Identification Methods and Management Measures for Vicious Does

Every year during the fawning and nursing period of does, at some deer farms, due to inadequate management techniques, incidents of vicious does harming newborn fawns and keepers occur from time to time. Some newborn fawns are pawed to death, and some keepers or technicians are pawed and injured. According to a survey, a vicious Sika deer doe once pawed to death 5 newborn fawns and injured 2 young and strong keepers in the first few days after giving birth. The harm caused by vicious does has led to a marked increase in fawn mortality and should be given full attention.

1 Identification

1.1 This is mainly based on the fawning records over the years and the various types of vicious does clearly registered in the relevant columns of the doe cards. This is because the vicious habit of most vicious does is lifelong, and some even pass it on to their offspring; only a small number 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 paw people. If they normally paw people, they will also paw people at fawning time, and may even paw and bite fawns; this is also a manifestation of excessively strong maternal self-defense and protection of fawns. ② Through the marks of pawing on the head, neck, shoulder, or rib area of dead fawns, the doe that gave birth immediately before the pawed-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 rushing forward to "single out" and then lowering its head to sniff the stone with its nose, or even pawing and roaring impatiently, it must be the vicious doe that pawed the fawn to death.

2 Management

2.1 Based on previous confirmation records, before fawning, promptly move vicious does that paw fawns or people to isolation pens or individual pens for feeding and management.

2.2 For vicious does that newly show fawn-pawing behavior among first-time fawning does, they should be observed or verified in time, and immediately moved to isolation pens or individual pens for feeding and management. If, when groups are formed in advance, a small number of non-vicious, multiparous, gentle nurse does can be mixed into the pen group of first-time fawning does to stabilize and lead the group, vicious does in the first-time fawning group can also be avoided or reduced.

2.3 When encountering a fawning pen where a doe is giving birth or has just finished giving birth, keepers should, in addition to careful observation, temporarily refrain from entering the pen in order to reduce disturbance and avoid triggering the emergence of new vicious does.

2.4 When keepers enter a pen housing vicious does, they should carry a hard miscellaneous wood 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 gets up, walk inward little by little along the wall base on the far side. If a doe with the vicious habit of pawing people is encountered, use the wooden fork to pin its neck and push it away (make it run) diagonally to the side. Under no circumstances should it be pushed backward so that it falls on its back, in order to avoid injuring the doe.

2.5 Set up fawn protection rails.

2.6 Vicious does that are fierce in pawing fawns and people and cannot be controlled by any means should be slaughtered in time, and absolutely must not be sold to others.