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l)riiieipal grain I feed. I feed it winter and summer. In winter I feed also 

 clover bay, oat straw, and weedy wild hay. Deer when rightly handled are 

 very prolific, and from 50 does one can count on 75 fawns. They can be raised 

 profitably for venison — very profitably until overdone; but I would not advise 

 one to go into it on a large scale without previous experience with deer. 



The report received from C. IT. Roseberry, of Stella, Mo., although 

 less enthusiastic than others, is quoted because his herd approaches 

 more nearh^ a state of true domestication. Under the date of Jan- 

 uary 13, 15)08, Mr. Eoseberry wrote as follows : 



My experience in breeding the common or Virginia deer covers a period of 

 seventeen years, beginning in ^larcli, 1S91, when, as a boy of 16, I built a small 

 inclosure of lA acres to confine a single doe that was captured as a fawn in 

 the neighboring forest. 



A buck and other does were secured from year to year, until in 11)00, by 

 purchase and natural increase, my herd numbered 25 head of all ages. 



From ISOl to 11)01 I lost every year from disease an average of 20 per cent. 

 The climax came in the drought year of 1901, when my loss was 50 per cent 

 from the disease known as " black tongue." 



I am convinced that, like cholera in swine, individuals recovering from this 

 disease are immune from further attack. Apparently all of my herd were 

 afflicted. The survivors and their progeny constitute my present breeding 

 stock. I have made no purchases since 1901, nor have I suffered any loss from 

 disease. 



For the last seven years my herd has averaged 70 per cent increase, all of 

 which I have sold at satisfactory prices. I began selling at $20 per pair of 

 fawns at 4 months of age and $30 per iiair of adults. I now get $40 and $60, 

 respectively. I s'ell almost exclusively for pets and for propagating purposes, 

 although a few suri)lus bucks have been sold for venison, averaging me 15 

 cents per pound gross weight. 



If we except the goat, I know of no domestic animal common to the farm 

 that requires so little feed and attention as the deer. My herd has a range 

 of only 15 acres, two-thirds of which are set to white clover, bluegrass, and 

 orchard grass. I provide also a small plat of wheat or rye for winter pasture. 

 With the above provision, in this latitude, no feed is required between April 

 35 and November 15. During the rest of the year a ration of corn, bran, or 

 other mill feed somewhat smaller than that required for sheep, in connection 

 with a stack of clover or pea hay to which they have free access, is sufficient 

 to keep them in good condition. Deer eat with relish nearly all of the common 

 coarse weeds, and for clearing land of brush they are, I think, second only to 

 the common goat. 



Probably the greatest expense connected with the business of raising deer 

 is the fencing. Another item of trouble and expense, when the animals are 

 raised for pets, requiring that they be handled and shipped alive, is the fact 

 that the fawns must be taken from the does when 10 days old and raised by 

 hand on cow's milk. They are quite easily raised in this way, with but slight 

 percentage of loss, but require frequent and careful attention for the first 

 month. When they are allowed to run with the does their natural wildness 

 can not l)e overcome, no matter how gentle the does may be. 



I have found the business profitable on the lines indicated. I believe they 

 could be profitably bred for venison alone — certainly with less trouble and 

 expense, since the fawns would be reared by the does and the trouble and 

 expense of raising by hand would be eliminated. 

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