Antlers As A Source of Deer Farming Revenue

The antlers of a deer are a wonderful byproduct generated on a deer farming venture. Since the dawn of time deer have been hunted for both the venison, and the many uses of the antlers, which have been found to be useful in a wide variety of ways.

Each spring, the male deer, called stags, buck or bulls (depending on the species) will grow*a set of antlers. During the growth phase they are soft and filled with blood vessels. The antler is covered with velvet to protect the growing antler from damage. When they are fully grown, the blood vessels constrict and die off. The antler hardens and dies, and the velvet is rubbed off by the male. This stage is usually reached at the beginning of the rut. The antlers are then dropped in the early winter, after the rut. By dropping them, the males can conserve energy during the cold winter months. Each year the antlers will grow a little larger than in the previous year.

Fruit Yields From Rabbiteye and Highbush Blueberry Plants

Introduction

Growing blueberries is a long-term endeavor. It takes 7 to 10 years for blueberry plants to reach full maturity. With good care blueberry plants will likely remain productive for 30 to 40 years. Blueberry plants fruit produce plenty of blueberries that are enjoyable when eaten fresh or used in pancakes, muffins, pies, or when used on breakfast cereals. Blueberry plants also add beauty to the landscape. They can be grown in beds, rows or as a hedge along the property border. Blueberries can be used in group plantings, or as single plants. Blueberries make an ideal year-round source of beauty to the landscape. Growing blueberries presents a challenge because the plants require acid soils that are well-drained, loose and high in organic matter. Blueberry plants can provide a good "organic" approach of gardening, because pesticides are not often required.

Rabbiteye plants yields

1. In well-managed irrigated plantings a rabbiteye bush can be harvested during the 2nd year after planting in the field.

2. A mature, healthy rabbiteye bush should produce about 20 lbs of blueberry fruit per plant each year or 20 to 25 pints. Rabbiteye varieties can occasionally produce up to 25 lbs per plant. Approximate rabbiteye yields in pounds per acre for years 2 through 6 can be:

Common Blueberry Planting and Growing Mistakes to Avoid

Introduction

Blueberries are easy to grow if you understand and follow the requirements needed for blueberry plant growth. This article reviews the general requirements and most common mistakes involved in blueberry planting and growing.

General

    * To thrive the roots of the blueberry plant must not be too shallow or too deep.

    * Having the correct pH of the soil is critical for blueberry plants to grow and flourish. Blueberries need a soil that is acidic having a pH between 4.5and 5.0. A pH of higher than 5.0 is too high! If you cannot adjust the soil to this pH level grow your blueberries in containers.

    * The soil needs to be firmly packed in the region of the plant roots when planted.

    * Do not plant close to plants of unknown origin or wild plants.

    * Sufficient moisture levels must be maintained during plant establishment. Water the plants well 1 to 3 times a week but not every day.

    * Put off fertilizing until the plants are established. Avoid fertilizer burn.

    * You are advised not to cut the roots of the plant when you plant them. When taken from a pot in which they are grown do separate the roots before planting to help them spread out.

Friesian Cows - The Backbone of the New Zealand Dairy Industry

Friesian cattle, often referred to as Holstein or Holstein-Friesian, are the most common cow found on New Zealand dairy farms; renowned for their superior productive capacities. Their origins are linked to North Holland where they were the regional cattle dating back over 2000 years ago. The breed was developed and bred with the aim of increasing the output that the cattle produced, maximising the benefit of an abundant supply of grass. As time has passed, Friesian cows have developed their characteristic black and white appearance due to the artificial selection of breeders; a sign that is associated with high production dairy cows throughout the world.

Friesian cattle are distinctive in their appearance, being a large animal with distinguishing black and white colourations over the entire body; others white with red patches. Calves generally weigh between 40 and 45 kg at birth; although much larger have been recorded. On average, a fully grown Friesian cow will stand approximately 1.48 metres tall and weigh in the vicinity of 550 to 600 kilograms.

Incorporating Tourism As A Revenue Stream For Your Deer Farming Enterprise

A resource that is often overlooked in deer farming is the value of having tourists come to your deer farm. Each time a visitor comes to your farm, you are building a relationship of trust with the community, encouraging them to buy your products, and to use your services. And at the same time, you are provided with new opportunities to market your products.

To many city folk, the call of the wild is irresistible, but most wish for comfort, even while coming out to visit nature. Let us look at the ways in which your deer farm can benefit from tourism.

The largest group that will generate income for your farm are the hunters. They are only allowed to come to hunt for a very limited time, and if you plan your amenities carefully, you will be able to bring in visitors throughout the year.

• School groups: Field trips and educational tours are undertaken by schools in your district on a regular basis. By marketing theses opportunities to schools you can offer guided tours of your farm to schools.

• Visiting tour groups / individuals: Just as with school groups, people often enjoy having the opportunity to leave the bustle of everyday life to take time out in nature. By offering a picnic spot where deer can be watched from a distance you will be raising an awareness of what you offer and that you have a valuable product to market.

Deer Farming Byproducts

Together with deer farming come a great number of marketing opportunities to explore. Selling venison and bringing in hunters is just the beginning of the products that can be marketed. By exploring various venues, we can find many additional avenues where we can bring in additional income.

The most visible products to market in deer farming are of course the venison and the hunting.

Venison: When marketing venison, it is important to use the benefits of venison in the marketing strategy. Venison is a much healthier alternative to red meat. It is natural and organic. It has much less fat as well. The meat is easy to prepare, and can be frozen, vacuum packed, without losing quality or texture for up to one year. Deer meat can also be processed further, and sold as beef jerky, or marinated meat cuts.

Hunting: Individuals and groups can come to your deer farm to hunt. This provides ample income opportunities: Accommodation can be supplied, a guide can be hired for the expedition, the carcasses can be processed. This all along with the standard hunting fee per deer to be hunted.

The Deer Farming Problem Of How To Supply The Market With Venison

Deer farming in many countries supplies the communities with an ever-growing proportion of the consumed red meat. Venison is a healthy alternative to beef, and is a natural product. As the market for natural and organic food is growing, so the potential for deer as a source of meat protein is growing with it. There are however strict regulations governing the slaughter of any meat for human consumption. Slaughtering deer is also not exempt from these regulations. Unfortunately the one large problem facing deer farmers is the question of where and how to slaughter the deer. Because each state has its own legal requirements it is necessary to study these requirements and to fulfill them perfectly, if you wish to be successful in your enterprise.

A large problem for deer farmers currently is a lack of nearby slaughterhouses registered to undertake deer slaughter. The distance to the slaughterhouse is also a problem, as evisceration of the carcass needs to be undertaken as soon as possible after slaughter.

There are commonly three options to look at for slaughtering the deer.

1. You could take the live deer to a registered abattoir. For this you would have to find out how far it is to your nearest abattoir, and if the costs of transporting the deer there would be worth the effort and money.