36 | Persevered with his elk Karen Phelps After a 40-year wait, veteran New Zealand deer farmer Ian Scott from Oraka Deer is witnessing a vindication of his faith in the elk/wapiti breed. While the majority of Kiwi deer farmers gravitated toward red deer, which are easily handled and more resistant to challenges such as parasites, ryegrass endophytes and facial eczema, Ian persevered with his elk operation. Now that persistence is paying dividends as market forces shift. “Suddenly over the last two years demand has started to grow for the larger wapiti/elk breed with its heavier carcass weight and faster growth rates,” explains Ian. “This renaissance is largely driven by expanding American markets where consumers already have a hunter-driven taste preference for elk meat. The lean, low-fat, low-cholesterol characteristics of elk meat have also struck a chord with health-conscious consumers.” Simultaneously changes in North America have created another unexpected opportunity for New Zealand elk farmers. “The reintroduction of wolves to Canadian and American national parks, including Yellowstone, has decimated wild elk populations, causing a sharp increase in trophy hunting prices. This has made New Zealand an attractive alternative destination for international hunters seeking elk trophies. This has been reflected in the strongest prices yet seen for elk bulls sold at the current round of stud sales. Demand for my own stud elk bulls has increased sharply,” says Ian. Initially this year he benefited from premium prices for elk velvet compared to traditional red deer velvet. But as the season progressed prices have decreased markedly. His operation produces five tonnes of velvet annually, with two tonnes being the premium elk style. His top three-year-old elk bull cut over 14kg of velvet with many producing between 9-13.5kgs, figures that demonstrate the success of his breeding programme. RURAL PEOPLE » Oraka Deer Park / Hiamoe Farm Regional Supreme Award Nicki Woodlock The Cousins family of Hiamoe Farm has been awarded the Regional Supreme Award at the 2025 Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards, held in Palmerston North on March 13. These prestigious awards, hosted by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, honour excellence in farming and growing practices, highlight innovation, and celebrate the positive contributions of the agricultural sector. Located in the Manawatu-Whanganui region, Hiamoe Farm spans 916 hectares and is farmed collectively as a family by John and Toos Cousins, with their three sons - Edmund, Guido, and Julius. Reflecting on their decision to enter the competition, Julius Cousins said, “It was time to step back and look at what the last three generations have achieved. Hiamoe Farm’s infrastructure has played a key role in its success. Proudly supporting Oraka Deer Park FARMERS Animal Bedding Calf Sheds Wintering Pads We supply: Post Peel, Sawdust & Woodchip Call us today for quotes and orders 0800 100 829 www.animalbedding.kiwi.nz AllanMcNeill Chartered Accountants proudly congratulates Hiamoe Farm on winning the Regional Supreme Award at the Horizons Ballance Farm Environmental Awards. For generations, the Cousins family has upheld their farming legacy with dedication, resilience and a commitment to sustainability. “We’re proud to support the Cousins family and to see their commitment recognised.” Says Jacob Small, Principal at AllanMcNeill. info@allanmcneill.co.nz 06 356 4808 (Palmerston North) 06 323 6114 (Feilding) 06 928 6622 (Dannevirke) www.allanmcneill.co.nz It was an opportunity to find out the strengths and weaknesses of our business and to learn how we can improve.” To build resilience against market and climate challenges, the Cousins family has diversified their operations over the past five years. The farm now includes sheep breeding and finishing, Friesian bull finishing, and dairy grazing. With 9,500 stock units - roughly evenly split between cattle and sheep - the farm also produces maize silage for a neighbouring dairy operation, grows crops for stock feed, and supplies peas for McCain. Hiamoe Farm’s well-developed infrastructure has played a key role in its success. All 225 paddocks are connected through a complex lane system and have access to reticulated water. The family uses sustainable land management practices, including direct drilling and minimal tillage, to protect soil health. The deer operation runs alongside Ian’s high stocking rate dairy farm and a 60-hectare cropping unit that produces supplementary feed, all located near Okoroire, between Tirau and Matamata. This integrated approach allows him to winter 40 stock units per hectare, with stags receiving 500600kg/DM supplement annually. “This combined with older stags producing 9kg plus of velvet annually has allowed stags to compete with dairy cows in profitability,” says Ian. Environmental sustainability remains central to Ian’s farming philosophy. He utilises a wood chip floor herd home system that has been successful with his dairy herd for seven years and sees this as the future for his deer farming operation as well. “The future of New Zealand farming lies in being able to produce more saleable product from our current farmable land while at the same time reducing our environmental impact,” explains Ian, who has planted between 15,000-20,000 native trees around a peat lake on his property, Lake Okoroire, the only remaining peat lake in South Waikato. After four decades Ian is pleased his solid conviction of the benefits of the breed have finally been rewarded as market trends have finally Waterways are fenced off to prevent livestock intrusion, and riparian zones are strengthened with poplar plantings to reduce erosion and provide shade. On less productive land, 80 hectares of pine trees have been established for timber, while gorse-covered areas are also being replaced with pines. The award judges highlighted several key strengths of the Cousins’ farming operation, including their data-driven decision-making, advanced parasite and pest control strategies, succession planning with land titles for the sons, safety protocols, and land use-based planting. Their cropping methods, which rely on minimum tillage and direct drilling, were also commended. The family’s environmental consciousness was further praised through their commitment to reducing, reusing, and recycling. Judges also noted their strong community engagement - particularly with local students, their strategic subdivision and fencing based on land use, and their well-co- ordinated labour division, which enhances operational efficiency. Other standout features include a 40-year poplar trial, a QEII covenanted block, and targeted native plantings across the property. The stock performance on the farm was described as exceptional. In addition to the Regional Supreme Award, the Cousins family received multiple accolades, including the Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award, Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award, NZFET Biodiversity Award, and the Horizons Regional Council Award for the Integration of Trees. The family will go on to represent their region at the National Showcase in Wellington this June, where they will compete for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy. The winner of this award will be named New Zealand’s 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing. aligned with his long-held vision for New Zealand elk farming. “I suppose 40 years is not too long to wait to have my faith in elk/wapiti vindicated but the rising profitability of dairy farming still remains a threat.”
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