THIS! With enough years of health and fitness, they, too, can have superior genetics. That’s my point. It’s epigenetics, not some special God-given inherent trait. That’s my point.
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Trapping deer with a helicopter
- Thread starter Baker
- Start date
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5 year old buck +
Epigenetics are just genetics that are influenced by environment. Technically speaking, it is a God-given inherent trait, but understanding it allows you to tease it out through herd management, a big part of which is nutrition. You made a good point about switching genes off again. That would be interesting to read about if they get some solid results.
I'm just back from the ranch and appears I've missed a fun conversation. A working knowledge of epigenetics is valuable for those in a position to manage a deer herd. When I first bought the ranch roughly 30 yrs ago the largest deer on it was about 150" .It took about 5 yrs before we started seeing a material shift in quality and I think the season we just wrapped up was the best we have ever had. Ups and downs along the way but trend has been up. I contend the improvement is a result of an epigenetic shift resulting from an intense year round feeding program that has affected multiple generations of deer. Of course to fully experience the shift all other factors...age, ratio, stress, enough scale or control to make a difference etc...have to be accounted for. Our result is we now have a reputation for having the highest quality native genetic deer herd in Mexico.
I could elaborate on this extensively but an interesting comparative is this. Historically the Asian population has been characterized by shorter thinner population. Picture meals of rice in a bowl. As the population transitioned to a higher quality more nutritious diet after several generations you now have orientals in the NBA. Quirky example but makes a point.
I have had the same result in La. I have lived on my farm for 45 years hyper intensively managing the deer herd for most of it. Same principals. About 15% of the property in year round multi specie plantings. Supplementally feed high quality protein pellets 9 months of the year { A feeder per 50 acres} When we built a fence around the property 15 yrs ago we were finally able to move enough bucks into the older age classes to see the results which were profound.I believe same outcome. Having raised multiple generations of deer on a drastically improved diet we realized an epigenetic shift of the bell curve in quality positively, significantly better than anything anywhere around us . It just takes a lot of time.
So, that is why a buyer would buy our does to improve his ranch. Many want a shortcut or don't have the patience to wait generations to observe effects. Without a doubt the does bred to known high quality bucks will produce high quality off spring. If nutrition is in place the results will be quick and the buyer will have significantly improved his deer herd.
I could elaborate on this extensively but an interesting comparative is this. Historically the Asian population has been characterized by shorter thinner population. Picture meals of rice in a bowl. As the population transitioned to a higher quality more nutritious diet after several generations you now have orientals in the NBA. Quirky example but makes a point.
I have had the same result in La. I have lived on my farm for 45 years hyper intensively managing the deer herd for most of it. Same principals. About 15% of the property in year round multi specie plantings. Supplementally feed high quality protein pellets 9 months of the year { A feeder per 50 acres} When we built a fence around the property 15 yrs ago we were finally able to move enough bucks into the older age classes to see the results which were profound.I believe same outcome. Having raised multiple generations of deer on a drastically improved diet we realized an epigenetic shift of the bell curve in quality positively, significantly better than anything anywhere around us . It just takes a lot of time.
So, that is why a buyer would buy our does to improve his ranch. Many want a shortcut or don't have the patience to wait generations to observe effects. Without a doubt the does bred to known high quality bucks will produce high quality off spring. If nutrition is in place the results will be quick and the buyer will have significantly improved his deer herd.
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