jo combining their medical skills to treat both human and animal patients.

Threaded through the text are observations--sometimes hilarious, sometimes scurrilous, sometimes poignant--on the social scene in Kenya, peppered with reminiscences written by his soldier father, for whom the Kenya of World War II was a very different place.

In the final chapters, Jerry documents his perspective on human/wildlife conflicts, and looks ahead hopefully into the future.

Dr. Jerry Haigh earned his veterinary degree in Scotland, and is currently a distinguished professor at the veterinary college in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is the author of dozens of learned articles, and is an avid outdoorsman.

This book will be available starting in April 2002.

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THE MISADVENTURES OF JAKE AND IMA

"Easy boy!"

"Hey, look.....a buffet!"

"You'll be O.K., fella!"

"Yes, sir, dessert would be fine!"

"Rock-a-by..."

"Mmmm, chocolate!"

"Better top ‘em up, Doc!"

"I thought the servings were bigger here."

"Come on ol' boy, a little more"

"Are you going to eat all that?"

The conversation was a strange one, but no stranger than the participants. Both were still sleeping, one grimacing with furrowed brow, the other pausing only to snore. Both were replaying priority events while anticipating the dawn of a new day on the deer farm. Jake was concerned about drawing semen from his prize bucks. Ima was seven months pregnant.

Awakened by hunger, again, Ima rolled out of bed. The wave woke Jake from his stupor, as free of that state as he got, and he rose to make breakfast for his wife. Eating for two apparently was a lot of work and kept her too busy to cook for all three. The scales were already tipped in her favour and even Jake, his attention never quite picking up all channels, realized the fragility of calm, even-keeled moments in his present existence. "Keep her well-fed, son and do what she says," his wise father had advised. "Right now she doesn't find you handsome or handy." Jake, experiencing a rare brain wave, had given his widening wife a mood ring the day before, smugly sure he'd secured life-saving warning. Sensing Ima's good mood, it turned green. When she was in a bad mood, it left a red mark on Jake's forehead. He rubbed the goose bump gingerly. This day would be different, he vowed. Stressful as semen drawing can be on the deer farm, no dumb comments or pregnant wife jokes would invite female fury today.

The vet's arrival signalled the beginning of the big event. The normally calm, naturally numb Jake, was surprisingly tense. Perhaps it was his affection for the animals or, one IQ point short of a grunt himself, he could relate to the tensions of his penned bucks. The bucks paced the corral. Despite management, they were beauties. Jake would prefer "handsome" as a describer. It just seemed "manlier" to him and considering the activities about to begin, manliness could only be a good thing. In fact, in hopes of somehow influencing the potency of the semen draw, the bucks had all been re-named. Bambi was now Big Shooter, Jo- Jo wore the title of Jock, and Fancy-Boy, a 350 lb monster became The Force! Still Jake was worried about "his boys."

As the vet prepared for the process and spread out a few tools of the trade, Jake and Ima looked on. With one particularly odd instrument in hand, the doc asked for an electrical outlet. About three days quicker on the draw than her husband, Ima gasped. The gentleman vet helped her to a chair and then quietly turned to Jake, "I don't want to alarm you," he whispered, glancing concernedly at Ima, "but I don't like the way your wife looks at all!"

"Me neither, Doc," murmured Jake, "But I feel partly responsible." With that, he went to bring in the first buck.

Bambi...I mean Big Shooter was the quieter of the three rut-swollen wonders and rather co-operatively entered the system. Jake had made numerous "improvements" since the de-horning fiasco, but Big Shooter didn't know that. Absolutely refusing to enter the boxes, he trotted up and down the small enclosure. "We'll have to dart him," announced the vet, "but don't worry. It's very safe!"

That unfamiliar face, peering through the gateway, however was too much for Big Shooter. He stormed the perimeter allowing no chance for a shot. "Let me at ‘em" came a confident voice from behind. "I've done plenty of shoot'n. Besides, he knows me and will settle some," Ima grabbed the gun and shouldered it in an all-too-natural way for the vet's liking.

"Uhh, aim for the muscle," was all he could manage, stepping timidly out of the way of this in-charge "lady."

In her seemingly rightful place of authority, she lifted the gate, spoke a word to the trusting beast and released the missile. Five minutes later, Big Shooter was carried in, out like a light and resembling Jake deep in thought. Two minutes later, Jake was out, sprawled on the floor as if Ima's ring had been working again. He had suddenly figured out what that 110 volt outlet was for and that was simply too much for a man who held maleness in such esteem.

The vet looked at Ima and grinned. "Don't bother," she said "It wouldn't sell." She grabbed her husband by the boots and dragged him into the cool fresh air.

Jake recovered in time to witness the whole procedure with Jock. Resting in a chair next to the stately stag, Jake gazed in stunned amazement and then beamed with pride as if a man's buck were somehow a reflection of the man himself. "Poor quality," grunted the doc. "Plenty there, but useless." Jake's bubble burst and he hung his head in shame.

By now, "The Force" was really worked up. His two buddies were gone and he was determined to be gone, too. As the seconds and minutes ticked by, the Force picked up his pace. Blindly he circled the pen in a solitary frenzy. The open gateway to the system might as well having been a lake of fire.... The Force could not be forced!

"One of you will have to scare him in," advised the vet.

"That should scare him in," Jake laughed. He pointed at his wife and did some awful imitation of a big-bellied gorilla. Jake had fallen out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.

"The Look" brought about his immediate evacuation, but the air retained a subtle crispness.

Jake entered the corral and cautiously circled The Force. The Force could not be moved. Ima peered over the top, confusedly concerned for the man's safety. Jake spied the sharp-shooter and yelled, "JUST DART HIM HERE!" With the sudden noise, the Force gained momentum.

"HE'S MOVING TOO FAST!" she hollered back

"THEN LEAD HIM!" he roared, heated impatience spewing into the cool air.

"HE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONTAINED," she returned but she brought the dart gun to bear on the buck anyway. The situation was close to critical.

The Force flew past him and almost over him. In a final, brainless blunder, Jake bellowed, "Either shoot him or go eat a sandwich!" Ima squeezed the trigger!

Placid calm settled over the scene. An open gate, a buck enjoying his familiar freedom and a deep-sleeping, dull-witted man, captured the moment.

L.O.L

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

This letter has been sent to numerous media connections. Thanks Brad, for being proactive!

I feel there is an urgent need to clarify some of the recent negative opinions being expressed about game farming. The positive aspects need to be addressed.

I raise whitetail deer in southwestern Saskatchewan. My passion for these majestic creatures I have chosen as diversification from my grain farming is absolute. I am very tired of listening to people who are quick to form opinions and judge something of which they are ignorant and ill-informed.

Agriculture is a gigantic part of the world economy. Many farmers cannot operate without livestock as extra income, or vice-versa. Game farming with harvest preserves as our end market is absolutely similar to cattle farming with slaughter houses as their end market. Specialty livestock should not be seen as anything but a viable livestock industry. All those who hunt, raise cattle or other livestock, or bottom line - "eat meat" - should not jump on bandwagons to support propaganda from Toronto, and elsewhere, who want to shut down Western Canadian Agriculture (ie: grain farming, harvest preserves, etc.) In Alberta, hunting organizations and other individuals involved in agriculture, are supporting the opposition from Toronto. The platform of disallowing harvest preserves would hurt the future of game farming. Maybe people should view the industry from a first-hand perspective and remember where they live; after all, the last time I checked, agriculture was still a pretty big part of our lives and our country's future.

If people choose a non-supportive stance on the industry, that is acceptable; we live in a democracy. I don't believe that anyone who relies on agriculture, which is all of us, should try ruining so many lives that are affected by game farming and harvest preserves. Game farming has nothing to do with public hunting and never will. Therefore, hunters should reflect and analyze these pertinent facts before supporting organizations who do not support their mandate. I suggest to those of a differing opinion, educate yourself about this issue on game farming. The irony and hypocrisy might become evident. Times are difficult enough on farms these days - we don't need people jeopardizing the viability of diversification. Farming should not become extinct because of limited views and ignorance.

Brad Guidinger
Speciality Livestock Producer

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SASKATCHEWAN PRODUCER PORTRAIT

Droptine Farms

The voyage was about to begin. At an 80-acre base along the Pike Lake highway south of Saskatoon, a team of "Rocket scientists" were working overtime. Their first ship "Apollo" had been a success, gaining access to another world of whitetails. The countdown had begun 5 years ago, but as spring ‘01 approached, they buckled up for what would be the ride of their lives. But then, fuelled by a family tree of gargantuan genetics, the "Rocket" took off in an explosion of tines unexpected by anyone!

Meet Brad and Wendy Nielsen and son Michael of Drop-Tine Farms. They seem like your average, though exceptionally pleasant and approachable, deer farmers. They are anything but average! They are the adventurous types who define their own mission, who boldly go where no one has gone before, and they get there! They are the types who pave the way, avail to others what they have gained, and provide a prototype plan for others to follow.

Five years ago, a move from city to country opened wide the windows of opportunity for this electrical engineer and registered nurse couple. The allure of the animal itself, along with economic promise made whitetail farming an easy choice. Five Rosewood does, three Impressive Points does and a breeding buck named Black Jack (son of Ace) were a substantial start. Buying and selling along the way to improve the herd, soon broadened the horizon to include a particular line of whitetail wonders in our neighbouring province. Sons of Jake were looking good...consistently good! Rosco was a rare beauty, but another incredibly long-browed beast was striking! And so the 3 year old Apollo trekked eastward. Apollo's 5 year rack, mostly typical, tallied 201 inches of awesome antler. His untimely death that year meant only 1 batch of offspring. What are the chances of seeing pass-down potential from such a small sampling, let alone making substantial genetic gains? With this line, the odds evidently are excellent!

Apollo Jr. (Son of Apollo) sported a solid 6x6 typical crown at 3 yrs and a 93" 6x5 yearling son now follows in father's footsteps. Not bad, hey? Well, it gets better! Another son of Apollo has exploded this year! At only 2 years of age, Rocket's headgear bears an uncanny resemblance to his famous father's 5th year rack. At nearly 180 inches (mostly typical) Rocket has nearly orbited his father with 3 years to spare! His 10x7 (7x5 typical) rack carries an astounding 43 2/8" of mass and webbing right to the ends of his long beams. Nearly 10" G2"s and a 4 7/8" drop-tine off the base really top things off! The pass-down and generational gains of this line are rare. Even the un-named half brothers score in the 130 range (including 3 out of Ace daughters, 2 out of Tyson daughters and one out of a daughter of Rocket's mom.) Now that's how consistency ought to be defined!

Unbelievably, there's more! A big neat 6x6 named Joe (4 yr. old look-alike son of Tiny) and a 2 yr. old son of Son of the Gun, combine with Apollo, Ace, Tiny and Magnum lines in a herd that will be AI'd to Alberta Extreme and Apocolypse. Oh, sorry! I forgot to tell you to brace yourself! If you are still standing, you're not familiar with each of these lines. 6x6's and tines galore from a line-up of industry giants that lead the way in pass-down percentage and generational gains; they are on a cataclysmic collision course at Drop Tine Farms.

Everyone wants to hear the secrets of success. An investment of planning along with an investment in quality stock certainly go together. On the management end of it, Nielsen's have made steady progress. An 18% summer/16% winter diet provides needed nutrition. A preventative health program, besides 8-way and Ivomec, now includes farm-specific vaccinations against necrobacillosis (lumpy jaw). Fawns were vaccinated at 4 weeks and 30 days later while this year does will be vaccinated before birthing. Some bottle-feeding has been done all along, decreasing stress levels in the whole herd. Pulled at 2 days, a degree of flight distance still makes them move through the system easily. Four main corrals plus a 45'x400' alley (road cloth and 90% Game Barrier) allow a round up from any of the 6 pens (total 50-60 acres). The 90% Game Barrier, Brad points out, handles the wind significantly better. Wendy handles most of the vet work including AI ing (under Martin Wenkoff's supervision for one more year) with excellent results. "Wendy runs the farm," credits Brad. In fact she is too busy managing the farm to continue her nursing career. I'd say the Nielsen investment is paying off! A final strategy was to partner up with Ron and Carol Schira 3 years ago, together they are known as Schira/Nielsen Whitetails Elite. The yearling bucks all reside near Spiritwood at Spruce Ridge Whitetails along with 15 breeding does. The move was made in order to reduce financial and disease risk. Involvement in the industry association has also been the Nielsen way. In his second year as SWAMDPA director, Brad is obviously busy, too. He looks forward to moving the deer industry forward, though spending time on the negatives is inherently necessary.

The 3rd Annual Breeder's Classic commands attention, too, as Drop-tine Farms, (in partnership with Spruce Ridge Whitetails, as Schira /Nielsen Whitetails Elite) plays an integral part in putting together this top-notch, genetically loaded opportunity for newcomers and veterans alike. What a stellar opportunity to shoot for the stars! Think of it...the best of the big buck genetics bolstered by Drop-Tine Farms "Rocket science...."

Randy Barks

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ALBERTA PRODUCER PORTRAIT

Sidetracked Game Ranch

"Don't sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied, choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tides . . ." I wonder if Garth Brooks was inspired by this deer farmer or vice versa. Open water is tough thing to find right now in my neck of the northern woods or I'd be out there paddling my canoe and planning my next move in deer farming. You see, I just had a visit with a guy who embodies that song, lives such an energized deer farming life and inspires others in the deer-farming world to "go for it!" Meet the man and family so many are singing about . . . Lance and Tammy Schneider of Sidetracked Game Ranch.

Lance is a "go-getter", an adventurer that many of us would like to be like. Lance enjoys hunting, especially backpacking or trail-riding into new and remote territory. He just harvested a 358" bull elk with his dad, his usual hunting partner. Not everyone would be able to exert this kind of energy. It's a lot like deer farming. Some people know where success is found, they know how to get there, they're willing to blaze the way, and they enjoy taking others along on the adventure. It's up to us whether we're going to hop on a horse and follow the guide or sit back and wish we were there.

Lance, in oilfield heavy equipment, and Tammy who manages the farm and books, began their deer farming adventure in 1995. 20 bucks and 20 does from Peter Maine and Emile Henkel were a quick start, with another package purchased from Norm Moore not long after. 15 acres were initially fenced with 240 acres now holding 150 deer and 120 elk (since '97-'98). Elk and deer do not occupy the same pens, but are handled through the same system. A different squeeze in the final stage is all the change required if gates are large enough. According to Lance, transition from elk to deer would be really easy as far as handling systems and pens go. Lance is pleased with his system, but improvements are constant. Some bottle feeding all along the way has improved herd temperament, but has also demanded a bit more thought in the handling of a range of temperaments. Daughter Randi (12 yrs) and son Cole (9 yrs) are quire involved in the farm, especially with bottle-feeding. "It's fully a family deal," declares Lance. "When I'm gone, Tammy's the farmer." Together his family refuses to sit and wish they were "there". They are making things happen.

One of the first farms to AI 3 years ago, Sidetracked Game Ranch was making a bold move. Son of the Gun and Magnum were the chosen sires and the investment and "risk" were soon to pay off. Young Gun set a new yearling record last year in Alberta at 115 5/8" and appears right on track this year. At two years of age, he sports a big 150+" main frame and tallies a total of 165+". Numerous other such super specimens roam the ranch, too. Sidetrack's famed "size and consistency" has been spoken of a lot in the last couple of years. No wonder! This year, a pen of ten yearling average 99" with some at 105+", 110+", 117+". The farm has broken its own record with an amazing line up of young stock, "just not earthshaking," says Lance. "I need to shake things up." There's no one-time wonder here. Schneider's are here for the long haul

Now in their fourth year of AIing, with '01 fawns out of Jack the Ripper, Son of the Gun, and Hurricane, Schneider's are refusing to "sit along the shoreline" or "say they're satisfied." Lance's plan is "to grow the perfect deer" - a huge typical frame with extras, along with predictability of pass-down. His doe herd now consists of the mothers of his biggest and best bucks, as well as Magnum and Son of the Gun daughters. Twenty-one does will be AI'd to Boss Hog, Bo Duke, Mastermind and Wild Tine. Now there's a clash of the Titans! He's pretty well got it covered: huge typical frame (check), long tines (check), mass (check), extras (check), pass down (check), . . . A big Rosco yearling and Young Gun will do the natural breeding. A thinker and analyst extreme, Lance's biggest dilemma is matching up the breedings. Formulating big bucks, though is an enjoyable pass-time. "It's too much fun," laughs Lance. "It's hard to get anything else done!"

Lance is getting things done though. The guy really knows how to market. Repetition and a degree of aggression are necessary according to this man, as well as breeding accordingly to entice buyers. Never one to join what I call, "The Pessimist Express," I like his line, "A deal's only bad if the cheque bounces!" "I think there's huge potential," explains the reputable Lance. Also a realist, he goes on "we need secure markets. We need hunt farms here in Alberta. But we need to secure this market from the bottom up. The big cash payday, will always come from the antlers, but meat animals will cover the bills until payday . . . a combination will be a very productive and successful farm," predicts Lance. That's a refreshing blend of optimism and realism. "Stay active in the industry," he also advises. "If you sit back, you're going to be left behind." Encouragingly, he adds, "It takes a lot of work and effort, but the long term is bright!"

I heard Garth took up deer farming and re-wrote his song... "Don't sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied, choose to succeed in deer farming, with Sidetracked as your guide."

Randy Barks

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