34 | Success at National A tidy 8.4kg cut from a three-year-old. Cruse Deer’s Hamish Cruse says the farm has a high standard of velvet weight per stag, with even the two-year-old line producing 5kg plus. Richard Loader DEER » Cruse Deer Cruse Deer’s passion, hard work and careful approach to genetics was recognised at the 2022 New Zealand National Velvet and Antler Trophy Competition, where the family owned and operated business was awarded first place in the Four Year Old Red Velvet Section. Second place was also received in the Three Year Old Red Velvet Section, and in the Open Red Velvet Section. Hamish Cruse, whose father Tom established the Tuatapere business in the late ‘80s, says Cruse Deer has always been very competitive about doing well within the competition. “Historically, Dad has always won an age group, or got close to it, but this year was extra nice getting a couple of second placings and a first. Success at the awards also provides affirmation that as velvet farmers, we are doing something right in terms of genetics. “You put the stag and its genetics out with thirty to fifty hinds during the roar, and you must be very particular and strategic in what stag you select to put over those hinds. “Dad loves deer and has always had an appreciation for velvet, especially the competition style heads, striving to produce the perfect head. There is a lot that goes into it – you want width, you want weight, and you want the perfect tine set up – you just want that perfect head.” Attending the prestigious awards evening enables entrants to showcase the results of their hard work, while also networking with the country’s finest and most passionate breeders. “The deer industry is quite a small space and you generally know most of the farmers, so some friendly rivalry is very good. On the night you are seeing velvet from across New Zealand and seeing what everyone else is into. The evening provides that insight into what other farmers have produced, it is also an opportunity to consider introducing other breeding into your own genetics.” Totalling 1100 acres of predominantly intensive flat farmland in Tuatapere, Cruse Deer operates on two blocks a short distance from each other, with one of the blocks just a kilometre away from Fiordland National Park, presenting magnificent mountainous views that are truly fitting for prize winning deer. The farm is home to 190 two-year-old red velvet stags, 638 mixed age red velvet stags and 200 spikers. “Dad sells quite a few mixed aged stags to deer farmers who want to introduce some new genetics into their own herd to increase velvet weights, rather than as main sires that will win competitions, which would be significantly more expensive. We normally cull a few stags at three years old, because at that stage you generally know how they are going to perform as velveters. Those that don’t make the grade for us might get sold for genetics, and some sold for venison. Older stags where velvet productivity has fallen will also get sold as venison. There are 710 mixed age hinds, 440 mixed sex fawns. Farmers are queuing to buy hinds so not many of those find their way to the works anymore.” Hamish says the farm has a high standard of velvet weight per stag, with even the two-year-old line producing 5kgs plus. “In the mixed age stags, there are a good portion cutting nine to ten kilos, so there are some big boys. Several tonnes of velvet would be cut each year from the whole herd. The market is mostly South Korea and China and will go into medicines. Sires and semen sales make up the third arm of Cruse Deer’s business. If you are a deer farmer and want to do well in velvet, you want the bigger weights so you can sell more tonnage. “ Buyers will be looking for good looking heads and higher weights so they can increase their velvet production. We will take semen from specific sire stags yearly, from which we hope to produce a good amount of straws. We already had very good semen sales but following the awards we have received a real boost to enquiries for semen, especially Semen from the stags that did well in the nationals. We might also sell a prize-winning stag if the offer was right.” Looking to the future, Cruse Deer continues to be focused on genetics, buying in the best genetics available from around the country. But Hamish says there will also be a continued emphasis on the environment, planting riparian zones with native trees and using natural fertilisers wherever it can. “Historically, Dad has always won an age group, or got close to it, but this year was extra nice getting a couple of second placings and a first. Success at the awards also provides affirmation that as velvet farmers, we are doing something right in terms of genetics.” 0800 22 5899 03 225 8356 Otautau | 03 225 5899 Pukemaori admin@kingsrural.co.nz | kingsrural.co.nz RURAL TRANSPORT STOCK / BULK FERTILISER • GRAVEL • CONTRACTING • TRANSPORTING Phone 03 215 9738 greatsouthern@greatsouthern.net.nz www.greatsouthern.net.nz Suppliers of : Posts • Poles • Farm Buildings Small Buildings • Dog Motels Concrete Troughs • Timber Gates • Fencing Supplies GROUP No1 FOR POSTS AND TIMBER
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