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Mariah Elk Farm Prevents Chronic Wasting Disease From Spreading Among Their Animals Mariah Elk Farm Prevents Chronic Wasting Disease From Spreading

By Cyera Williams

Frozen Meat
© 2021 Cyera Williams

CYERA WILLIAMS: Their meat is high in protein and low in fat. Their antler can be sold as elf velvet to strengthen your bones and your muscles, All things buyers consume that could be good for them. With over 60 deer on this 164 acre of land, Bob and Beverly Root of Mariah farms have been supplying products to central New York for over two years.



BOB ROOT: Now only here in New York State there have been regulations that changed that so that we can only use elk who are presently right in New York state itself. We can’t bring outside animals from outer states into New York state because of what’s called Chronic Wasting Disease

WILLIAMS: 
Bob Root says he keeps his animals fenced in so that wild animal in this area does not spread this disease to his herd. We have Kristen Schuler, Wildlife Disease Ecologist from Cornell University telling us how this disease can not only infect deers but could infect humans too.

KRYSTEN SCHULER: It’s in the same family of diseases like Mad Cow Disease which is why we worry about it for humans…because Mad Cow Disease was a zoonotic disease meaning humans could get it.

CYERA: So, when I asked Bob Root how he prevents his animals from getting Chronic Wasting Disease, he said–

ROOT: There’s almost nothing you can do…..nothing you can do

WILLIAMS: New York State Regulations say farmers are prohibited to buy animals outside the state. There have been no cases of CWD in over 15 years and Bob Root says he wants to keep it that way, In Cortland, Cyera Williams, N-C-C News

CORTLAND,  NY (NCC News) – The Mariah Elk Farm in Cortland, New York is making sure their meat is safe to consume. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a strain of mad cow disease that can be found in whitetail deer, elks, moose and reindeers. Bob Root, the owner of Mariah Farms, said that he works hard to keep his stock healthy and consumers happy.

The Mariah Elk Farm is 164 acres wide and houses over 60 deer. The farm produces meat to supply the central New York area and restaurants. Elk meat is known to be high in protein and low in fat.

To keep the meat safe to consume, Root said he double -fences his bulls in so they do not mix with wild whitetail deer in the surrounding area.

New York State Regulations prevent farmers from purchasing deer outside of the state. The spread of Chronic Wasting Disease has been seen in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and more. If farmers want to breed outside their farm, they will have to purchase semen or another bull from a local farmer.

“The semen cost runs about $150 to $250 depending on the bull… to purchase another bull would be five to six, seven, sometimes 10 thousand dollars depending on its bloodline,” Root said.

Root said that the process of getting their deer tested is simple because they use the same butcher and testing center. Mariah Elk Farm uses the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab to test their animals for CWD. Krysten Schuler, wildlife disease expert at Cornell University said it’s best if farmers continue this process.

“I would say the regulation is appropriate given the concern for the disease, if it is found in someone’s herd, they could lose their entire herd,” Schuler said.  “It’s one of those things where you have to trade off the cost and benefits where the cost of getting CWD is pretty substantial.”

New York State has been a CWD-free state since 2005. The state recommends farmers get the deer tested before harvesting the body. This process takes up to a week but has since slowed down since supply and demand increased during the pandemic.

 

 

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