Animal health
The most significant animal health issue on all deer farms is internal parasites. Lungworm and gastrointestinal (GI) worms are the two parasites of principle importance. In deer Ostertagia-types are the most pathogenic gastrointestinal parasites.
Lungworm and Ostertagia can be devastating to deer, particularly in young stock where deaths and/or a severe impact on growth are not uncommon.
Deer develop immunity with age to parasites – lungworm by around 9 months and GI parasites by around 18months old. However Elk and Wapiti type deer appear not to develop a strong immunity to gastrointestinal parasites with age. Fading Elk Syndrome is a wasting disease of farmed wapiti which has been a problem since farming began in New Zealand. However with funding from the Elk & Wapiti Society a study was carried out in 2008 where the cause was identified as Ostertagia. The report of this was published in the Proceedings for the Deer Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association 2011. see report
Following on from this Dave was involved in a number of trials which demonstrated widespread drench resistance on deer farms. The insidious nature of drench resistance on deer farms means that a lot of farmers are unaware they have an issue. The detail of this drench resistance and ensuing basis for our current best option drench are contained in several papers published in Proceedings of the New Zealand Veterinary Association and Proceedings for the Deer Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association see reports 2011 2012 2013 2014.
We use a three pronged attack to achieve parasite control at Tikana
• Management
• Drench
• Genetics
Management practices we use target minimising the larval challenge.
We use Cervidae Oral when drenching. It is a Triple Combination product designed specifically for deer and officially approved in July 2021.
Calves are drenched in late January (targeting lungworm) and 2 more times before weaning at the start June/winter. Lactating cows are drenched late January. All bulls are drenched post rut around 20th April.
We drench all deer that are sold off Tikana at the time of transport – this acts as a quarantine drench for deer farmer purchasers.
Genetics - We have been selecting for parasite resistance for a decade now by way of a simple saliva test known as CARLA. Deer with high CARLA cope with parasite challenge better. They carry less worms and shed less gutworm eggs and lungworm larva into the environment. Young stock grow faster. Potentially a very powerful tool which may see us rely less on drench in future. See Parasite Resistance page for more information.
Lungworm and Ostertagia can be devastating to deer, particularly in young stock where deaths and/or a severe impact on growth are not uncommon.
Deer develop immunity with age to parasites – lungworm by around 9 months and GI parasites by around 18months old. However Elk and Wapiti type deer appear not to develop a strong immunity to gastrointestinal parasites with age. Fading Elk Syndrome is a wasting disease of farmed wapiti which has been a problem since farming began in New Zealand. However with funding from the Elk & Wapiti Society a study was carried out in 2008 where the cause was identified as Ostertagia. The report of this was published in the Proceedings for the Deer Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association 2011. see report
Following on from this Dave was involved in a number of trials which demonstrated widespread drench resistance on deer farms. The insidious nature of drench resistance on deer farms means that a lot of farmers are unaware they have an issue. The detail of this drench resistance and ensuing basis for our current best option drench are contained in several papers published in Proceedings of the New Zealand Veterinary Association and Proceedings for the Deer Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association see reports 2011 2012 2013 2014.
We use a three pronged attack to achieve parasite control at Tikana
• Management
• Drench
• Genetics
Management practices we use target minimising the larval challenge.
- Nutrition is very important and we aim for post grazing residuals of around 1500kgDM.
- Our cropping rotation helps to reduce parasite larval levels.
- Our ability to utilise cross-grazing is limited as we are almost all deer (the approx. 10 lambs we produce each year are never tailed or drenched and the half dozen goats are never drenched).
- We utilise the principles of refugia as much as possible.
- We utilise forages which are more difficult for infective parasite larva to climb on such as clover, plantain, chicory and lucerne.
- We aim to optimise soil health (microbes, earthworm and fungi) which all contribute to reduced larval survival.
- We post rut wean which reduces the need for drenching
We use Cervidae Oral when drenching. It is a Triple Combination product designed specifically for deer and officially approved in July 2021.
Calves are drenched in late January (targeting lungworm) and 2 more times before weaning at the start June/winter. Lactating cows are drenched late January. All bulls are drenched post rut around 20th April.
We drench all deer that are sold off Tikana at the time of transport – this acts as a quarantine drench for deer farmer purchasers.
Genetics - We have been selecting for parasite resistance for a decade now by way of a simple saliva test known as CARLA. Deer with high CARLA cope with parasite challenge better. They carry less worms and shed less gutworm eggs and lungworm larva into the environment. Young stock grow faster. Potentially a very powerful tool which may see us rely less on drench in future. See Parasite Resistance page for more information.
Copper
Copper deficiency is relatively common on deer farms in New Zealand. Availability of Copper tends to follow a seasonal cycle where it is lowest coming out of winter and on most farms levels are fine in summer. It can be caused by a primary deficit of Copper in the diet or secondary deficiency where the Copper is present but rendered unavailable when bound up by high levels of sulphur, molybdenum or iron.
The liver stores Copper and is the most reliable tissue to sample to determine Copper status of deer. We send only a small number of deer to DSPs but will use them to check liver Copper levels.
It has been our experience that the better we feed our deer the less the need to supplement. Where required we supplement with an oral Copper bolus.
Leptospirosis
This is a bacterial disease that is endemic in deer herds in New Zealand. All livestock and some feral animals can become infected. It is shed in the urine of infected animals and can spread via waterways. It would appear from sampling deer that the level of exposure and subsequent immunity can wax and wane with time.
Outbreaks of red water and death in weaners have been recorded in all areas of New Zealand.
More recent studies have confirmed its effect on growth and reproductive wastage. Vaccinated weaners compared to unvaccinated weaner had a 6.5kg difference in live weight over the 8 months from vaccination to slaughter.
Reproductive wastage occurs from pregnancy loss with trials showing a 5 to 9% higher weaning percentage in vaccinated first calvers.
Further to the effects on deer it is a zoonotic disease and can be very debilitating in humans.
Tikana has adopted a preventative approach to Lepto and a whole herd vaccination policy is in place.
Yersiniosis
At Tikana we vaccinate our calves to protect then against Yersinia. This is a common bacterial disease affecting young deer. It causes scouring and can be fatal
Blood Poisoning/Clostridial disease
These bacterial infections can cause sudden death in all farmed livestock. Although rarely diagnosed in farmed deer vaccination against it is simple, cheap and effective. In other livestock very often it is young rapidly growing stock that are affected. Some of the outstanding growth we have achieved in weaners in recent years meant it was only prudent we vaccinate the Tikana herd. It is available with Lepto and so we vaccinate for both at the same time
Copper deficiency is relatively common on deer farms in New Zealand. Availability of Copper tends to follow a seasonal cycle where it is lowest coming out of winter and on most farms levels are fine in summer. It can be caused by a primary deficit of Copper in the diet or secondary deficiency where the Copper is present but rendered unavailable when bound up by high levels of sulphur, molybdenum or iron.
The liver stores Copper and is the most reliable tissue to sample to determine Copper status of deer. We send only a small number of deer to DSPs but will use them to check liver Copper levels.
It has been our experience that the better we feed our deer the less the need to supplement. Where required we supplement with an oral Copper bolus.
Leptospirosis
This is a bacterial disease that is endemic in deer herds in New Zealand. All livestock and some feral animals can become infected. It is shed in the urine of infected animals and can spread via waterways. It would appear from sampling deer that the level of exposure and subsequent immunity can wax and wane with time.
Outbreaks of red water and death in weaners have been recorded in all areas of New Zealand.
More recent studies have confirmed its effect on growth and reproductive wastage. Vaccinated weaners compared to unvaccinated weaner had a 6.5kg difference in live weight over the 8 months from vaccination to slaughter.
Reproductive wastage occurs from pregnancy loss with trials showing a 5 to 9% higher weaning percentage in vaccinated first calvers.
Further to the effects on deer it is a zoonotic disease and can be very debilitating in humans.
Tikana has adopted a preventative approach to Lepto and a whole herd vaccination policy is in place.
Yersiniosis
At Tikana we vaccinate our calves to protect then against Yersinia. This is a common bacterial disease affecting young deer. It causes scouring and can be fatal
Blood Poisoning/Clostridial disease
These bacterial infections can cause sudden death in all farmed livestock. Although rarely diagnosed in farmed deer vaccination against it is simple, cheap and effective. In other livestock very often it is young rapidly growing stock that are affected. Some of the outstanding growth we have achieved in weaners in recent years meant it was only prudent we vaccinate the Tikana herd. It is available with Lepto and so we vaccinate for both at the same time