Belarus's only deer farm has been successfully developing in the Miory region for two years

300-400 years ago, our ancestors could often see red deer in the wild in the territory of modern Belarus. But by the beginning of the 19th century, the population of these animals was completely exterminated. Gradually, it began to be restored by importing individual animals from neighboring countries. Today, there are just over 12,000 heads in the republic. For comparison, there are 10 times more of them in neighboring Poland.

Most of our deer inhabit the west of Belarus. However, the population is gradually expanding in the north of the country. Thus, a year ago, almost fifty individuals were settled in the enclosures of the Braslav Lakes National Park. And a few months later, but already in the Miory district, a deer farm, the only one in Belarus, was established at the Obsterno hunting farm.

Animals with character

If deer are released into ordinary enclosures, it is not so easy to track their lives. The animal becomes wild and does not come into human hands. On the farm, however, the deer are almost tame. They get used to the person who feeds them every day. They come when called and run away from "applause". Each has its own pedigree, which excludes inbreeding. All are vaccinated against diseases, and the males have their antlers sawn off so that they do not injure each other. In "Obsterno," in fact, one person is responsible for all this – the gamekeeper Roman Antushevich.

– As long as there is grass, I feed them once a day, or even every other day, so that they don't get too used to people, – says Roman Stanislavovich, inviting us to walk between the enclosures. – Usually, I give them oats, they love corn, and their winter treat is salt with microadditives…

Seeing their feeder from afar, the herd rushes off. In front is the leader. In the "female" part, it is Kistochka. This is what we nicknamed the most unpredictable female during our visit to the farm. They say that once a lynx got into the enclosure. The herd, led by Kistochka, attacked the predator and... trampled it. However, the alpha female herself suffered the most – the wild cat managed to bite off a piece of her ear.

The "stronger sex" is led by the main Genka. True, his herd is small – 4 males. Even before the horns were sawn off, which is done before the rut, he once clashed with a "comrade," and his branched crown was gone as if it never existed. By the way, the horns on the farm are labeled with the owner's number and stored – this makes it easier to compare how the owner's health changes from year to year. The owners of the most beautiful and branched headwear will later become the best breeders or... trophies. But more on that later.

The young stock is also kept in separate enclosures. Two-year-olds are already separated. And the youngest are still in the general herd. The "little ones," as Roman Antushevich calls the fawns, although they weigh an average of 70 kilograms, are led by Bolik and Lelik. The females refused to feed them, so Roman Stanislavovich's wife fed them milk from a bottle 8 times a day. But now they are good leaders, they approach people themselves, and they are easy to handle, which means the whole herd is easy to handle.

Private Business – Public Benefit

Deer breeding in "Obstern" began with 122 heads. Today there are 270, of which 80 calves were conceived and born in Belarus. The rut ended in September. This means that by May next year, the herd will be replenished by approximately another 80 heads.

Roman Antushevich says that in the future, the management of "Obstern" will build a hunting enclosure. The most brutal males and females will be placed there. First of all, deer with trophy antlers – the most branched and expensive. Hunting them will be organized with a rifle or bow. Foreigners are already willing to pay considerable money for such entertainment. Thus, tourism will be actively developed, and foreign currency will be attracted to the country. For now, deer farming is not profitable, quite the opposite – it is at a loss. But this is a matter of time. When deer farming in the Miory district receives a new impetus, they promise to significantly expand the population of red deer here. Moreover, outside the enclosures: some of the animals will be released into the wild.

Anastasia Alimova, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".