Detailed Explanation of Key Points on Fawn Rearing and Management Techniques
Scientific Feeding of Doe Deer
Scientific feeding: First, ensure sufficient feed and water so the doe deer eats well and gets full, maintain good hygiene in the deer shed, and strengthen the taming and exercise of the deer to prevent miscarriage caused by overfatness or fright, crowding, or collision. Second, the nutritional level should be relatively higher. During this period, the daily concentrate amount for doe deer should reach 1 kg to 1.25 kg, the highest of the whole year, of which oilseed cake and meal protein feed accounts for 30% to 35%, calcium phosphate 10 g to 15 g, and salt 10 g. In principle, roughage should be of good quality, sufficient quantity, and diversified.
Four Things to Watch for When Doe Deer Give Birth
First, watch for signs of labor in doe deer, such as reduced eating, refusal to eat, restlessness, and so on. Second, watch for the water sac or "water breaking," which is an important basis for judging whether there is dystocia. For dystocia in doe deer, achieve the three earlys: early detection, early diagnosis, and early assistance. Third, watch for the fawn being born, because some first-time doe deer or doe deer with vices may show abnormal behaviors after birth such as pawing, hitting, biting, and abandoning the fawn; abnormal behaviors should be prevented and controlled promptly when observed. Fourth, watch for the fawn suckling colostrum. Under normal circumstances, a fawn can suckle colostrum within half an hour to 1 hour after birth. For fawns that cannot suckle colostrum, find a foster doe deer to raise them or use artificial feeding. The survival rate of individual fawns that only suckle colostrum 12 hours or even 24 hours after birth is very low.
Do a Good Job of Artificial Feeding of Fawns
Artificially fed fawns must be given colostrum, preferably for 3 days. Feeding should achieve: 1) Fixed time: 4 times a day at 30 days of age, 3 times a day from 31 days to 60 days of age, and 2 to 4 times a day from 61 days to 75 days of age. 2) Fixed amount: feed the fawn 800 ml to 1000 ml on the first day, then increase by 10 ml to 20 ml per day. After 60 days of age, because the fawn eats feed, it can be reduced by 5 ml to 10 ml per day. Of course, it should be increased or decreased accordingly depending on the fawn's body weight and appetite. 3) Fixed quality: use fresh milk from disease-free dairy cows (goat milk is also acceptable, but must be boiled for disinfection). 4) Fixed temperature: 37 degrees C to 38 degrees C is best. Feeding utensils should be steamed and disinfected daily, and environmental hygiene should be well maintained.
Build Good Fawn Protection Pens
Fawn protection pens are an important measure to ensure the safety of fawns. It is wrong that some deer farms do not pay attention to them. First, the protection pen should be built on high ground inside the shed. Second, there should be bedding straw, and the bedding straw should be changed and sun-dried frequently.
Do a Good Job of Supplementary Feeding for Fawns
Supplementary feeding can both exercise the fawn's feeding ability and train the fawn's gastrointestinal function, preparing it for eating feed after weaning. Supplementary feeding starts at 2 weeks of age and is carried out inside the protection pen. At first, the fawn does not eat or eats little, but after a few days it will gradually become accustomed to it and eat more. Feed small amounts and add frequently, feeding 4 to 5 times a day. After 1 hour, take away the leftover feed, wash and sun-dry the feed trough, and ensure drinking water. Generally, the main cause of diarrhea in weaned fawns is failure to provide supplementary feeding or poor supplementary feeding.
??Fawns Should Be Weaned in Batches
At present, most adopt one-time weaning of fawns. The main advantage of batch weaning is saving on concentrate feed costs for doe deer.
Do a Good Job of Taming Fawns
Taming can improve the fawn's stress resistance and ability to adapt to the environment, making easily startled fawns docile and close to people. The specific taming method is "frequent contact." Therefore, staff should often go deep into the deer shed to contact the fawns; especially for weaned fawns, frequent human contact can reduce the stress response caused by separation from the mother and weaning, which is beneficial to growth.