AYR, NEBRASKA-T he American Cervid Alliance (ACA), which represents American deer farmers, called on Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to sign House Bill 1326, which would move oversight of private deer farms from the Department of Conservation to the Department of Agriculture. The bill comes as the Department of Conservation has proposed sweeping new regulations that would cripple Missouri deer farmers if adopted.

HB 1326 would classify farmed deer as livestock, a sensible provision given that these animals are kept on wide-ranging, but contained, private property. Agriculture departments regulate farmed deer in the neighboring states of Kansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma, as well as several other states, and Missouri has regulated farmed elk under the Department of Agriculture since 1995. The Missouri Department of Conservation, however, has recently proposed onerous regulations, including closing the state's borders to farmed deer, which are not based on sound science.

The Department of Conservation claims that its goal is to reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a rare disease that is more common among wild than farmed deer. However, Missouri deer farmers are already under stringent CWD testing requirements, as well as other health programs administrated by the Department of Agriculture.

"The Department of Conservation's regulations will unnecessarily impose economic hardships and poach Missouri businesses under the guise of science," said Sam James, President of the Missouri Deer Association. "Missouri deer farms need sensible, not heavy-handed and onerous, regulation, and the Department of Agriculture is a more logical venue. Governor Nixon should sign this bill."

"USDA data show that CWD is two times more common in wild deer/elk than captive deer/elk," stated Dr. Don Davis, ACA Scientific Advisor and Associate Professor, Veterinary Pathobiology, at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. "CWD is found in free-ranging deer and not in captive deer in 10 states, while there are about 5 states where CWD has been found only in captive deer/elk."

Missouri's deer farmers, many of which are family operations, are an important part of the nation's $4 billion dollar cervid industry. For more information, visit http://www.americancervidalliance.org.

To schedule an interview, please contact Charly Seale at (830) 928-3158, or Seale.Charly@gmail.com.

The American Cervid Alliance (ACA) is a leadership council comprised of representatives from 36 separate elk, deer, and exotic associations.

American Cervid Alliance
Media Contact: Charly Seale
Phone: (830) 928-3158