Deer Industry/Production Flashcards
How did the deer industry come to be?
- 20 Wapiti were gifted to NZ by Roosevelt
- the first deer were brought to NZ and released for sport in 1861
- temporarily became a pest
- carcasses began to make money, so a farming license was granted (the first in 1970) then wild deer were caught for farming
What are the main deer markets?
- venison
- velvet
- co-products
What are the main deer co-products?
- pizzles
- deer tail
- deer sinew
What are the common health claims involved in traditional Chinese medicine involving deer?
- improves immune system function
- improves athletic performance & strength
- improves muscle recovery
- reduces negative effects of stress
- enhances sexual function
- promotes rapid recovery from illness
- has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties
Deer are typically farmed with what kind of livestock?
Sheep and beef
Roughly how many farms have deer?
780 farms
How many deer farms are in the north island?
300 farms
How many deer farms are in the South Island?
480 farms
Where are the most populated regions for deer farms?
Canterbury — 207 farms (239,000 deer)
Southland — 129 farms (192,000 deer)
What are the main breeds of deer that are farmed in NZ?
- Red deer
- Wapiti or elk
- Fallow (lesser)
- Red x Wapiti crosses
What is the average mature size for both male and female Red deer?
Stags — up to 225 kg
Hinds — around 130-140 kg
What temperament do Red deer have?
- Good/relaxed temperament
- more relaxed when handled in yards
- females less aggressive around fawns
What product are Red deer usually farmed for?
Venison — good muscling
What is the average mature size for both male and female Wapiti?
Bulls — 300 to 450 kg
Cows — 200 to 270 kg
Size makes handling more difficult
What temperament do Wapiti have?
- don’t relax as well as Red deer
- more likely to panic or bulk when moving through yards
- females can be aggressive around fawns
What is the average mature size for both male and female Fallow?
Bucks — 90-100 kg
Does — 35-45 kg
What kind of temperament do Fallow have?
- very flighty and difficult to handle compared to Red deer
- sensitive to light and dark
- less likely to make a wallow than Red deer
What are the three methods of live deer capture?
- helicopter (nets, darts, or people jumping out; caused many fatalities)
- leg traps (often caused the need for leg amputation where trapped)
- cage traps
What are the main types of deer farms?
- breeding
- finishing
- velveting
- stud
- trophy
- or a combination
What are the general considerations of deer farming?
- difficult to muster, shift, and hand,e compared to sheep and cattle
- different grazing management compared to sheep and catttle
- different calving period
- behavior
When is the seasonal rut for deer, and how many times are they mated?
- autumn (March/April)
- mated for 2 to 3 cycles
What is the typical stag/hind ratio in deer breeding?
- One stag per 40 hinds for mixed age hinds
- 1 to 10 for young hinds
When do deers calve, and how many do they have?
- Early summer (November/December)
- one fawn (twins are 1 in 100,000)
What is the gestation length for deer?
- typically ~230-240 days
- up to 260 days for Wapiti
