The 1998 records show that there are 191 elk farms in Wisconsin, with a estimate of 4,050 elk being raised behind fence. Elk do well on the alfalfa pastures in Wisconsin. Nutrition plays an important part of maintaining a healthy herd, so the farmers supplement the elk's diet with a blend of grains like oats and corn, combined with minerals to give the elk their specific dietary requirements.
Elk are easy to manage, and adopt to a farm setting easily.
It is not unusual to have elk eat out of your hand or have them come to you when you call. A well planned facility is the key to handling elk safely without stress to the animal and safety to the handler. A facility is made up of slider doors and swinging doors constructed of 6 X 7 cubicles enabling the farmer to move the elk, simply by swinging and sliding doors throughout the facility. A hydraulic squeeze chute is used when yearly testing or vaccinations need to be given. Raising elk has four major advantages over the traditional type of livestock.