Reindeer Thrive On Former Christmas Tree Farm
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If you love Christmas and have thought about owning your own reindeer, you should do a lot of research first, says Dan Downs, who owns Pine Acres Reindeer Farm in LaRue, Ohio, with his wife, Linda. While there’s plenty of fun to be had raising the domestic cousins of caribou and they have income potential, raising reindeer requires meeting certain regulations to accommodate their special needs. And, breeding stock isn’t cheap. Reindeer cost an average of $4,500 apiece.
The Downses’ love of Christmas and desire to take their holiday display up a notch, led them to purchase their first pair of reindeer in 2003. It was a natural addition. Their property was a former Christmas tree farm, and its 1 1/2 acres of mature pine trees, pasture and barn provide good habitat. In the heat of summer, the reindeer hang out by the fans in the barn. In nice weather they nip at grass in the pasture and hang out in the pines. The property is surrounded by 8-ft. fencing, one of the federal regulations for raising reindeer.
The fence is to keep whitetail deer out, Downs notes, to prevent spreading disease. Other regulations require USDA certification with two inspections a year, plus a surprise inspection at a scheduled event.
For example, reindeer are pack animals, so there should be at least two of them. If they show any signs of health problems they need to be taken care of immediately. When the antlers (on both male and female reindeer) are in velvet it’s important to monitor them closely so that injuries or flies don’t cause infections that can be deadly.
One of the Downses’ biggest chores is making sure their six reindeer have fresh water during the summer. The reindeer like to stand in the water tank to cool off, so the Downses clean and disinfect the tank often.
They feed their animals a custom feed similar to horse/cattle feed with extra nutrients, based on research done by the Reindeer Owner Breeders Association (www.reindeer.ws). The Downses are members and highly recommend that anyone interested in raising reindeer join because of the helpful information the organization provides.
Though reindeer require more work than some livestock, they’re very rewarding, Downs says. There are many opportunities to make money with them - at least enough to help cover some of their expenses. (Downs estimates it costs $10,000/year for feed, veterinary care and other expenses for six reindeer.)
The Downses actively hire out their reindeer for events - on display, not to pet, because of sanitary and liability issues. One year they attended 64 venues in 6 weeks.
Entrepreneurs can market reindeer in a variety of ways to bring in income, such as corporate events, town celebrations, commercials and photos, Downs says. But for him they are more than a sideline business.
“They have personalities, and they’ve become like pets. We’ve gotten attached to them,” he says. “I see the enjoyment that people get out of them at Christmas time.”
People are fascinated by reindeer, he adds, and often surprised to learn that Santa’s sleigh pullers actually exist.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan and Linda Downs, Pine Acres Reindeer Farm (ph 740 382-9343; info@pineacresreindeerfarm.com; www.pineacresreindeerfarm.com).
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Reindeer Thrive On Former Christmas Tree Farm LIVESTOCK Exotic Animals If you love Christmas and have thought about owning your own reindeer you should do a lot of research first says Dan Downs who owns Pine Acres Reindeer Farm in LaRue Ohio with his wife Linda While there’s plenty of fun to be had raising the domestic cousins of caribou and they have income potential raising reindeer requires meeting certain regulations to accommodate their special needs And breeding stock isn’t cheap Reindeer cost an average of $4 500 apiece The Downses’ love of Christmas and desire to take their holiday display up a notch led them to purchase their first pair of reindeer in 2003 It was a natural addition Their property was a former Christmas tree farm and its 1 1/2 acres of mature pine trees pasture and barn provide good habitat In the heat of summer the reindeer hang out by the fans in the barn In nice weather they nip at grass in the pasture and hang out in the pines The property is surrounded by 8-ft fencing one of the federal regulations for raising reindeer The fence is to keep whitetail deer out Downs notes to prevent spreading disease Other regulations require USDA certification with two inspections a year plus a surprise inspection at a scheduled event For example reindeer are pack animals so there should be at least two of them If they show any signs of health problems they need to be taken care of immediately When the antlers on both male and female reindeer are in velvet it’s important to monitor them closely so that injuries or flies don’t cause infections that can be deadly One of the Downses’ biggest chores is making sure their six reindeer have fresh water during the summer The reindeer like to stand in the water tank to cool off so the Downses clean and disinfect the tank often They feed their animals a custom feed similar to horse/cattle feed with extra nutrients based on research done by the Reindeer Owner Breeders Association www reindeer ws The Downses are members and highly recommend that anyone interested in raising reindeer join because of the helpful information the organization provides Though reindeer require more work than some livestock they’re very rewarding Downs says There are many opportunities to make money with them - at least enough to help cover some of their expenses Downs estimates it costs $10 000/year for feed veterinary care and other expenses for six reindeer The Downses actively hire out their reindeer for events - on display not to pet because of sanitary and liability issues One year they attended 64 venues in 6 weeks Entrepreneurs can market reindeer in a variety of ways to bring in income such as corporate events town celebrations commercials and photos Downs says But for him they are more than a sideline business “They have personalities and they’ve become like pets We’ve gotten attached to them ” he says “I see the enjoyment that people get out of them at Christmas time ” People are fascinated by reindeer he adds and often surprised to learn that Santa’s sleigh pullers actually exist Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dan and Linda Downs Pine Acres Reindeer Farm ph 740 382-9343; info@pineacresreindeerfarm com; www pineacresreindeerfarm com
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