Roe Deer Farming Techniques and Market Prices Explained

Roe Deer Market Prices

Roe deer are divided into wild and farmed, and also into gross weight and net weight. The price of wild adult roe deer at net weight in the place of origin ranges from 500-800 per head, while farmed roe deer meat sells for 50-70 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly from place to place. Note that any act of hunting roe deer is illegal, and hunting, buying, selling or eating wild roe deer is strictly prohibited.

Living Habits of Roe Deer

1. Diet: Roe deer like to eat tender twigs, buds and leaves of shrubs, various green grasses, small berries, mushrooms, etc. In spring, like deer, they often go to saline-alkali ground to lick salt and alkali. They generally form family groups made up of a mother roe deer and her offspring, usually 3-5 animals, active at dawn and dusk, feeding on grass, mushrooms and berries.

2. Reproduction: Male roe deer join the group only in midsummer, one male to one female, mating in July-August. During the breeding season, the male chases the female in circles, leaving wreath-shaped tracks on the ground. The gestation period is 8 months. Before giving birth, the mother drives away the young born the previous year and enters dense forest to give birth. The young are born from March to June, 1-2 fawns per litter; if 2 fawns are born in one litter, the birth sites are 10-20 m apart and they are nursed separately. About 10 days after birth, the mother leads the newborn fawns back to the group. Sexual maturity is reached at 1.5-2 years.

3. Lifespan: In the wild, roe deer live 10-12 years, with a maximum of 17 years. Their antlers shed each year in November-December, new antlers grow in February-March, and the antlers are fully grown in April-May.

Farming Techniques" />

Roe Deer Farming Techniques

1. Building the enclosure: The roe deer pen should be chosen on flat, high, dry, well-ventilated, sunny ground with good drainage. The roe deer shed faces south, and consists of two parts, a shelter and an exercise yard. Each animal occupies 2-2.5 [area units], with a 2 m high fence or wall made of wooden poles or bricks around it. A feed trough and water trough are set in one corner of the exercise yard, and trees can be planted outside the fence for shade.

2. Feed: Wild roe deer have a wide range of food sources. Various broadleaf tree leaves, wild weeds, crop straw, vegetables and fruit peels are all feed they like. Feeding 20% legume forage (such as alfalfa) is better, but do not feed aquatic plants, to prevent diarrhea, enteritis, etc. The feed ratio should preferably be 95% roughage and 5% concentrate. During the mating, gestation and lactation periods, appropriately increase some concentrate feed and feed rich in protein. After 7 days of age, fawns eat soil, so pile clean soil from semi-shaded ground inside the shed for them to eat freely.

3. Feeding

① Fixed times: feed 3 times a day, at 7 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. respectively.

② Fixed amount: roe deer eat little; the daily ration for an adult roe deer is 1.5 kg of roughage and 100 g of concentrate.

③ Fixed water: supply enough clean water without interruption, let the roe deer drink freely, and give warm water in winter.

4. Disease prevention: Roe deer have strong disease resistance and rarely get sick, but you should still prevent disease before it occurs. Clean the pen and remove manure every day. In spring and summer, disinfect the roe deer shed once a week with caustic soda or a 20% lime milk solution. Scrub the feed trough and water trough every day. Do not feed moldy or spoiled feed, and do not feed aquatic plants. Common diseases of roe deer include diarrhea and enteritis, which can be treated routinely once discovered.

5. Marketing: Market fawns at the right time. Fawns are weaned at 60 days, and after weaning, breeding roe deer can be sold. Commercial roe deer are mostly males and culled animals. Pay attention to selecting breeding stock to maintain a superior population.

How to Cook Roe Deer Meat Deliciously

1. Braised Roe Deer Meat

[Ingredients] Roe deer meat, green pepper, red pepper, an appropriate amount of vegetable oil, a little salt, an appropriate amount of dark soy sauce, an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, an appropriate amount of water starch, an appropriate amount of scallion, an appropriate amount of ginger, an appropriate amount of thirteen-spice powder, an appropriate amount of white sugar.

[Method] ① Slice the roe deer meat, soak it repeatedly in clean water and change the water to remove the blood color, until the water is relatively clear. ② After the roe deer meat has soaked, bring water to a boil and blanch it, skim off the foam, take out the meat, drain it well and set aside. ③ Cut scallion into chopped pieces and ginger into slices, mix water starch and set aside, and cut the green and red peppers into shreds and set aside. ④ Put vegetable oil into the wok, and when the oil is hot, add the chopped scallion and ginger slices and stir-fry until fragrant. ⑤ Add the roe deer meat and stir-fry a few times, then add an appropriate amount of salt, 1 spoonful of thirteen-spice powder, 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of white sugar. ⑥ Before removing from the heat, pour in the water starch and stir-fry until the sauce thickens, then add the shredded green and red peppers, stir-fry a few times and remove from the heat immediately.

2. Two Ways to Eat Roe Deer Meat

[Ingredients] Roe deer meat, cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, barbecue seasoning, egg white, potato starch, mashed garlic.

[Method] ① Soak the roe deer meat in cold water, changing the water repeatedly, to soak out the blood. ② Cut into small cubes about 2 cm square, and marinate with cooking wine, soy sauce, salt and barbecue seasoning for 1 hour to absorb the flavor. ③ Add half an egg white and an appropriate amount of potato starch and mix well. ④ Heat oil in a pan, fry until golden brown, then remove. ⑤ Put the remaining piece of meat into a pressure cooker, add water and salt, boil over high heat for 20 minutes, remove after it is cool enough to handle, tear into small pieces, and eat dipped in mashed garlic.

3. Stir-Fried Roe Deer Meat

[Ingredients] Roe deer meat, red pepper, ginger, salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken powder, sugar, cooking wine, soy sauce, water starch, edible oil.

[Method] ① Wash the roe deer meat, slice it and coat it with starch. ② Slice the red pepper and ginger and set aside. ③ Heat oil in a wok, and when it is 50% hot, add the ginger slices and stir-fry until fragrant. ④ Add the roe deer meat and stir-fry over high heat until just cooked, then splash in cooking wine and soy sauce. ⑤ Add the red pepper over high heat, stir-fry evenly, then add salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken powder and sugar to season. ⑥ Add water starch to make a thin glaze, and it is done.

[Tips] Soak the roe deer meat in water for a while, about one day, to remove the gamey smell. If you cannot wait, you can use a little baijiu or vinegar. Cut it thinner, and always stir-fry over high heat for the best result.