THE ONLY REINDEER FARM IN UKRAINE: ONLY 30% OF THE HERD YIELDS INCOME

According to Mikhail Bugash, head of the farm “Agromriya” (Transcarpathian region) – the only supplier of deer horns to the Ternopil company “Ternofarm”, the domestic producer of “Pantocrine”, says the deer business is not too profitable. It is reported by Upmp.news with reference to AgroTimes.

This was written by the “The Ukrainian Farmer” magazine.

Today, the number of Far East spotted deer on the farm has increased to 300 heads, and maybe more, because it’s impossible to count animals. “The heard of deer doesn`t provide a lot of horns: a half of 300 heads are “naked” females,” – explained Mikhail Bugash. – In addition, males aged 1 to 3 years do not shed horns. It turns out that only 30% of the herd gives profit.”

He also noted that feed prices are rising, and the factory does not exhibit a stable price for velvet antlers (non-ossified reindeer horns that are used as raw materials for “Pantocrine”).

Deer horns are the only product for which the deer are bred on the farm, says Mikhail Bugash. The fur for unsuitable for futher production: hairs are tubular and easily broken. You can smudge the skin, but the work is too expensive. A deer can be dehorned when he is four years old – the age of maturity.

“Deer`s horns grow only 2.5 months. Moreover, the rate of growth depends on the weather and feeding: warm, normal feeding – grow fast. If it is cold horns stop growing at all, – said Mikhail Bugash. – They ossify very quickly: maybe in two to three days, and then they consider defective.”

Auxiliary activity for a reindeer farm is tourism. Although the farm do not specifically care for it, do not advertise.

As for further plans, Mikhail Bugash spoke with caution. It would be good to increase the herd, but the rise in food prices holds it back. But the construction of a tourist complex on the farm Mikhail decided unambiguously.