Deer farm

Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEE : Deer farm

A deer farm is a fenced piece of land suitable for grazing that is populated with deer raised for the purpose of hunting tourism or as livestock. Similar species such as elk, moose and even reindeer are farmed as well. This practice is very different from the way such arctic communities like the Laplanders migrate in open country with their herds of reindeer.

Rising popularity of Venison

Venison has enjoyed a rise in popularity due to the meat's lower fat and cholesterol content. What was once considered a meat for unsophisticated rural dwellers has become as exotic as ostrich meat to urbanites. Venison jerky can be purchased in such grocery stores as Trader Joe's and is served on some inflights of Alaska Airlines in first class. Venison burgers are typically so lean as to require the addition of fat in the form of bacon, olive oil or cheese to achieve parity with hamburger cooking time, mouthfeel and taste. Some deer breeders have expressed an interest in breeding for a fatter animal that displays more marbling in the meat.

Fears of Chronic Wasting Disease

Since Chronic Wasting Disease, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy similar to Mad Cow Disease, can pass from wild populations of deer to deer in farms, there has been some fear of contamination of the food supply [link]. No known cases have occurred in the United States or Canada, but European farms in Scandinavia may have had several cases. Farmers now have had tests developed especially for the particular species they raise to obtain better results than those used on cattle.

External links

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