From the earliest times, deer, with their fleetness of foot d grace of build, have been regarded as propitious animals in China. Up to 300 years ago, Taiwan, along with Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines, was noted for its deer. Several places were named after deer, including Luku (Deer Valley) in Nantou County and Lutsao (Deer Grass) in Chiayi County.

The first settlers in Taiwan used venison as a staple food, and exported the dried meat, deer tongue and deer sinew to Fukien Province, and deer skin to Nagasaki in Japan. Statistics show that exports of deer skin at one time amounted to 60,000 to 100,000 pieces a year, much of it going through Lukang (Deer Harbor).

As a result of this exploitation, the number and species of deer has been greatly reduced. Among those still surviving, the Chinese water deer and Formosan spotted deer are best-known. Deer usually have one or two young delivered in the late spring each year. The fawns remain with their mothers until they are about two years old, by which time they are sufficiently mature to be independent.

The deer is valued for many things besides its flesh. Its skin makes particularly strong and soft leather, often called buckskin. The hoofs and horns are prized for their ornamental attributes. The Chinese also make a potion from stag horn when it is at the velvety stage. Since the antlers alone fetch some US$33 per tael (about 0.6 kilograms), many farmers have been persuaded to take up deer farming as a profitable sideline.

At present, farmers in Taiwan have domesticated four species, the indigenous water deer and spotted deer, and the imported red deer and moose. The moose, imported from Canada, are difficult to domesticate, while the red deer, imported from New Zealand, are hardy and produce the largest amount of antlers.

Hsu San-lang, a former model farmer, raises some 48 red deer at his farm in the suburbs of Taipei. He said that getting started in deer farming requires a fairly high capitalization, since a pair of red deer costs US$7,000, and tools to collect the antlers and build deer pens must be provided. The fodder and mulberry leaves on which the deer feed, however, are relatively inexpensive.

Antlers grow from permanent knoblike bones on the stag's skull each spring. New antlers are soft and tender. Thin skin with short, fine hair called velvet covers the growing antlers. The new antlers are comprised of blood vessels and gelatin. After 70 days, the velvety skin dries up, and the deer rubs it off by scraping its antlers on the ground, or against trees or bushes. Full-grown antlers are hard and song, but have little commercial value. Consequently, deer raisers must choose the most appropriate time to cut them.

Hsu said that for the convenience of buyers, antlers are usually gathered for immediate sale on Sunday mornings. Once an animal has been roped, it is subdued quickly to prevent damage to the horns.

Usually, the antlers are sawn off about one or two centimeters away from the base. The blood is collected and used as a source of deer blood wine which is said to be a cure for anemia. Astringents must be applied immediately the antler is sawn off to prevent the animal from losing too much blood. The deer is then released and after a period of confusion over the sudden loss of weight from its head, it settles down among the herd again.

According to tradition, the removed antlers are sliced into small pieces and soaked in a tincture of chirata and dried sea-horse and gecko, for about six weeks. The resulting brew is said to be good for improving sexual prowess. A pair of antlers may fetch as much as US$ 2,000. Since the average lifespan of a deer is about 20 years, the size of profits can be easily assessed.

Though no scientific analysis has been made, velvet-covered antlers are regarded as an elixir in China for their contents of gelatin, vitamins and other beneficial mineral and organic substance. Besides revitalizing the kidneys, they are said to be good for easing asthma, lowering blood pressure and blood sugar, and for gland secretions.

It is not surprising that the Taiwan Provincial Government is strongly promoting deer farming in remote areas and on offshore islands to improve residents' living standards.

[Picture Caption]

Left: Many farmers in Taiwan have taken up deer raising as a profitable sideline. Right: Formosan spotted deer.

Left: With their fleetness of foot and grace of build, deer have always been regarded as propitious animals in China. Right: Antlers covered with velvet have high economic value.

Hsu San-lang, a model farmer, and the red deer he raises.

1. Hsu feeding his stock. 2. A pair of antlers may fetch as much as US$2,000. 3. The brew made from young antlers is regarded as an elixir.

Formosan spotted deer.

With their fleetness of foot and grace of build, deer have always been regarded as propitious animals in China.

Antlers covered with velvet have high economic value.

Hsu San-lang, a model farmer, and the red deer he raises.

Hsu feeding his stock.

The brew made from young antlers is regarded as an elixir.

A pair of antlers may fetch as much as US$2,000.