What preliminary preparations are needed for raising sika deer?
The sika deer is an animal whose entire body is a treasure, and the profits from farming sika deer are very high. Nowadays, many farms want to start raising sika deer. What preliminary work is involved in raising sika deer?
1. Site selection
The deer farm should be chosen in a place with relatively high terrain, dry conditions, good sun exposure, shelter from the wind, good drainage, and sufficient water sources. The deer shed should be built reasonably. The living area for each deer should be 2 sq m-3 sq m, and each deer should have an activity area of 8 sq m-10 sq m. The size of the farm area should be decided according to the number being raised. The ground of the farm should be paved with stone slabs or cement boards, which makes it very convenient to clean up the deer's droppings. The height of the farm's perimeter wall should be 2 m-2.5 m, and above the wall, 1 m-high wire mesh should be added, because deer have very strong jumping ability, to prevent the deer from jumping over the wall and escaping after being startled. Note that the deer farm should not be built on abandoned sites previously used for pigs, sheep, cattle, etc., as this will increase the chance of the deer getting sick. The surroundings of the deer farm should be quiet, not noisy.
2. Supporting facilities of the deer farm
The deer farm should have a dedicated feed warehouse. The feed should be processed and mixed and prepared, then put into silage pits. This is prepared for the healthy growth of the deer and can effectively reduce the chance of the deer getting sick. Breeders with the means can also set up a processing room and a veterinary room. Of course, if the number being raised is relatively small, it is enough to just build a good feed shed, as long as the deer's feed does not become moldy and spoiled.
3. Feed
The feed for the deer farm can be grown by oneself. For example, planting forage grass, plant leaves and stems, and crop straw can all be used as roughage for the deer. For concentrate, cornmeal, wheat bran, bone meal, fish meal, and various concentrated feeds that add nutritional vitamins can all be given to the deer to eat.
4. Introduction of seedlings
The introduction of seedlings is also key to raising deer. They should be purchased from relatively safe and reliable large-scale farms. Judging whether the seedlings' physique is good or bad depends on one's own judgment. Try to find ones with good physique and liveliness; such seedlings are very good. The simplest method is to see whether the tip of the seedling's nose is moist, and to see whether there are sticky substances on the deer seedling's eyes and mouth. This method is simple and also very effective.
Raising sika deer also requires understanding the habits of sika deer and having a certain amount of farming knowledge, so that raising them can be easier.