Farmed Cervidae: Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to register my cervid herd with the Board of Animal Health?
Yes. A person may not possess live cervidae in Minnesota unless the person is registered with the Board of Animal Health and meets all the requirements for farmed cervidae.
Is there a registration fee with the Board of Animal Health?
Yes. For each herd, the owner or owners must, on or before January 1 of each year, pay an annual inspection fee equal to $10 for each cervid in the herd as reflected in the most recent inventory submitted to the Board of Animal Health up to a maximum fee of $100.
Am I required to participate in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Program?
Yes. The CWD surveillance program is mandatory. Mandatory surveillance includes the following:
- an inventory for each farmed cervidae herd must be verified by an accredited veterinarian and filed with the Board every 12 months,
- movement of farmed cervidae from any premises to another location must be reported to the Board of Animal Health within 14 days of such movement on forms approved by the Board, and
- all animals from farmed cervidae herds that are over 16 months of age that die or are slaughtered must be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease.
Do my animals need to be identified?
Yes. The BAH requires all cervidae to be identified.
- The identification must be visible to the naked eye during daylight under normal conditions at a distance of 50 yards.
- The preferred identification are custom made plastic ear tags that are imprinted with the state designation “MN” and the herd premises identification number followed by another number of the producer’s choice.
- USDA approved metal ear tags and North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA) ear tags are also acceptable.
What is a premises ID number and how do I find out if I have one?
A premises ID number is a unique 5-digit number that is assigned to each premises by the Board and must be used for all disease control programs. If you don’t know what your premises ID number is, you can find out by calling the Board.
How long do I have to place ID numbers on newborn animals?
Newborn animals must be identified before December 31 of the year in which the animal is born or before movement from the premises, whichever occurs first.
Does the Board of Animal Health have any fencing requirements?
Yes. All perimeter fences for farmed cervidae must be at least 96 inches in height and be constructed and maintained in a way that prevents the escape of farmed cervidae or entry into the premises by free-roaming cervidae.
What should I do if any of my animals escape?
You must make all reasonable efforts to return escaped animals to their enclosures as soon as possible. You must notify the Department of Natural Resources if animals are not returned or captured within 24 hours of their escape.
What should I do if wild deer get into my enclosures?
You must destroy wild cervidae that get into your confinement area. You must report the incident to your local conservation officer or the Department of Natural Resources at (651) 296-6157 within 24 hours. The Department of Natural Resources will instruct you on how to dispose of the carcass.
If I want to sell my animal to another state, what do I need to do?
Because rules change so frequently, the producer or the veterinarian must contact the state of destination prior to exporting animals.
If I want to bring a cervid into Minnesota, what do I need to do?
A permit must be obtained from the Board of Animal Health before the animal/s can enter the state.
Am I required to participate in the Tuberculosis (TB) and Brucellosis programs?
No. Participation in these two programs is voluntary.
Where should I submit samples for CWD testing?
University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
1333 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Metro Area: 612-625-8787
Outside Metro Area: 1-800-605-8787
Who should I contact if I have further questions?
Cervidae Division: 651-201-6804.
Who should I contact if I have questions regarding slaughtering my animals and/or selling the meat?
Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Heidi Kassenborg: 651-201-6625
Nicole Neeser: 651-201-6225