Texas Deer Association Takes Lead in Deer Disease Research
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 at 1:37 PMTexas Deer Association Takes Lead in Deer Disease Research
Texas Deer Association
SAN ANTONIO, TX - -(AmmoLand.com)- Serving as proud stewards of Texas deer, the Texas Deer Association (TDA) board of directors has approved a $50,000 research funding gift to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. The approved funding is a big step forward for deer disease research and will assist the College of Veterinary Medicine develop groundbreaking research that will benefit whitetail deer and the deer industry throughout the United States for years to come.
“The Texas Deer Association is extremely grateful for the support provided by the College of Veterinary Medicine and we hope this research gift will lead to key research for diseases, such as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and blue tongue, which kill tens of thousands of whitetail deer every year in the United States,” says Karl Kinsel, executive director of the Texas Deer Association. “The TDA remains dedicated to improving the quality of Texas deer herds and expanding veterinary medicine for deer and all cervids is a vital component to achieving that goal.”
The College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University was identified by a national research committee with the North American Deer Farmers Association as the most eligible location for the Farmed Deer Disease and Applied Genetics Research Center, explains Dr. Dick Cain, chairman of the TDA research committee. The research center was approved in the 2008 Farm Bill and is currently undergoing the funding process in the United States Congress.
“The TDA and its members have developed a great working relationship with several staff and researchers at the Texas A&M veterinary school and have provided priceless field experience and insight,” says Cain. “Working together, Texas deer breeders and researchers have already created important veterinary disease protocols and developed valuable information for improving the quality and health of deer herds.”
With more than 1,000 deer breeding operations in the state, Texas today leads the nation in deer breeding, an industry which many experts contend is the fastest growing industry in rural America. The deer industry contributes more than $650 million annually to the Texas economy, and the total economic contribution exceeds $2.3 billion nationally.
The TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds through better habitat practices, modern harvest strategies and use of superior deer to enhance the deer herds. As a part of its public education efforts, the TDA produces a full-color bimonthly publication, Tracks Magazine, which updates TDA members on current industry news, deer genetics and game management issues. The TDA also hosts an annual convention and trade show in August featuring fund-raising auctions, a deer auction, golf tournament and other events.
For more information on the TDA or for membership, please call 210.767.8300 or visit www.texasdeerassociation.com
About:
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the Texas Deer Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of Texas deer herds, and to developing ways to improve deer quality in Texas. For more information on the Texas Deer Association, call 210.767.8300 or visit www.texasdeerassociation.com.
