40 | Maximising profit potential with ‘simple system’ B11 progeny at Peel Forest Estates. Three-year-old B11 (right). Kim Newth Using the right genetics is key to maximising venison production in a commercial operation. In South Canterbury, Peel Forest Estate is a shining example of what can be achieved when all the right genetics are selected. The secret to Peel Forest’s venison success is what they call ‘the simple system’ – in reality, a highly sophisticated breeding programme that has been years in the making. It uses hand-picked maternal sires with impeccable Forrester bloodlines to produce hardy, fertile breeding hinds and dedicated terminal sires, B11s. The result is fast-grown progeny and maximum productivity. Peel Forest is putting their own genetics to the test with an 850 hind commercial operation, using Forresters to breed their replacements and using their terminal B11s over them. All are run on their 1200ha hill block. Last year, 800 mixed sex commercial yearlings went to the works with a mean kill date of 16th October and averaged 58.6kg (on the hook). “That’s an extremely good result,” says stud manager Mark Tapley. “In today’s environment, the key to reaching top chilled venison prices is getting yearlings up to weight early through use of the B11 terminal over an early conceiving Forrester hind base.” Peel Forest Estate’s Forresters continue to impress, combining good growth rates with healthy resilience, quiet temperament, strong constitution and correct conformation. Pushing productivity has been a key goal, one that has been achieved through focussing on English genetics for growth, higher yielding carcasses through improved eye DEER » Peel Forest Estates muscle, hardiness and velvet. Profitability has been further enhanced by increasing Johne’s resilience genetics. The estate’s Forrester deer also have high Carla levels for parasite resistance, ensuring they are in good health for breeding. “Forrester progeny are perfect for replacement hinds, carrying all the necessary traits for a healthy resilient hind that has solid growth, a quiet temperament and top constitution.” Forresters are primarily bred for their meat traits but their velvet attributes are another valuable part of the production equation that ensures yearlings’ monetary potential can be maximised before they are sent for processing. “We want the spiker progeny to cut more velvet before they go to the works as it can add around $1.50 per kilo more than the venison scheduling price.” Peel Forest Estate is now also reaping the rewards of new and improved B11 bloodlines, this being their third season of selling these superior B11s. “A few years back, we had a cleanout of all the stud hinds inhibited by Yugoslavian/Eastern bloodlines and replaced them with our highest growth rate English bloodlines. The result has been outstanding, with more depth to the animal and improved temperament. All the EBVs and growth rates have continued to rise.” Peel Forest Estate is proud to have produced three of the current top six sires in the country in the DEERSelect Wapiti class rankings. Yearling weights have markedly improved as a result of the improved B11 genetics, with 2019-born males averaging 179kg at 12 months. Meanwhile, Peel Forest Estate’s next auction will be of three-year-old Forrester sires on 14th December. Three-year-old Forresters. Graph shows Forrester and B11 12mth kg trends. EXCAVATION / LAND DEVELOPMENT BDC - Working with Peel Forest Estate • General Excavation • Dairy Conversions • Dairy Lane Development and Maintenance • Drain Clearing • Stump and Tree Removal • Digger 4-25 Ton • Truck & Trailers • Bulldozer • Mobile Shingle Screen Phone 0800 343 551 blake@digger4u.co.nz When it comes to the transport of stud livestock you can’t go past Downlands Deer and Studstock. During the past 30 years, we have pioneered the way in studstock transportation with purpose built trucks, calm expert livestock handlers, e cient nationwide transport routing and now with visual tracking from pick up to delivery. Talk to Downlands Deer and Studstock today to ensure your livestock arrives in the best condition possible. YOUNEED THE BEST. TO LOOKAFTER THE BEST.
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