A cross-sectional study of the causes of morbidity and mortality in farmed white-tailed deer.
Two questionnaires were designed and administered. The first was to a random sample of 340 farmers of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Canada and the United States. The second was a 10-year retrospective survey of deer submissions to veterinary diagnostic pathology laboratories in Canada and the United States. One-year rates of mortality and common causes of morbidity and mortality for the deer are reported. The primary diagnosis for each record was used to classify diseases into categories, such as parasitic, infectious, toxicological, and neoplastic. Submissions were further classified according to the anatomical location, the pathological change, and the etiology associated with each lesion. Trauma was the most important reported cause of farmed white-tailed deer mortality; necrobacillosis was a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in fawns.
Haigh
Jerry
J
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon S7N 5B4.
Berezowski
John
J
Woodbury
Murray R
MR
D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003670:Deer; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*