Deer are amazing creatures that can serve as both a commercial farming venture, as well as an accompaniment to a lifestyle farmer. Owning deer can pose a large management issue, namely appropriate fencing and proper yards for examining, treating and velvetting. Like all animals, deer can succumb to a range of animal health issues. Outlined below is a brief description of common health issues and preventative measures throughout the year.

Vaccinations:

Weaners should be vaccinated against Leptospirosis and Clostridial diseases (Tetanus, Blackleg, etc) in March and again 4-6 weeks later with a booster vaccine. Annual vaccination against Leptospirosis is recommended for all deer, especially in this region.

A vaccine is available against Yersinia for those that may have a history of the disease. The main sign of infection is persistent diarrhoea, seen primarily after a stressful event (such as transporting, or stormy weather).

Parasites:

A thorough parasite risk assessment is important when deciding whether to drench a herd or not. Risk factors include food shortage, scours, retained winter coat, failure to recover from winter weight loss, pasture contamination, and stocking rates. Another key indicator is a faecal egg count which is a good indicator of worm burden. 10 random samples are recommended for a decent estimate of a herd’s average worm burden.  If high risk, or testing shows a large burden, drenching is recommended. Best practice recommendation is to use a Triple Combination drench. Macrocyclic Lactone (ML) Injection (Exodus®) at 1ml per 50kg and an oral combination of Oxfen C Plus and Oxfen C mixed in equal parts and given at 1ml per 5kg. As the drench combination is off label, default withhold times apply (91 days meat WH).

Trace Elements:

Soil in the Bay of Plenty region is known to have deficiencies in trace elements, namely, copper, selenium, and cobalt (Vitamin B12). Deficiencies in these nutrients can have major clinical and subclinical effects on livestock including deer. Assessment should be based on history, feed available, clinical signs of deficiency, ill-thrift and poor growth. 10 liver or blood samples should be obtained to determine trace element levels. Supplementation should be given just prior to the risk period (at the end of autumn). Tauranga Vets stock a range of products for B12, Selenium and Copper supplementation.

Max Clout BVSc