An Agricultural Success Story

New Zealand leads the world in deer farming and research

Deer are not native to New Zealand. The first deer were imported from England and Scotland for sport in the mid to late 19th century. The deer were released mainly in the Southern Alps and its foothills in the South Island - the environment proving to be ideal. So ideal that, by the early 1970s, the deer population explosion threatened to become an environmental disaster.

New Zealanders began a conscious effort to domesticate the deer and now the country is the world's largest and most advanced in this specialized agricultura pursuit, with half the world's farmed deer population. The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) makes up about 85% of the New Zealand deer population and now plays a significant role in an agricultural success story. New Zealand leads the world in both production of and research on deer antler velvet.

no hormones or growth stimulants and free-range

Genetic improvements have been made with additional imported bloodlines but, importantly, New Zealand deer receive no hormones or growth stimulants as no such products are licensed for use on deer in New Zealand. Sophisticated New Zealand farming techniques mean that deer are able to roam and graze naturally in the open air, free from stress.

New Zealand researchers have discovered not only what grasses the deer prefer, but also what meadow herbs they like best. The pastures they roam are planted with specially selected grass species intermixed with bitter herbs like chicory, which deer love.

painlessly harvested

Everything is designed with the deer’s comfort and safety in mind. Even truck drivers must take a course and then be certified before they can haul deer. Trailers must be designed to exact specifications, with specialized ventilation and water sprinkling systems designed for cooling.

The antler is painlessly harvested by government certified technicians or veterinarians without any harm to the animal, much like wool is sheared from sheep, and it regrows anew each season. Before removal, the stags are required to be carefully handled to reduce stress. They're given a sedative to protect both the deer and the handler, as well, a local anesthesia is administered before removal of the antler.