Oct 10, 2025
The annual Branch Chairs meeting in Wellington was held on 17 & 18 September this year. It was reported in the DINZ eNews on 25 September.
Although this was only three weeks ago, there have been some more developments since then.
TB Review
The NZDFA will be submitting on the TB Plan Review (it will be sent to OSPRI shortly after this issue of DFA Stagline has gone out). The submission can be viewed here from next week >> (go to the “Submissions” section). In short:
- NZDFA generally supports the intent of the TB Plan Review proposal to eradicate TB in both livestock and possums by 2040.
- For the plan to be successful:
- Access to land for vector control is essential. The Biosecurity Act provisions should be used as required.
- NZDFA is willing to assist in upskilling TB testers in working with farmed deer.
- Improved and meaningful engagement with local TB Free Committees is required.
- Suitable support and compensation for farmers within breakdown areas should be provided. Including a plan to quickly reduce the risk status from the farm.
- Improved testing/detection regimes at both the herd and DSP levels are in place.
Transport QA Standards
After robust consultation and discussion, the 2025 Transport QA Standards have been confirmed and are now available on the DINZ website >>
The change to note is with regards to stags being trucked to slaughter (nothing to do with sires and trophy animals which are covered with a separate standard). The new standard reads as below:
4.8 Transport of Stags
4.8.1 Stags (3yrs +) MUST not be sent to slaughter after 14 February or before 14 July.
4.8.2 2yr stags may move to slaughter between 14 February to 1 March
4.8.3 Only stags under 2 years of age can be transported to DSPs during the roar.
Recommendation
With consideration to the date change above, allowance has been made for the 2026 year to allow stags (3yrs+) to move to slaughter up to and including 21 February 2026.
Note
Mixed age stags can show the effects of the roar through to button drop. The greatest care must be exercised when transporting this type of animal.
A deer’s birth date is recognised as 1 December.
Large Antler
Three farmer meetings were held across New Zealand during July. Invitations were extended to trophy producers, outfitters and other parties considered to be involved with the farming/ management of large antlered stags. All three meetings brought together a good turnout of farmers and discussion was positive and informative. At the conclusion of each meeting there was an overwhelming agreement to establish a working group and to look to develop a set of industry guidelines.
There was a clear message from each of the farmer meetings was that there needs to be greater awareness in this space and a need to ensure that there is not “overreach” in dictating to farmers about how they must farm. There was also agreement, in principle, that the format of this working group aligned with the development of the NVSB and that it made sense to work closely with this group and utilize their knowledge and learnings.
From the three farmer meetings expressions of interest were called for representatives to form a working group to represent farmers and industry. The group of 11 brought together a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. The working group met on 14 August and draft guidelines were created.
The large antler guidelines will be made available to farmers who grow large antlered stags. This is another tool to support NZ Deer farmers to be successful. The initiative of the NZ Deer Industry being proactive is also supported by MPI.
Velvet grading guidelines visual addendum
In response to a request raised at the September Branch Chairs meeting, this link provides a visual supplement to the recently released Addendum to the velvet grading guidelines for the 2025/26 season.
2025/26 Velvet grading guidelines Addendum – visual supplement
