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Breeding

Central to successful deer farming in New Zealand is reproduction management. Poor performance in this area can limit farm productivity. Management of fertility, photo-periods (day length), calving and stags all contribute to performance.

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Deer Select

Deer Select is the New Zealand’s national deer recording database which stores pedigree and performance (trait) records, then uses this data to provide estimated breeding values and economic indices.

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Sandra Stevens Two   Two

Genetics

Maintaining good deer health is crucial to maximising production gains in your herd.

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Michael Wilkins Hey good looking

Stags

Stags are an important part of the mating programme on all farms.They must be well managed and in good condition at the beginning of the rut sot hey can perform to the best of their abilities.

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17.Denise Pawsey We are just coming

Hinds

For most deer farms, the reproductive performance of hinds on the breeding unit is the key measure of on-farm productivity and profitability. Good hind management is essential for ensuring the best performance of the herd.

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10.Angela McIntyre Whats for pudding

Calving

Farmed red deer and wapiti crossbreds in NZ calve in early summer, from late October to early December. Most hinds within the herd will complete calving within a 3-week period, although there will typically be a few hinds conceiving at later oestrous cycles that calve over the next few weeks.

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Gail Simons Mothers day

Artificial breeding

Artificial Insemination (AI) and Embryo Transfer (ET) are well-established, viable and practical tools to improve rates of genetic gain within the NZ deer farming industry.

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Sophie Atkinson Number 50 in hill paddock roaring

Photoperiod

Seasonality in deer is regulated by day length, technically known as 'photoperiod'. Photoperiod is the relative amount of light to dark (day to night) in a 24-hour period.

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Val Simpson Room With a View

Reproductive measurements

The adoption of standardised terms and definitions will go a long way in reducing confusion when it comes to reproductive figures and benchmarks within the industry.

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Scanning

Benefits of scanning your hinds to increase productivity and make better informed management decisions on farm.

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