fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 08 March 2019 08:35

Deer numbers bouncing back

Written by 
Chart depicting trends in deer numbers. Chart depicting trends in deer numbers.

Farmed deer numbers, including breeding hinds and fawns, increased in 2018, says Statistics New Zealand.

This follows a small recovery in stag numbers in the 2017 census.

Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) chief executive Dan Coup says the trend is a strong indication of growing farmer confidence in the viability of deer in a drystock farming operation.

Hind numbers in the year to June 30, 2018 recovered to 413,400 from a low of 392,300 in 2017, according to provisional figures. 

“This is the first firm indication that the long-run decline in deer numbers that began in the late 1990s has ended and that a recovery is underway,” he says.

“Even more interesting is that the statistics indicate a dramatic increase in hind productivity. Farmers reported that 84% of hinds weaned a fawn in 2018, compared with fewer than 73% in 2008.” 

Coup believes this increase probably reflects the efforts farmers have been putting into improving hind nutrition and management.

“It also means deer farming, along with strong product prices, is able to compete better with alternative land uses. This has been a key objective of Passion2Profit, the deer industry’s Primary Growth Partnership programme.” 

The 2018 increase in hind numbers of about 5% is seen by DINZ as sustainable if it continues in coming years. 

“If this growth rate continues, it’s one that our venison markets should be able to handle. By and large it is coming from the expansion of herd numbers on existing deer farms and to a lesser extent from newcomers to the industry.” 

Coup says the industry does not expect to see a large influx of new deer farmers. 

“Modern deer farming is a specialist business,” he explains. “To successfully farm deer you need to make a significant investment in fencing, facilities and skilled staff. 

“Velvet harvesting facilities need to meet the high standards of world markets.”

He adds that the modern generation of deer farmers are highly skilled deer managers and savvy business people. 

“They share information and experience and most of them have close working relationships with their venison marketers and velvet buyers.”

 

More like this

Ag sector seeks further detail on Freshwater Farm Plans

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, and Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) say while they support the use of farm plans as a tool, they have concerns about the implementation and short timeframes the Government is working to.

New deer chair elected

Central Otago deer farmer and veterinarian Amanda (Mandy) Bell has been elected chair of the Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) board.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.