Farmer's Fallow Deer           9611 South 295^th West
        Viola, Ks 67149
        (620)584-6634 or 584-6635

Fallow Deer

What are Fallow Deer?
Fallow Deer are native to Europe and Asia Minor.  They have been kept in captivity for centuries and are even mentioned in the Bible as "clean food" (KJV: Duet. 14:5 and 1 Kings 4:23). Venison has also been known as the meat of royalty, because Fallow Deer were kept to be served  at the king's finest occasions.

Fallow Deer bucks have large palmated antlers.    What that means is they have a flat surface like a moose .                  

 They also come in a variety of colors: white, spotted (light or dark) and almost black.The wonderful colors, their great palmated antlers, and their tender venison has made them  much sought after for over 500 years.

They were introduced to Australia in the 1830's.  Deer farming in the United States started in the early 1970's when people started looking for alternative land uses and healthier dietary options.  

Why Farm Fallow Deer?
Fallow Deer are a gentle species that adapt well to farming or ranching even small or intense farming situations.  They are good natured, incidences of bullying and hair pulling are almost unheard of.  About the only time you find incidences of bucks fighting is when they are in the rut, (breeding season).  

Fallow Deer are healthy animals.  They have very few birthing problems, Dystocia.  They have shown amazing resistance to other diseases, including Malignant Catarrhal Fever, which can be devastating to other deer species.  There has never been a confirmed case of Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Fallow Deer in North America.  Fallow Deer are not as susceptible to Copper Deficiency, Yersiniosis, Lungworm, and Chronic Wasting Disease, as are other species of American farmed deer.

Fallow Deer are relatively easy to transport, they do not fight in close quarters, except when the bucks are in the hard antlers.  They will move through deer handling facilities without bottlenecks or other major difficulties.

Fencing
We have seven foot perimeter fences.  Some states requires an eight foot perimeter fence.  In Kansas, they require a fence adequate to restrain the animal.

Breeding and Fawns
The breeding season, known as the rut, takes place in the fall.  The rut may begin in mid-September and continue  into November but the peak breeding activity takes place in October.  The gestation period is approximately 7 1/2 months, with most fawns occurring form late May through June.  Generally, only a single fawn is born.  Fawns weigh  about six to nine pound at birth.  Fallow Deer have strong herding and mothering instincts which make them willing to take care of each others fawns.

Females reach sexual maturity at 16 months and can bear their first fawns by 2 years of age.  Bucks mature sexually at 14 months but rarely compete successfully in rutting until several years later.  Bucks attain physical maturity at 6 years of age.  Lifespan is about 11-15 years, with a maximum record of 25 years.

Venison
Our farm raised venison is mild and delicious with no wild or gamy taste.  This lean, rich, healthy meat is low in fat and cholesterol, making it ideal for diet conscious people as well as those wanting a new and exciting taste.   The meat is tender because only young deer are used for choice table cuts.  NO chemicals or hormones are used with our deer.  Our properly aged venison is packaged frozen in sealed plastic.  Fresh venison is available upon request.  Please allow time for processing.