A cross-sectional study of reproductive indices and fawn mortality in farmed white-tailed deer

Data were obtained from a questionnaire administered to a random sample of Canadian and United States white-tailed deer (WTD) farmers. Reproductive indices and survival of fawns from birth until 1 y of age were examined. Major factors in limiting herd increase were a low reproductive rate (88 fawns per 100 does exposed to bucks) and a 30% mortality of fawns from birth until 1 y of age. The latter figure differs from reported mortality rates in fallow deer and red deer/wapiti. The unacceptably high neonatal mortality on WTD farms was determined to be as important to herd productivity as failure to produce a live fawn. Industry wide, "benchmark" estimates of reproductive performance, mortality rates, and productivity are provided, allowing farmers to compare their herds against these "benchmarks" to identify areas needing improvement.