THE PRESS, Christchurch Friday, October 31, 2014 A9 Contest New Zealand a chance to shine Entries are invited for an deer breeders inaugural ‘‘top of the south’’ deer velvet competition to be held near Christchurch on December 2. Judging will take place at PGG Wrightson’s facility at Prebbleton, with world leaders the viewing and awards function at Stanfield’s European red deer stud, Bangor, near Darfield. Clive Jermy has played a leading role in the rise of the New Zealand Velvet and hard antler will be accepted from the West deer breeding industry. Now he is scaling back his involvement. Coast, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury Deer HEATHER CHALMERS reports. Farmers’ Association branch areas. enetic gains in New whole industry benefitting. On one ‘‘It’s a wrench. There is only Competition committee Zealand’s farmed deer level it is, but there is a long way two or three times we have not led chairman Grant Hasse, of show no sign of between commercial and top end the market in 29 years, including Rolleston, said that as one of levelling off despite herds. That’s the challenge. 27 years in the row, so it’s a unique the largest deer farming areas tremendous ‘‘There is a lot for the average record. But it’s a huge amount of it was fitting for Canterbury advancements in antler farmer to reach for and gain. It’s satisfaction seeing the genetic to host a competition. Gand animal size in the last 30 not just what’s the price of advancement within the herd.’’ The competition covers years, says renowned stud breeder venison, or what’s the price of A deer antler museum and the usual age group and hard Clive Jermy. velvet, it is also whether we are the selling complex at Bangor contains antler classes to cater for January 6, 2015, not only marks best deer farmers we can be.’’ hundreds of heads, both on the those velvet growers who are the 30th anniversary sale of his Initially operating the walls and in storage, including producing the top weight Stanfield’s European Red Deer Stanfield’s stud at Cambridge from several red deer world records. velvet. As part of the prize Stud, but it will also be the last, 1984 to 1999, Clive and his wife This includes Hotspur (Woburn package, the winners of the following the decision to sell the Elsie then moved to Bushey Park and Warnham genetics) who held age and hard antler classes stud operation. For the last six near Palmerston in East Otago the world record for nine years for will have their winning heads years the stud has been based at until 2008. The 1000ha property weight of antler at 23.4kg. The entered in the national Bangor, near Darfield. enabled them to expand their record, 23.7kg, is now held by the competition in Invercargill The stud has played an operation, with 1000 velveting stag, Woburn Oak, sold by and/or in the Elk Wapiti influential role since 1982 when stags, 750 breeding hinds for Stanfield’s to Donald and Leigh Society competition in Jermy secured the franchise for venison, 250 breeding hinds for Whyte, Edendale Station, Mid- Wanaka. genetics from the great English velvet replacements, in addition to Canterbury. Both share the same ‘‘There will be classes deer parks Woburn Abbey and the red deer studs, an eastern father, Woburn Bedford. specifically designed for Warnham Park. European stud and hereford cattle Herbrand (pure Woburn) was commercial growers and ‘‘Those two parks have done stud. the first stag to go over 600 Safari terminal sire users who do more for genetic advancement As Bangor is just 125ha, plus Club International (SCI) points, at not normally enter velvet than any other and no-one would some leased land, only the red deer 645 points. Jermy hopes Norton II, competitions, yet who argue with that. They are not the stud was continued following the from semen imported from produce good commercially only good deer from Britain and move there. ‘‘That is what gets our Warnham Park, will top 700 SCI sought after velvet. The Europe, but in terms of influence blood boiling – antlers and points as an eight-year-old. ‘‘At the Canterbury branch is very they are unrivalled.’’ genetics – it’s what I enjoy the moment there is only one stag over keen to promote these classes Jermy also likes to breed big most.’’ 700 SCI points.’’ as a way of showcasing the deer, with some red deer antlers The Woburn hind herd and part Endsleigh (pure Woburn) was efforts of those commercial now coming close in size to those of the Warnham herd have been the first 60 pointer. velvet growers and their well- of larger elk. purchased by Mount Cecil Safaris, He also has high hopes for cut and presented velvet.’’ In 30 years of breeding, New Waimate, owned by the Fraser Bangor, a three-year-old. ‘‘I like Getting ahead: Renowned red deer stud breeder Clive Jermy with antlers of sire stag Herbrand at different ages – part of his A prize will also be Zealand has surpassed all known family. The herds will be used to deer in terms of thickness of antler collection of hundreds of heads. Photo: HEATHER CHALMERS/FAIRFAX NZ awarded for one of the top European red deer antler records – supply the trophy hunting for their age, as well as points. He’s velvet entries from each many by the Stanfield’s stud. ‘‘So business. Donald and Kathy a real beauty, but has got to be become far superior to what is the West Coast and Waimate, consumer, along with traditional province. it’s very exciting to be part of that Hudson, Geraldine, and Pampas sold, sadly.’’ Another young stag happening in Europe. which they will continue to buyer South Korea. Velvet was and there is no end in sight in Heights Red Deer Stud, Rotorua, had 6kg of spikers as a one-year- ‘‘A lot of heads are in storage expand. They will also retain their also increasingly being consumed terms of genetic gains.’’ owned by Bryce Heard, have old, and will be for sale as a two- that don’t fit on the walls. So we linkages with Warnham Park and as a functional food or supplement, the board in June. ‘‘I believed I Over the whole industry, purchased the balance of year-old. have to decide what will happen to Woburn Abbey, importing semen, even in Asia. This trend provided could still make a contribution.’’ national average velvet weights Stanfield’s Warnham herd. ‘‘There are very famous the museum, but I’d like to keep it as well as taking on a consultancy an opportunity to add value to He believes prospects are have more than doubled from 2kg Breeding sires and younger collections in Europe of red deer together. Having the collection as role. velvet within New Zealand. exciting. ‘‘Deer are in a position to at least 4kg. stags will be sold individually at antlers going back hundreds of part of an existing agricultural China has become the Involved in the industry since they have never been before with ‘‘There have been amazing the January sale at Bangor. years. What Europe doesn’t have, tourism enterprise could be an dominant player in the deer farming’s pioneering days, multi-faceted venison and velvet genetic advances at the top end – ‘‘Everybody’s coming from that we have now, are our world option.’’ procurement, processing and Jermy is a former Deer Industry marketing strategies, and while the studs and high end commercial everywhere. Hopefully we will see records. Suddenly, in the last 10 The Jermys have retained a distribution of deer velvet. It was New Zealand chairman who, after the market outlook is good you farmers – but the trick is to get the some good prices. years, New Zealand breeding has velveting herd, share-farmed on also becoming a growing a seven-year gap, was re-elected to will always have highs and lows.’’ AGRIFAX Four seeking seats on Alliance board LAMB BEEF In the US, butter prices last week came close to settling at Tim Cronshaw November 26, with voting closing executive committee to pursue the and her skills and experience Meat companies are in the midst of Imported US beef markets were US$4200/tonne, which remained [email protected] ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● on December 10. The results will directorship. Drummond is being would be valuable as Alliance processing new early-season lamb generally flat in the last week, high above GlobalDairyTrade be revealed at the company’s backed by MIE despite not being a played a leading role in capturing for Christmas chilled contracts for providing some stability. (US$2600/t). The high US butter The Alliance Group has received annual meeting in Gore two days member. He is considered by the opportunities for farmers. Britain and Europe. Pricing for 95CL bull meat is prices have curbed its exports and four nominations for two director later. group to have the expertise to help McCarthy said Bell would bring However, early-season still holding at the US$3/lb mark, encouraged imports. US butter vacancies on its board, with a The Meat Industry Excellence the co-operative take strategic greater accountability around the production is running slightly with 90CL cow 20c/lb behind. imports are up 35 per cent for the strong challenge coming from (MIE) group has backed Bell and steps to improve farmer returns, board table. behind schedule, with fewer lambs Some caution is creeping in, with year to August, totalling 6800 meat industry reformists.