Those who raise deer want rule changes

There are about two-hundred farms in Iowa raising deer and those farmers a seeking a change in state law to ensure they can sell their animals and meat across state lines. Judy Collera raises deer on a farm near Mt. Pleasant, and she says their problems began with the discovery of chronic wasting disease in neighboring statesCollera says they want healthy animals, so the state’s deer farm industry worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to establish a monitoring program. But they’ve learned D-N-R certification isn’t enough for out-of-state vets.Collera says each state vet controls what animals may be brought into their state, and other states’ veterinarians have said Iowa’s chronic wasting disease program needs to be monitored by health officials who work in the Deparmtent of Agriculture. A bill that’s cleared the Senate and awaits House action would shift the responsibility to the Ag Department.Collera says deer farms sell the animals to hunting preserves and sell the meat. There are 195 licensed deer breeders in Iowa.