Deer farming for venison is practiced in New Zealand, the UK, Scotland, and elsewhere. Deer have particular welfare needs arising from their prey animal psychology and semi-wild origin.
Farmed deer occupy an unusual welfare niche: they are farmed livestock but retain strong wild animal flight responses that make handling inherently more stressful than domesticated species. Even deer born and raised on farms maintain high flight distances and respond to human approach with acute stress. This means that any management procedure — health checks, transport, weighing, treatment — carries significant welfare cost. Low-stress handling facilities, minimal intervention management, and veterinary sedation for necessary procedures are best-practice approaches.