The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-18
W. L. GokAY. Bennington VI.
ABOUT DEER
Possibility Of Maintaining Them for
Great Supply.

Great Supply
The United States Department of
Agriculture has issued an interesting
bulletin pointing out the economic
possibility of raising deer and elk and
maintaining them in quasidomesti-
Gated state as a sourse of food sup
ply. incidentally it is shown that the
by-products of the deer abattoir may
be proftably used in various manu-
featuring industries.
1t is the view of the bulletin writer
that by means of intelligent game pro-
pagation both by the State and by pri-
vate enterprise many OF the depleted
ranges could be restocked with big
game thus making vast tracts which
are now practically lying in waste
valuable food producers The flesh of
the wild deer closely approaches that
.of the best quality Of beef and NUT
ton, and while now regarded as a
special delicacy owing to its scarcity
il would become staple article of
diet if freely offered in the market in
competition with the present meat
supply Experiment has shown clear
y that the three great divisions of the
cervide family, the common deer, the
elk and the reindeer. breed normally
when in condition of partial domes-
tication Even within the circum-
scribed space afforded in Rochester's
public parks the small herds OF deer,
elk and even buffalo have naturally
increased. 1t is believed, and with
apparent reason, not only that the
food supply will be cheap and greatly
increased by the partial domestica-
ton of members Of the deer family
but that they can be raised at less eI.
pense and with less care than ordi-
nary domestic cattle. The rapid ma
tural increase and the minimum of
artificial food and care required
would, it is believed, render the bust
ness extremely profitable.
The desire for association with DOM
este cattle on the part OF deer has
frequently been demonstrated. Once
freed from the fear of man, their ma
tural and hereditary enemy, they
mingle freely and from choice with
farmers herds. In some portions OF
New England deer are often found
feeding even in farmyards, close to
human habitation.
Regarding the effect OF game laws
on the raising of deer for profit the
Department bulletin has this to say:
Instead of hampering breeders by
restrictions as at present State laws
should be SO modified as to encourage
the raising of deer elk and other ami
mails as a source OF profit to the
individual and to the State. Safe
guards against destruction and sale
Of wild deer in place OF domesticated
deer are not difficult to enforce. For
! this purpose a system OF licensing pri
vate parks and of tagging deer or car.
cassess sold or shipped so that they
may be easily identified is recon-
mended, 1t is believed that with fay.
orable legislation much otherwise
waste land in the United States may
be so utilized for the production OF
vension as to yield profitable returns
and also that this excellent and nu
trtous meat instead OF being denied
TO 90 per cent of the population OF
the country may become as common
and as cheap in our markets as nut
ton"
Any plan that will increase the
meat supply of the country. and brine
this class of food within the reach o.
the masses at reasonable prices SHOULD
not be hampered by laws which would
initiate against the raising and mari
citing of food producing animals. Will
an honest motive to better conditions
equitable laws could be framed which
would benefit producers. consumer
and also the man behind the sporting
!ri0e.-Rochester Democrat and Chr0
nicle.