Deer cloning boosts big-antler genetics

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Increasing the genetics, through cloning, of white-tailed deer will generate bigger antlers. At left is a mounted buck viewed during the recent Van Zandt/Kaufman counties ag tour. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

June 10, 2004 -- The cloning of animals is a highly-debated issue. Whether right or wrong, it is happening.

People attending the recent Van Zandt/Kaufman counties ag tour where introduced to Dr. Tim Holt, a whitetail deer scientific breeder and the veterinarian who performed the first whitetail deer cloning in the United States.

Holt stated the goal of his organization, Revolution Whitetails, in Terrell is to increase the genetics of the whitetail deer, and therefore grow bigger horns.

"The only reason you would want to clone an animal is for genetics. We are expecting 300 (nontypical) clones this year," Holt explained.

Explaining the cloning process, the veterinarian stated the initial procedure is to synchronize the does' cycling.

Once the does are synchronized, hunters harvest does from ranches that are being overrun. The ovaries are taken from these does and the eggs are flushed. Once the eggs are flushed, the DNA is extracted from these eggs, leaving a total empty egg. DNA, from a cell line (which can come from any part of the skin), is placed into the egg and the egg is then placed into one of the synchronized does. Bucks are not used at any time during the process. All that is needed for the cloning procedure is the DNA.

Maturity for does is about 2-and-a-half-years-old with most having twins. Presently, the Revolution Whitetails ranch has about 100 bred does.

"Some of these does on the place have three to four babies. Of the cloned babies, once they make it past 2-weeks-old, they are fine. Most of the babies are bottle raised," he added.

Mortality rate for the fawns, at Revolution Whitetails, is 10 percent, but Holt said the rate increases to 50 percent in the wild.

Fawns are being born now through August. In October, these fawns are given vaccinations and dewormer.

"Last year we ran 300 through the chutes without an injury," he added.

All deer have been DNA-typed and microchipped.

The scientific breeder stated this is his eighth year in the deer business, which is a $9 billion a year industry in Texas. This industry includes hunting, meat, and all other portions of the industry.

"There is some profit to be made on deer," Holt cited.

"Deer are like anything else. You can pay a little bit or the sky is the limit," the breeder/veterinarian stated.

The cost of purchasing a deer can range from $1,500 to "a 2-year-old doe (which has) sold for $500,000."

"Anybody can buy a deer, but only a scientific breeder can sell a deer," Holt added.

With the goal of growing bigger horns, three factors are key: genetics, nutrition, and age.

The deer are feed a nutritionally-balanced pellet, free-choice. They also have various forages; lots of legumes, peas, alfalfa and clovers, according to Holt.

His biggest buck, derived from cloning, has measured 228-inches on the Boone and Crockett scale.

Holt added most of his deer are breeder deer and not for slaughter. Most offspring are moved to other breeder pens to increase genetics. He also added, "Most of the deer revert back to the wild real quick," which was evident when the ag tour attendees tried to view the deer while they were being feed.

Deer is not the only thing at Revolution Whitetails. Wild turkeys are abundant.

"It is a safe haven here. They raise their chicks. I leave them alone," Holt added.

Holt is fascinated with cloning, and is expecting to "dive off into possibly cloning a horse next year."