DEER INDUSTRY NZ

The deer difference Go to the full The deer difference section >>
The deer difference

Deer are a rich part of folklore in many cultures. Their unique products have long had an elite status as healthy foods and natural medicines. Our farmers are innovative, skilled and resourceful -- and most importantly, passionate about the deer difference.

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Deer Industry New Zealand Go to the full Deer Industry New Zealand section >>
Deer Industry New Zealand

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) represents and works alongside deer farmers, processors and marketers in New Zealand and in our international markets. This section covers the activities of DINZ and its associates.

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Our great products

New Zealand is the world’s largest source of tender, delicious farmed venison – arguably the most nutritious and healthy meat on the market – as well as highly-prized ingredients for modern health foods and traditional Chinese medicines.

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Velvet Go to the full Velvet section >>
Velvet

Velvet antler is 'the deer antler during its phase of rapid growth', and it gets the name ‘velvet‘ because of its velvet-like covering of hair.

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Breeding Go to the full Breeding section >>
Breeding

Central to successful deer farming in New Zealand is reproduction management. Poor performance in this area can limit farm productivity. Management of fertility, photo-periods (day length), calving and stags all contribute to performance.

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Farm Environment Go to the full Farm Environment section >>
Farm Environment

Learn more about water and soil management, best practice methods to improve biosecurity on farm, and health and safety reminders to minimise risk in your business.

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Feeding Go to the full Feeding section >>
Feeding

Nutrition, both intake and feed quality, has a major impact on productivity, determining reproductive performance, animal health, weaner live weight gain and timing of venison supply.

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Health Go to the full Health section >>
Health

Maintaining good deer health is crucial to production. This section covers the Major issues, Management calendar and Veterinary medicines.

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Welfare Go to the full Welfare section >>
Welfare

Encompases all practices on farm, in shed, right through to transportation. Efficient deer handling, management and facility design is paramount in minimising stress on farm.

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Farm planning Go to the full Farm planning section >>
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Support

Here you can find information about support services in the industry, ranging from educational events, to groups that come together to identify opportunities on farm.

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Research Go to the full Research section >>

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About Go to the full About section >>
About

The NZDFA was formed in 1975 to assist in maximising sustainable benefits for all deer farmers and to provide a linkage to the agricultural industry and the public.

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Governance Go to the full Governance section >>
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Awards

Information about various NZDFA awards such as the Matuschka Award, Life Members and velvet competitions

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NZ Fallow Society Go to the full NZ Fallow Society section >>
NZ Fallow Society

A resource for Fallow Deer farmers. The Fallow Deer Society was established to encourage, educate, and support the farming of Fallow Deer in New Zealand.

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Feed or energy intake tables

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Feeding deer
Feed or energy intake tables

Feeding deer

Matching intake with seasonal requirements
Balancing supply and demand
Feeding systems
Intake requirements
Diet selection
Feed quality
Body condition score
Grazing management
Feed or energy intake tables
Deer feeding resources
Fallow deer: Feeding and shelter
Droughts – how to survive the dry

Evelope

Evelope

Various tables of feed intake values to help you match feed supply to your production system's needs.

Seasonal daily energy requirements

Seasonal daily energy requirements of mature deer per animal (MJ ME/day)

		Autumn	Winter	Spring	Summer
Stags	NZ Red (220kg)	19	35	42	38
	Elk x Red (240-350kg)	25	47	56	51
	Elk/Wapiti (350-450kg)	34	62	71	66
	Fallow (90kg)	12	18	20	18
Hinds	Red (110kg)	27	26	28	49*
	Elk x Red (140-160kg)	48	46	50	85*
	Elk/Wapiti (180-240kg)	64	61	67	120*
	Fallow (55kg)	10	10	10	15*

* Lactating female with fawn

This table assumes diets contain 14-16% crude protein as adequate for maintenance. Further examples of indicative quality for different feed types can be found here >>

Daily feed requirements - Stags

Daily feed requirements of mature stags per animal (kg DM/day)

	Liveweight Gain sought (g/day)
Current L.Wt (kg)	0	50	100	150	200	250	300	350	400
40	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.8	1.9	2.1	2.3	2.4	2.6
60	1.7	1.9	2.0	2.2	2.3	2.5	2.7	2.9	3.1
80	2.1	2.3	2.4	2.6	2.8	3.0	3.1	3.3	3.5
100	2.5	2.7	2.8	3.0	3.1	3.3	3.5	3.7	3.8
120	2.9	3.1	3.2	3.3	3.5	3.7	3.9	4.1	4.3
140	3.2	3.5	3.7	3.9	4.0	4.2	4.4	4.5	4.7
160	3.5	3.7	3.9	4.1	4.3	4.4	4.5	4.7	4.9
180	3.9	4.1	4.3	4.4	4.5	4.7	4.9	5.0	5.2

Daily feed requirements of stags (kg DM/day) by age and season

Age (years)	Autumn - 65 days, Mar to May	Winter - 100 days, May to Sep	Spring - 100 days, Sep to Dec	Summer - 100 days, Dec to Mar
0.25-1.25	1.50	1.90	2.50	2.40
1.25-2.25	2.20	2.60	0.30	2.80
2.25-3.25	2.20	3.10	3.50	3.30
3.25-4.25	1.80	3.10	3.50	3.50
4.25-5.25	1.80	3.20	4.00	3.60
>5.25	1.80	3.30	3.90	3.50

Daily feed requirements - Hinds

Daily feed requirements of mature hinds per animal (kg DM/day)

	Liveweight Gain sought (g/day)
Current L.Wt (kg)	0	50	100	150	200	250	300	350
40	1.2	1.5	1.8	1.9	2.2	2.5	3.8	3.0
60	1.7	1.9	2.2	2.4	2.7	3.0	3.2	3.4
80	2.1	2.4	2.7	2.9	3.1	3.4	3.7	3.9
100	2.5	2.8	3.1	3.2	3.5	3.8	4.1	4.3
120	2.9	3.1	3.4	3.6	3.9	4.2	4.4	4.6
140	3.2	3.5	3.8	4.0	4.3	4.5	4.8	5.0
160	3.5	3.8	4.1	4.3	4.5	4.8	5.1	5.3
180	3.9	4.2	4.4	4.6	4.9	5.2	5.5	5.6

Daily feed requirements of hinds (kg DM/day) by age and season

Age (years)	Autumn - 65 days, Mar to May	Winter - 100 days, May to Sep	Spring - 100 days, Sep to Dec	Summer - 100 days, Dec to Mar
0.25-1.25	1.40	1.70	2.00	1.90
1.25-2.25	1.90	2.20	2.10	4.20
2.25-3.25	2.00	2.20	2.20	4.40
>3.25	2.10	2.00	2.20	4.40

Winter feed demand

Winter feed demand table (kg/DM)

The ME of feed discussed in tables below is 10.5MJME/kg.

Species/Sub-species	Sex	Age	kg/DM/day
Red	Both	Weaner (<75kg liveweight)	1.5-2.1
	Hind	Yearling	2.2
		Adult	2.0
	Stag	Yearling Spiker	2.6
		Adult (velvet)	3.0
		Adult (breeding)	3.5
Elk/Wapiti	Both	Weaner	1.9-2.5
	Cow	Yearling	2.7
		Adult	2.6-3.0
	Bull	Yearling Spiker	3.0
		Adult	3.5
		Adult (Breeding)	4.0-5.0
Cattle	Both	Yearlings	4.0-5.0
		Adult	7.0
Sheep	Both	unspecified	1.0

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Deer Industry New Zealand

PO Box 10702, Wellington 6140
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info@deernz.org
04 473 4500

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