whitetails of louisiana: 2015 fall magazine

Whitetails of Louisiana Fall Magazine

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TREY BOLLINGER

Letter From President: On behalf of Whitetails of Louisiana, we would like thank all who participated in our 2015 show and auction. So many donations to our cause and I know many vendors, farmers, and families came from various regions in the state to be a part.

I would also like to thank all those who came in as well from out of state. We always have so much fun together and it creates a time of real networking fun and memories. Our show has continued to grow year by year. We had more lots this year than ever and added more booths this year than we have had in the past 3 years.

This is exciting for us all. Our industry is growing day by day. The market, in our state in my opinion, is one of the best in the nation. With the great demand for stocker bucks the market is very aggressive. Year after year it has been tougher and tougher for our ranch to find bucks. This is a good problem and is the sign of a great market. When buyers come looking for you it’s a great time to be in the deer business. I would say that everyone who didn’t have their bucks sold before our sale probably sold them before they left.

The team at WOL loves to be a part of creating the atmosphere for growth. Recently we have created new tools to help our members. I encourage to check out our new website and the tools that can help you get exposure the potential buyers. Also tune in to articles, informational and other education that will assist you in your enterprise. Enjoy the rest of the magazine and keep connected and we thank you again for showing up, supporting and being a part of our great organization

Blessings,Trey Bollinger WOL President




DEER NEWS Hemorrhagic Disease in Whitetail Deer

Anyone who has been involved with the deer industry for longer than a day knows the devastation Hemorrhagic Disease has on a deer herd. The term “Hemorrhagic Disease” refers to infection with either Bluetongue virus (BTV) or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus (EHD). Both of these viruses belong to the Orbivirus family and cause very similar signs.

Both BTV and EHD are transmitted by the biting Midge (gnat). Other modes of transmission are suspected but not scientifically confirmed. There are several different serotypes of BTV and EHD known worldwide. In Louisiana, we have confirmed the presence of BTV types 1, 10 and 12, and suspect type 2. Also, we have confirmed EHD types 1, 2, and 6. Unfortunately, there is no reliable “cross protection” between each serotype of virus. This means that if a deer survives an infection from one type of BTV or EHD and develops immunity to that type, then gets infected with another type of BTV or EHD, it will not be protected or have any immunity towards that new type. However, one study shows that deer with immunity to EHD – 1 will not get as sick when exposed to EHD – 2 and fewer deer will show clinical signs compared to those that do not have EHD – 1 immunity. This would suggest that there is at least partial immunity between these types of EHD.

These viruses are life-threatening to deer and are difficult to treat. The most common clinical signs we see are oral ulcers, lack of appetite, excessive drooling, lameness, respiratory distress, neurologic


Continued page 6



Hemorrhagic Disease in Whitetail Deer disease, and death. Deer usually die within 72 hours of the development of any of these signs, often in spite of treatment attempts. It is important to have a veterinarian do a necropsy (autopsy) on deer that die. This will confirm if the deer had EHD or BTV or if it died from some other cause. It is also beneficial to find out which type of EHD or BTV is affecting your deer. This will help your veterinarian to tailor treatment plans and prevention plans for your herd.

Although most people use an autogenous vaccine from Newport Labs, we do not have an approved, commercially available vaccine for deer in the U.S. The autogenous vaccine does appear to provide some herd-level protection, but is not as effective as we would hope for. Currently, it is best to have a vaccine made specifically for the type of virus that is affecting your herd. Ideally, there would be a vaccine that would be efficacious for the types of virus that are most commonly isolated in Louisiana. In order for that to happen, we would need farms to go through the process of submitting samples for virus detection, identification, and typing. If we had this, we could have an understanding of the distribution of virus throughout the state and develop a bank of viruses that can be used to develop a better vaccine. Until then, appropriate insect control and early treatment remains our best defense against these diseases. There is also a myth that people are creating deer that are genetically resistant to these viruses. We do not have any scientific proof that this is happening. Deer may be able to pass on immunity from doe to fawn for the specific type of virus that your deer have been exposed to from year to year, but that does not protect them against the other types of EHD or Bluetongue that may be introduced to your farm.

We recommend that you develop a relationship with a veterinarian who knows the specifics of these viruses so that you have a partner in this difficult fight against this horrible disease. Drs. Fuselier and Whittington are always available for evaluation and consultation.


Jacques Fuselier, DVM, DABVP, DACT Paul Whittington, DVM

Whittington Veterinary Clinic – 1101 W. Port St., Abbeville, LA 70510 – 337-893-8522

“These viruses are life-threatening to deer and are difficult to treat”



Q&A QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION ON EHD & Blue Tongue I’ve been thinking for the last few months that it is time for the Louisiana Whitetail Breeders to have an updated correspondence with Dr. Wagner at Newport Labs. I contacted Dr. Wagner and asked him if he would participate in a question/answer session on EHD/Blue Tongue. He told me he would be glad to.

Dr. Wagner,

Louisiana continues to have animals die every year with EHD and Blue Tongue. It is my understanding that at Newport Labs you have conducted quite a few studies in the last couple of years. I would like to get the results of those studies out to the Louisiana breeders.

Question #1: Can the Newport Labs vaccine cause an animal to get EHD or Blue Tongue?

Answer: NO, NPL products are killed products, they are not able to cause the disease, they are able to stimulate the immune system to respond to the vaccine by making antibodies against the EHD and BTV

*Question #2: Can an animal contract EHD or Blue Tongue from a vaccinated animal?

Answer: NO, the only way for an animal to contract EHD or BTV is to be bitten by a midge that is carrying live virus, animals that are vaccinated with NPL products are administered KILLED vaccine ( dead virus) to stimulate the immune system. NPL has very strict regulatory procedures overseen by the USDA that insure all of our product have only KILLED virus and bacteria in them. Hence they are unable to cause disease, only able to stimulate the immune system to make antibodies to limit/prevent disease.

*Question # 3: Is it your recommendation to dart bucks while in velvet with vaccine?

Answer: YES, vaccinating bucks early in the velvet growing period helps insure their level of antibodies are high during EHD/BTV season, which will lead to better disease control, the main thing to remember is the time it takes the immune system to respond to the vaccine, it would be advantageous to vaccinate the bucks at least 30 days prior to EHD/BTV season




Q&A QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION ON EHD & Blue Tongue * Question #4: What is the best time of year to vaccinate and booster our animals in order for them to be at their top immunity stage during our EHD season; July, August, September, and October?

Answer: when we vaccinate our animals the immune system responds by making a high level of antibodies, as time passes the level of antibodies begins to drop, typically for Killed Viral Vaccines the levels of antibodies peak at 3 to 6 months after vaccination and then drop to low levels over the next 3 to 4 months, since we know when the prime EHD season is ( July through October) we would want vaccinate in the spring/early summer to ensure the antibodies are at the highest levels possible during prime EHD season. This can be a challenge since the bucks are in velvet and growing during this time. If it is deemed unwise to bring the bucks through the chute at this time I would recommend darting with the vaccine.

*Question #5: What would the protocol be on vaccinating fawns?

Answer: I recommend the following for fawn vaccination:

• ½ dose of EHD/BTV at birth to stimulate the Cell Mediated Immune System (All fawns, Bottle Fed or Pasture Raised)

• Bottle Feds- Full dose at 8 weeks, follow up dose at 10 to 12 weeks

• Pasture Raised- Full dose the first time they are handled, followed by another dose 2-4 weeks later

Generally Pasture Raised fawns are not handled until weaning, if the opportunity arises to vaccinate them prior to this time, take advantage of the opportunity and vaccinate them

*Question #6: What would be your recommendation on vaccinating pregnant does?

Answer: A well vaccinated doe is one of the best ways to ensure healthy fawns! We want the doe to have a high level of antibodies when she makes colostrum, with this in mind they should be vaccinated every spring at least 30 days prior to fawning


Continued page 17



Q&A QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION ON EHD & Blue Tongue * Question#7: If you vaccinate and booster an animal 21 days later, how long is the immunity at an effective level?

Answer: As stated above Killed Viral vaccines generally reach peak levels by 3 months after vaccination and remain high until 6 months or so when they begin to drop off. Killed bacterial vaccines generally stimulate high levels of antibodies for 6 to 8 months and then begin to drop off.

*Question #8: Does the EHD/BTV 9-Way combo work as well as the EHD & BTV 3 only vaccine toward immunity for EHD and Blue Tongue?

Answer: It is not a question of which one works better, but a question of how do they work. When we put all of the isolates in one vaccine it is convenient for the person administering the vaccine (one shot and done, less needle sticks), and we know that the immune system will respond to the pathogens in the vaccine. When we split the combo into 2 products (viral and the bacterin) there are some advantages, you have twice the amount of adjuvant (a product we put in all vaccines to stimulate the immune system) if both vaccines are given at the same time, you will also be stimulating more dendritic cells since the vaccines would be given in 2 separate spots in the body (these factors can lead to a more robust immune response). It also gives the producer the advantage of vaccinating for EHD/BTV only if that is what they wish or with the bacterin only if that is their desire.

I would like to thank Dr. Wagner for his time and these very helpful answers. I feel this gives Louisiana breeders an excellent handle on their vaccination program well in advance of next year’s EHD and Blue Tongue season.

Daniel G. ThomasLouisiana Whitetails Board Member




FAMILY FUN LOUISIANA FAMILY HAS FUN RAISING WHITETAIL DEER Farming often brings to mind chickens in pens, cows in pastures and pigs in the mud, but for the Lipari family, farming is a pasture full of deer.

“My dad and I always dreamed about raising deer,” Cole Lipari, 15, said.

Cole said the land adjacent to his home had always been woods thick with trees and bramble. When Cole was younger he had two goats that lived in his yard and he decided to clear some of the woods so the goats had a better place to live. He and his father built a low wooden fence and added a couple of metal tents in the small space, which was well-shaded by the trees they left standing.

From there he and his father, Mark, purchased three fallow deer and added them to the small space. It wasn’t long until the idea to raise white tail deer turned into a reality.

The Lipari family started its deer farm with 14 whitetail deer: nine does and five bucks. The deer were purchased in November and in the past year have produced seven fawns, six of which are still alive.

“I didn’t think it would be this laboring,” Cole said.

Cole does most of the work taking care of the deer with some help from family members when he is at school or football practice. He is in charge of feeding them, checking their water, moving them to different pastures and checking the fences for any holes where the deer might escape. He also gives the deer their shots when they are born and bi-annually.


Continued page 23



LOUISIANA FAMILY HAS FUN RAISING WHITETAIL DEER “I do everything,” Cole said.

Tara Lipari, Cole’s mother, has become mother to two of the smaller fawns on the Lipari farm.

“They were 4 pounds when they were born,” she said.

Two fawns, Sticks and Cajun, were two of the triplets birthed seven weeks ago, she said. Deer usually have two fawns at a time, which is why the babies were so small. The third fawn was sick most of its life and recently died.

Tara Lipari calls the fawns her “babies” and said her favorite thing about raising deer has been watching them grow.

“I always tell people my greatest accomplishment will be when I see my babies growing some horns,” Tara Lipari said.

Raising deer has proven to be a much more difficult task than she anticipated, Lipari said. The hardest thing has been making it through the heat of the summer because deer have no way of cooling their body temperatures.

The Liparis are prepared to handle other simply treated illnesses as well, keeping a cabinet full of medicine.





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DEER NEWS Factors that affect A.I. success in White-tailed deer

There are many factors that affect pregnancy results following artificial insemination (A.I.) in White-tailed Deer (WTD). Understanding these factors help producers and veterinarians improve the success of a reproductive program.

White-tailed deer are what are considered R-Selected species. Deer of this species are smaller bodied with an average breeding life of 10 years or less and typically have multiple offspring per pregnancy. White-tailed deer do not breed year-round like cattle. Instead, they only breed in the fall when the day length is short. Shorter periods of day light stimulate the release of a hormone called melatonin. Increasing amounts of melatonin ultimately cause a release of other reproductive hormones from the brain that act on the ovaries. The ovaries, in turn, produce additional reproductive hormones that allow a complete estrus cycle and ovulation. When we A.I. deer, we must consider these natural reproductive patterns and use them to our advantage to maximize the chance of pregnancies. Because WTD do not actively show signs of estrus (heat), we usually synchronize their estrus cycles by giving hormones in a manner that closely resembles what occurs naturally. This allows us to A.I. these deer at a time close to the predicted ovulation. Because of this, it is imperative that deer producers work closely with a veterinarian that understands deer reproductive physiology.


Continued page 34



Factors that affect A.I. success in White-tailed deer

Important factors for an A.I. program:

Nutrition: Proper doe nutrition is a must for a successful A.I. Does in poor condition do not produce the appropriate amount and quality of necessary hormones to establish and maintain a pregnancy. By the same right, does that are too fat do not breed well either. It is important that does are fed a properly formulated diet in the weeks leading up to the time of breeding and throughout pregnancy.

Current or previous illness: Deer have an amazing ability to hide slight, “smoldering” infections. If they had an illness in the months prior to breeding (EHD, Bluetongue, pneumonia, chronic lameness), they may still have a low-lying infection that has not completely cleared. This can have negative effects on breeding success. Some of these deer are more prone to death or other complications following anesthesia for laparoscopic A.I. (LapAI). Along those same lines, sick deer at the time of breeding are not good candidates for A.I.

Synchronization Protocol: Improperly formulated protocols will not allow for appropriate timing of A.I. and lead to fewer pregnancies. Also, if the protocols are not properly followed, or the hormones used are ineffective, the protocol will fail. It is important to note that not all deer will properly respond to a properly developed breeding protocol. Sometimes we cannot beat Mother Nature.

Semen Quality: This plays a HUGE role in breeding success. Poor semen will not make pregnancies. It is a must to have qualified people collect and process buck semen! Poorly developed semen should not be frozen or used. Handling of frozen semen is also very important. If the straws of semen do not stay at the proper temperature, the sperm will die, so one must be very careful when transferring straws of semen, as well as properly thawing semen at the time of insemination.

A.I. Technique: Deer should only be inseminated by properly trained people. Transcervical (vaginal) A.I. can provide descent results if performed properly on does known to conceive to this method of A.I. This method of insemination, however, provides fewer pregnancies per insemination than does LapAI.


Continued page 36




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Factors that affect A.I. success in White-tailed deer

Laparoscopic A.I. provides more pregnancies per inseminations. This technique is a surgical procedure, therefore can only be performed by a licensed veterinarian properly trained in this procedure. Proper anesthesia and positioning is required for this technique. The commonly used sedative, BAM, does not provide enough anesthesia for this type of procedure. One benefit to LapAI is a doe can be bred with less semen and still have acceptable pregnancy results. A normal

conception rate from LapAI is 70% or more. This is for healthy does in proper condition that received an appropriate synchronization protocol and are inseminated with high quality semen.

Keep this information in mind and work closely with a veterinarian to prepare your deer for the upcoming breeding season.

If you are interested in more general information or true research comparisons between the two methods for AI we will be happy to consult and show current scientific evidence. Our LapAI schedule is filling up, so if you are interested please contact Dr. Fuselier.


Jacques Fuselier, DVM, DABVP, DACT Paul Whittington, DVM

Whittington Veterinary Clinic – 1101 W. Port St., Abbeville, LA 70510 – 337-893-8522

“Happy Deer Make Happy

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whitetails of louisiana: 2015 fall magazine

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