Identification methods and management key points for vicious habits in does

Every year during the fawning and nursing period of does, in some deer farms, due to inadequate management techniques, incidents occur from time to time in which vicious-habit does harm newborn fawns and feeding management personnel. Some newborn fawns are clawed to death alive, and some feeders or technicians are clawed and injured. According to investigations, there was once 1 sika deer vicious-habit doe that, in the first few days after giving birth, clawed 5 newborn fawns to death and clawed and injured 2 young and strong feeding management personnel. The harm caused by vicious-habit does has led to a significant increase in fawn mortality and should be given full attention.

1 Identification

1.1 This is mainly based on the various types of vicious-habit does clearly registered in the doe fawning records over the years and in the relevant columns of the doe cards. This is because the vicious habits of most vicious-habit does are lifelong, and some are even passed on to offspring; only a small portion are caused by environmental conditions, such as various disturbances resulting from poor management.

1.2 ① Based on their usual behavioral performance, this is mainly used to identify does that claw people. If they usually claw people, then they will also certainly claw people at fawning time, and may even claw and bite fawns. This is also a manifestation of overly strong maternal instinct for self-defense and protecting fawns. ② Through the claw-beaten wounds on the head, neck, shoulder, or rib area of dead fawns, the doe that gave birth immediately before the clawed-to-death fawn should be listed as a key monitoring target for confirmation; alternatively, a small stone can be thrown in front of a slowly walking group of fawning does. If one is seen suddenly rushing forward "sticking its head out alone," then lowering its head and sniffing the stone with its nose, or even urgently clawing and roaring, it must be the vicious-habit doe that clawed fawns to death.

2 Management

2.1 Based on previous confirmation records, before impending birth, promptly transfer vicious-habit does that claw fawns and claw people to isolation pens or individual pens for feeding and management.

2.2 For vicious-habit does among first-time birthing deer that newly show fawn-clawing behavior, after timely observation or verification, immediately transfer them to isolation pens or individual pens for feeding and management. If, when groups are formed in advance, a small number of non-vicious-habit, multiparous, docile nurse does can be mixed into the pen group of first-time birthing does to stabilize and lead the group, this can also avoid or reduce vicious-habit does in the first-time birthing group.

2.3 When encountering a birthing pen where a doe is currently giving birth or has just finished giving birth, feeding management personnel should, in addition to careful observation, temporarily not rush to enter the pen, so as to reduce disturbance and avoid the emergence of new vicious-habit does caused by this.

2.4 When feeding management personnel enter pens housing vicious-habit does, they should hold in hand a hardwood fork as long as a hoe handle. When entering the pen, they should first give a "signal" outside the door; when opening and entering the door, movements should be gentle. After the deer herd slowly rises, walk inward little by little along the wall base on the far side. When encountering a vicious-habit doe that claws people, use the wooden fork to pin its neck and push it away (make it run) diagonally to the side. On no account should it be pushed backward so that it falls on its back, so as to avoid injuring the doe.

2.5 Set up fawn protection railings.

2.6 For vicious-habit does that are fierce in clawing fawns and clawing people and cannot be controlled no matter what, they should be slaughtered promptly, and absolutely must not be sold externally.