Crossbreds best way to meet the market

NZ's main market for venison is into Europe in the spring, but producing animals up to specifications at that time is challenging.

Elk or wapiti genes over red hinds releases hybrid vigour and faster growth rates makes the spring time line feasible.

Alliance reports that most of its processing is outside that premier period, so the question must be asked why have farmers not supplied during this period? Maybe the premium paid for this out of season production is not high enough to compensate for the extra costs required to grow stock at that time?

One of the issues with using Elk/Wapiti genes over reds is the often disapointing fertilty, than can penalise the weight gain advantage. Interesting to note that extensive grazing on the hill at Clachanburn has seen good fawning percentages.

Also land use changes have restricted the finishing area that allows good autumn, winter and early spring growth for weaners. Reports suggest that the use of high energy fodder beet, accompanied with  quality supplements, may help winter growth rates and allow earlier spring production.

The message from Alliance Group venison marketing manager Katrina Allan to deer farmers was blunt: European consumers want our venison in their autumn. Speaking at a venison production field day at the Falconer families Clachanburn Elk farm in the Maniototo last week, she said despite those market signals, Alliance still processed 80% of its deer outside the optimum August to October period reports The ODT.

But the owner, John Falconer, said deer farmers could address some of those venison supply concerns and improve profitability by crossbreeding. Half his deer are off the farm by September at a rate of 125 a week and an average price of $480, and he aims to have them all gone by the time hinds start calving. He kills 40% of his crop in October and 10% in December.

Mr Falconer said years of focusing on breeding quality venison sires had resulted in above-average carcass yield. Mr Falconer said elk could be used as a terminal sire over other deer breeds to meet the kill pattern required by the market, and Mrs Allan said consumers did not favour one breed of deer over another.

Hinds are first mated at 15 months of age, with bulls put out to hinds in late February or early March and removed in late April. First and second calvers are weaned before the rut in early March, and mature deer after the rut in May. Commercial hinds live on the hill, and are pregnancy tested and given an annual drench and copper and selenium in the middle of winter.

Weaners first come into the yards four weeks before being weaned to be tagged, drenched and vaccinated for yersiniosis. On weaning in early May, they are vaccinated a second time. They are then kept on saved pasture for four weeks and, after getting a second drench, are wintered on 50ha of swedes and fodder beet for 12 weeks. The average live weight of his commercial weaners on May 15 was 75kg and on September 1 it was 95kg.