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.
Go to the full The deer difference section >>
Farming the dream
Visit this page to learn more about Farming the dream > >
Free-range deer farming
Visit this page to learn more about Free-range deer farming > >
Deer welfare is key
Visit this page to learn more about Deer welfare is key > >
Deer and the environment
Visit this page to learn more about Deer and the environment > >
The deer farming year
Visit this page to learn more about The deer farming year > >
Glossary
Visit this page to learn more about Glossary > >
Our history
Visit this page to learn more about Our history > >
Our people
Visit this page to learn more about Our people > >
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.
Go to the full Deer Industry New Zealand section >>
DINZ: our role
Visit this page to learn more about DINZ: our role > >
DINZ strategy
Visit this page to learn more about DINZ strategy > >
Environmental stewardship
Visit this page to learn more about Environmental stewardship > >
Gallery
Gallery
Red deer
Elk/Wapiti
Fawns
Deer in hard antler
Industry Awards
Industry Awards
Deer Industry Award
Environmental Awards
Deer Industry Photo Competition
Industry support
Visit this page to learn more about Industry support > >
Publications and media
Visit this page to learn more about Publications and media > >
Quality assurance
Visit this page to learn more about Quality assurance > >
Research
Visit this page to learn more about Research > >
Statistics
Visit this page to learn more about Statistics > >
Training and careers
Visit this page to learn more about Training and careers > >
VelTrak
Visit this page to learn more about VelTrak > >
Velvet market development
Visit this page to learn more about Velvet market development > >
Venison market development
Visit this page to learn more about Venison market development > >
Our great products
Go to the full Our great products section >>
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.
Go to the full Our great products section >>
Deer velvet
Visit this page to learn more about Deer velvet > >
Farmed venison
Visit this page to learn more about Farmed venison > >
Fascinating co-products
Visit this page to learn more about Fascinating co-products > >
Our stories
Go to the full Our stories section >>
Events
Go to the full Events section >>
Contact Us
Go to the full Contact Us section >>
DEER HUB
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.
Go to the full Velvet section >>
Antlers
Visit this page to learn more about Antlers > >
Antler biology
Visit this page to learn more about Antler biology > >
Velvetting
Velvetting
National Velvetting Standards Body (NVSB)
Velvet removal
Shed examples for new standards
Approved maintenance compounds
Trophy animals
Visit this page to learn more about Trophy animals > >
Management of velvet stags
Visit this page to learn more about Management of velvet stags > >
Health, Safety and Food Hygiene Guidelines for Velvet Competitions and Stag Sales
Visit this page to learn more about Health, Safety and Food Hygiene Guidelines for Velvet Competitions and Stag Sales > >
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.
Go to the full Breeding section >>
Deer Select
Deer Select
What is Deer Select?
Sire summaries
Genetic trends
Genetic linkage
Purchasing deer using Deer Select
Recording deer on Deer Select
Traits, BVs and Indices
Genetics
Genetics
Mate allocation calculator
Stud breeders
Commercial herds
Stags
Visit this page to learn more about Stags > >
Hinds
Hinds
Annual cycle of hinds
Mating management of hinds
Puberty in hinds
Yearling mating management
Reproductive wastage
Reproductive disorders in hinds
Looking after the hind
Calving
Visit this page to learn more about Calving > >
Artificial breeding
Visit this page to learn more about Artificial breeding > >
Photoperiod
Visit this page to learn more about Photoperiod > >
Reproductive measurements
Visit this page to learn more about Reproductive measurements > >
Scanning
Visit this page to learn more about Scanning > >
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.
Go to the full Farm Environment section >>
Biosecurity
Visit this page to learn more about Biosecurity > >
Climate change
Visit this page to learn more about Climate change > >
Environmental code of practice
Visit this page to learn more about Environmental code of practice > >
Environmental Management Handbook Modules
Visit this page to learn more about Environmental Management Handbook Modules > >
Health and safety
Visit this page to learn more about Health and safety > >
Water, soils and wallowing
Visit this page to learn more about Water, soils and wallowing > >
Wintering feed systems
Visit this page to learn more about Wintering feed systems > >
Sustainable deer farming videos
Visit this page to learn more about Sustainable deer farming videos > >
Government’s Greenhouse Gas proposal
Visit this page to learn more about Government’s Greenhouse Gas proposal > >
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.
Go to the full Feeding section >>
Weaning
Visit this page to learn more about Weaning > >
Feed sources
Feed sources
Cereals
Crops
Grasses
Legumes
Herbs
Fodder trees
Management
Feeding deer
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
Non-GM feed for Cervena deer
Visit this page to learn more about Non-GM feed for Cervena deer > >
Forage rotation planner
Visit this page to learn more about Forage rotation planner > >
Feeding tools
Feeding tools
Venison growth curves
Replacement hind growth curves
Deer stock unit calculator
Feed cost comparer
Feed intake calculator
Crop measurement
Deer feed management
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.
Go to the full Health section >>
Major issues
Major issues
Parasites
Abscess fusiformis
Facial eczema
Johne's disease
Leptospirosis
Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF)
Ryegrass staggers
Ticks
Tuberculosis (TB)
Yersiniosis
Trace element deficiencies
Veterinary medicines
Visit this page to learn more about Veterinary medicines > >
Management calendar
Visit this page to learn more about Management calendar > >
Health tools
Visit this page to learn more about Health tools > >
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.
Go to the full Welfare section >>
Behaviour
Behaviour
Mating
Stags and antlers
Stress
Sociability
Temperament
Wallowing
Hill country grazing
Transporting deer
Visit this page to learn more about Transporting deer > >
Welfare
Visit this page to learn more about Welfare > >
Handling
Handling
Handling deer overview
Fencing
Handling weaners and stags
Management
Managing stress risk
Mustering
Property and paddock layout
Restraint and weighing systems
Handling Wapiti
Shed design
Fallow deer: Yards/Handling
VelTrak
Visit this page to learn more about VelTrak > >
Thermal comfort
Visit this page to learn more about Thermal comfort > >
Farm planning
Go to the full Farm planning section >>
Support
Go to the full Support section >>
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.
Go to the full Support section >>
Professional services
Visit this page to learn more about Professional services > >
Deer Facts
Visit this page to learn more about Deer Facts > >
Advance Parties
Visit this page to learn more about Advance Parties > >
Deer Industry Environment Groups
Visit this page to learn more about Deer Industry Environment Groups > >
Disaster Relief
Visit this page to learn more about Disaster Relief > >
Events in the industry
Events in the industry
P2P Regional workshops
Deer Workshops for Rural Professionals
Deer Industry Conference
Next Generation
Planning and financial management
Planning and financial management
Financial performance
Breeder finisher weaner contracts
Deer farming production targets
Deer performance analysis
Podcasts and webinars
Podcasts and webinars
Keen on Genes podcasts
Keen on Genes videos
Deer health webinars
Deer Country podcasts
P2P - A Deer Industry initiative
Visit this page to learn more about P2P - A Deer Industry initiative > >
Research
Go to the full Research section >>
Research
The deer industry invests in industry good research in all aspects of the industry, from genetics to processing. Making research outputs available to practitioners is critical to realise the value of this investment. Most of these results are available for the purpose of supporting a profitable industry.
Go to the full Research section >>
Seeka
Visit this page to learn more about Seeka > >
Research Library
Visit this page to learn more about Research Library > >
NZDFA
Why join the NZDFA?
Go to the full Why join the NZDFA? section >>
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.
Go to the full About section >>
History and structure
Visit this page to learn more about History and structure > >
Strategic direction
Visit this page to learn more about Strategic direction > >
Membership and costs
Visit this page to learn more about Membership and costs > >
Branches
Visit this page to learn more about Branches > >
NZDFA nomination forms & constitutional information
Visit this page to learn more about NZDFA nomination forms & constitutional information > >
AGMs, Branch Chairs' Meetings and Annual Reports
Visit this page to learn more about AGMs, Branch Chairs' Meetings and Annual Reports > >
Associated societies
Visit this page to learn more about Associated societies > >
Governance
Go to the full Governance section >>
Awards
Go to the full Awards section >>
Awards
Information about various NZDFA awards such as the Matuschka Award, Life Members and velvet competitions
Go to the full Awards section >>
Velvet and hard antler competitions
Visit this page to learn more about Velvet and hard antler competitions > >
Life Members Honours Board
Visit this page to learn more about Life Members Honours Board > >
Matuschka Award
Visit this page to learn more about Matuschka Award > >
NZDFA news
Go to the full NZDFA news section >>
Events
Go to the full Events section >>
Contact us
Go to the full Contact us section >>
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.
Go to the full NZ Fallow Society section >>
About the NZ Fallow Society
Visit this page to learn more about About the NZ Fallow Society > >
Husbandry
Visit this page to learn more about Husbandry > >
Tag information
Visit this page to learn more about Tag information > >
Breeders
Visit this page to learn more about Breeders > >
Useful links
Visit this page to learn more about Useful links > >
Young Deer Farmer Competition
DINZ Home
Events
Young Deer Farmer Competition
Date
9 Oct - 9 Oct
Time
12:00am
Location
Online
Cost
TBC
Event Details
Location:
Online
Date:
Friday 9 October 2026
Time:
12:00am - 12:00am
Venue:
TBC
Cost:
TBC
Contact:
TBC
Phone:
TBC
Email:
TBC
Other upcoming events
Hawkes Bay
30
Jul
Deer2Succeed Hawkes bay
Find out more >
Waikato
6
Aug
Next Generation Programme 2026
Find out more >
Pleasant Point
27
Oct
Raincliff Station field day
Find out more >
Te Awamutu
6
Mar
Bayonet 2027 Rising Stars National Hard Antler and Velvet Competition
Find out more >
A YOUNG BULL FINDS SYMMETRY AGAINST THE MACROCARPAS
Password
Forgot pasword?
Keep me logged in
Log into the members section
Log in
Stay logged in
Forgot pasword?
Not a paid NZDFA member? To become a member of the NZDFA, phone 04 453 4500 or email info@deernz.org
Find out why you should join the NZDFA here >>
Contact information
Level 5, Wellington Chambers, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington
04 453 4500
info@deernz.org
Visit our Facebook page
