Elk ranchers worry about impact of ban

Kathy and Steve Simpson with one of their domesticated elk. Photo by Kathryn Godsiff

A recent ban on importation of live domestic elk into Oregon has local elk ranchers concerned about the future.

The purpose of the the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ban is to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from entering the state. CWD is a progressive, degenerative and fatal disease of the brain which affects elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.

It is unknown how the disease is transmitted and there have been no recorded cases in Oregon.

The economic and genetic impact that the ban will have on Oregon's 16 elk ranches is far-reaching, according to Lower Bridge elk ranchers Steve and Kathy Simpson.

"They say we can still use artificial insemination for breeding, but what about getting females from other bloodlines?" said Steve Simpson.

To improve genetically, a domestic livestock herd, be it cattle, sheep or elk, needs to have outside influence from the female side as well as from the sires. The elk ranching industry is flourishing all across North America and Oregon elk ranchers feel they should be able to have access to the broad gene pool.

Artificial insemination is an expensive and relatively new practice with elk.

The Simpsons do some AI, bringing in a vet from out of state, who is himself an elk rancher. They work with other ranchers in Central Oregon to keep costs down.

Still, there is always the chance that a prize cow won't be receptive on the day the vet is there and the opportunity is lost for a prospective breeding.

A major issue which breeders of domestic elk have with the ban is the designation of their stock as wildlife, which makes the Department of Fish and Wildlife their regulator.

If the animals were classed as livestock, the ranches would be regulated by the Department of Agriculture.

"Federally, domestic elk are considered livestock," said Simpson. "Oregon sees it differently. It seems like most ODFW officials in Portland are biologists and aren't in tune with animal husbandry practices. They don't know how carefully we monitor our herd's health."

According to officials, there is concern that domestic elk might escape into the wild and contaminate that gene pool. In reality, says Simpson, if his elk were given an opportunity to escape, "they would be back in the pasture by the next feed time. They don't even like to leave their pasture when the gates are opened to move them."

The Simpsons, who established their elk ranch four years ago, may be relatively new to elk, but not to ranching.

"Our brand, Cross Anchor S, belonged to my great grandfather in Colorado," said Simpson.

They saw elk ranching as a way to diversify their operation, with the economics of elk being one of the main attractions.

"When a rancher can get an income of $500 to $600 per animal, with a renewable resource that grows back each year, who wouldn't do it?," said Simpson.

What is this renewable resource? Velvet antler, which is the fast-growing, soft stage of antler development on the males of all cervids, the species which includes elk, deer, caribou, wapiti and reindeer.

Velvet antler has been used for centuries in the Far East. It is valued as a substance that increases overall energy and endurance, strengthens joints and the immune system, and improves memory, among other things.

More recently, it has been discovered by North American baby boomers. As they age they are looking for natural tonics which make the process less painful.

"The studies done on antler velvet show it to be a remarkable supplement," said Kathy Simpson. "We take it every day and really notice a difference in our health."

Late in the spring, the antler is cut from it's base on the animal's head.

"There is no bleeding; it is not stressful on the bulls at all," said Kathy.

The antlers are handled carefully and hygienically, going first to a large freezer. They are then cut into smaller pieces and packed in dry ice to be shipped to the processor in Wisconsin. On arrival, it is freeze dried, a process which takes about seven weeks.

After drying, it is ground up and the Simpsons have it prepared in capsules and bottled. It is shipped back to them for labeling and marketing.

"Many of our customers are old ranchers who have been sore for years," said Kathy. "They take velvet antler and finally find relief."

Even with the setback of the ban, the Simpsons are enthusiastic about continuing their operation. They are working on developing markets for elk meat, and hope that one day Oregon may relax the regulations to allow even more diversification within the elk industry.

"In other states, elk ranchers can raise trophy bulls or have the ranch set up for private hunting, something we'd really like to do," said Simpson.