| 19 DEER » Cruse Deer Consistently choosing top-flight stags There is no shortage of demand for Cruse Deers’ genetics. Russell Fredric After more than 20 years of breeding deer in Southland, Tom Cruse is not exactly sure what his secret is for consistently choosing top-flight stags. Regardless, the impressive genetics and the immense heads of velvet produced by award- winning stags such as Tommy DG, is enough to take the breath away of many a deer farmer. The owner of Cruse Deer, Tom paid a modest $29,000 for Tommy D G, a stag which has shown exceptional performance, recording a Douglas Score of 512 and 28 x 25 points at just two years old, while at three years old he scored 800 and won the Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) 2024 national three year-old Red Deer Hard Antler Competition. “ At four years old Tommy DG is a monster, with a massive beam, lots of points and a big body,” Tom says. Another stag, Mark, that Tom purchased from Peel Forest Estate for $67,000 won its age group as a three year-old in 2023 at the New Zealand National Velvet and Trophy Antler Competition. These are just two of many examples of the many award-winning stags that have contributed to Cruse Deer’s reputation for producing top genetics and the resulting high velvet yields, both individually and across its herd year-classes. There is no shortage of demand for Cruse Deers’ genetics, including from overseas, and semen sales make a solid contribution to the farm’s annual income. Tom selects genetic traits for quietness, constitution, and velvet production, but spends little time pouring over data, indices, and estimated breeding values before purchasing a stag. “People say ‘every stag you buy is a good one’. I never looked at the paperwork when I bought them. They just caught my eye.” Cruse Deer runs two farms near Tuatapere on a total of 450 hectares which supports 1400 stags and 650 hinds of which about half are artificially inseminated, plus replacements. There is currently a slump in velvet prices, Toms says, which is supported in a January 30 report by DINZ which said, “velvet market conditions remain challenging in the midst of this complex season.” Tony Cochrane, DINZ board member and PGG Wrightson national deer and velvet manager said mixed messaging on the ground and in the market by some opportunistic traders has dampened prices, and confidence will take time to repair. Tom’s weight benchmark for velvet is to harvest it (as regrowth) when it exceeds 10 kilograms, compared to it typically being harvested at three to four kilograms, he says. “When I came down here, they were cutting two year-old deer at 1.4 to 1.8 and now they’re four to eight/nine kilos.” The venison meat schedule is looking much better this season, coming out of a low of around $7 to $8 a kilogram carcass weight, Tom says. “It’s very good. I believe it’s going to be around $11 [a kilogram carcass weight], maybe a bit more this year.” Cruse Deer employs two staff, Kayne Wright and Shane Smith, the manager and second-incharge respectively, while his son Hamish handles administration. “I’m very lucky to have them.” Suppliers of Posts | Strainers | Timber | Troughs | Kitset Sheds Processed Locally Brian - Gore yard 03 208 9656 Jason - Milton yard 03 417 4458 Griff – Toko Yard 03 417 7341 www.greatsouthern.net.nz Invercargill: 03 215 9738
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