Farm Diversification

Calves for sale at weaning, or yearlings for sale at 14 -16 months (all yearlings for venison as the market for breeding stock is extremely limited).

Perimeter fencing minimum height 1.85m high. Internal fencing 1.6m. Handling areas for holding and veterinary treatments. Breeding hinds are usually wintered outside on hill outrun unless the farm is in a lowground area where the hinds may be in-wintered.

Stocking rate varies: 0.6 hinds/ha on hill land; 8 hinds/ha on improved pasture; 1 stag/20 - 30 hinds. Average birth rate is about 92% with 85 calves per 100 hinds successfully reared. It is expected that 7 hinds and 1 stag per 100 hind herd will need to be replaced annually. Stag claves at sale would be expected to weigh 45kg whilst hinds will way approximately 40kg.

Handling yards:
£2,500 - £3,500.

Boundary fencing:
£3.50 - £4/m.

Internal fencing:
£1.50/m.

Breeding hinds:
£200 - £300 (pedigree stock up to £800) with an expected herd life of 14 years;

Breeding stags:
£700 - £1200 with an expected herd life of 6 years. Suppliers of breeding stock can be sourced from the British Deer Farmers' Association

Grassland management is an important element and costs vary depending on the grassland potential of the farm. Outwintered hinds are supplemented with silage, hay or other feeds such as swedes and turnips. Concentrates are used to supplement forage in the winter, pre-calving and during lactation. Levels range from 60-100 kg conc/hind/annum, depending on forage quantity and quality. Vet & medicines: £5/head. Sundry other expenses: £5/head.

An example of gross margin expected per 100 hinds using 10.6 hectares, excluding hill, (extracted from SAC's Farm Management Handbook is given below:

	PER 100 HINDS
OUTPUT	£
Stag Calves, 42 @ £76	3,192
Hind Calves, 34 @ £60	2,040
Cull Stags, 1 @ £100	100
Cull hinds, 7 @ £60	420
	5,752
VARIABLE COSTS
Hay @ £118/ha	71
Grazing @ £92/ha	920
Concentrate @ £162/t	1,134
Vet & medicine	500
Other livestock expense	500
	3,125
GROSS MARGIN	2,627
Gross Margin/Ha	248
Sensitivity - Change +/-	Change in Gross margin/100 calves (£)
£1/head in sale price	84
£1/t in concentrate price	7
1% in calving percentage	68

Lowground farms may breed and finish calves. An example of gross margin expected per 100 hinds in such a system is given below (extracted from SAC's Farm Management Handbook).  It is assumed that there is 18.2 hectares used and hinds are housed from Jan-Apr and calves housed Nov-Apr.  Assumptions about calving percentages, etc are as above. It should also be noted that arm gate sales direct to consumers and caterers may increase the sale price to about .

OUTPUT	PER 100 CALVES
	£
15-18 month stags, 42, 56 kg dw @ £3/kg = £168	7,056
15-18 month hinds, 34, 40 kg dw @ £3/kg = £120	4,080
Cull stags, 1, 75 kg dw @ £1.5/kg = £112	112
Cull hinds, 7, 47 kg dw @ £1.5/kg = £70	490
	11,788
VARIABLE COSTS
Silage @£153/ha	796
Grazing @£115/ha	1,495
Barley & minerals @ £88/t	880
Protein supplement @ £390/t	390
Vet & medicine	750
Other livestock expense	750
	5,061
GROSS MARGIN	6,727
Gross Margin/Ha	370
Sensitivity - Change +/-	Change in Gross margin/100 hinds (£)
£1/head in sale price	84
£1/t in concentrate price	11
£1/t in calving percentage	144

The harvesting of antler velvet from live animals is prohibited in the UK. Live wild deer can only be taken off the hill during the open season for stalking, which may constrain those wishing to establish a farmed herd from a wild population. There have been outbreaks of Tuberculosis in farmed deer. This is a notifiable disease and movement orders may be implemented and compulsory slaughter for reactors.

Introduction to Deer Farming. This introductory course is run by the Barony College, Dumfries giving those recently starting or considering starting deer farming a useful experience. It is a 3-day course and covers aspects on: Herd management and health; financial appraisals; stock handling experience.

Humane Field Slaughter. Course run by the BDFA to help those involved in deer farming comply with pertinent regulations and legislation.

Deer Transport. Run by the BDFA this course aims to assist farmers and livestock hauliers meet their legal and welfare responsibilities when transporting farmed deer.

Also, contact British Deer Farmers' Association LANTRA has a list of courses for which include a variety of farm diversification topics which can be downloaded here

It is anticipated that the government will make funding available for assisting rural business diversification in 2007.  Details have not yet been made available but once the schemes have been announced details will be provided here.

Local Enterprise Companies and Local Authorities may also be able to provide discretionary grants and low interest loans depending on individual circumstances.