The deer industry is rife with rumours regarding the potential for Deer Improvement to add trophy genetics to its product range. Deer Improvement’s view is that transparency is the best policy so here are the facts.
Farmer-owned dairy genetics specialist LIC launched Deer Improvement nearly four years ago to apply its experience in genetic improvement and reproductive technologies to a different species where there was clear potential to add value. A breeding programme targeting venison growth rate was the initial focus because venison is not only the largest contributor to deer farmers’ income, but genetic progress had previously been slow. This was due to two factors, the industry had not fully utilised modern genetic evaluation tools, and reliance on natural mating severely limited the diffusion of elite genes into commercial herds.
Deer Improvement’s venison initiative has been well received by farmers who want access to genes from sires with genetic merit objectively assessed on the deer industry database. Most clients have been first-time AI users, and having experienced this simple, efficient and reliable process, some have requested an AI service for antler genetics they could not afford to buy “on the hoof”.
This illustrates the principle that if customer demand is not being met there is a commercial opportunity. The industry-good perspective is also compelling. Efficient transfer of elite genes into commercial herds provides permanent, compounding value. In the dairy industry, genetic gain delivers half the annual on-farm productivity improvement, and over time, this is crucial to survival. As they say, you could not farm today with the cows we used to have.
New Zealand is the clear leader in red deer trophy production. This is a credit to those who have already capitalised on the high heritability of the trait, however there is no doubt that AI can be harnessed to further raise the rate of genetic improvement and secure our leadership position.
Given the alignment between commercial and industry-good imperatives, the decision was not a hard one. Deer Improvement has begun to invest in velvet/trophy genetics and is offering them in the form of an AI service to commercial farmers.
It is important to stress that this initiative will have no impact on the breeding goal in our venison programme which continues unaffected.
Deer Improvement believes that both competition and the use of modern technology to improve farm productivity are positive developments. Having recently surveyed the industry we can confirm that the vast majority of deer farmers agree.
Peter Gatley
Director, Deer Improvement
| Copyright 2010 Deer Improvement