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The deer industry is well-placed to leverage access to new genetics by capitalizing on dairy artificial insemination technology, says the Director of Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) subsidiary Deer Improvement.

Peter Gatley told a Geraldine field day that Deer Improvement’s research showed CIDR, cervical AI and fresh semen are even more successful in deer than in dairy.

Deer conception rates are around 76% compared with 60% in dairy cows, he says.

Deer’s short generation interval means genetic gain in key traits occurs faster than in dairy but he does not expect AI to become standard.

Enormous leverage is still possible by using AI on only a small proportion of the national herd.

Deer Improvement was established in 2003 and initially targeted growth rate “because its all about bangs for bucks”.

A temperament breeding value is nearing commercial release and work on early AI and carcass traits is underway.

Gatley believes it is only a matter of time until venison farmers are paid on the basis of carcass traits.

DNA testing is now commercially available at a price within the reach of farmers.

A small pool of antler genetics is available but venison is still king.

Much of LIC’s understanding of cattle genomics is transferable to deer, says Gatley.

New UN-developed technology for sexing dairy semen also works on deer semen but commercial viability has yet to be established.  Dairy traits begin this spring.

Deer Improvement’s commitment to the industry is such that, like LIC which celebrates it centenary in 2009, it will still be providing high levels of service in 100 year’s time.

“Some people may not accept that until they see deer farmers owning shares in LIC but I’ll stick my neck out and say it will happen.”

LIC geneticist Jake Chardon says Deer Improvement’s embryo programme show that crossing the top 5% of spikers with the top 25% of yearling hinds could add 5kg to yearling live weight in each generation.

Theoretically, in 2020, animals could be 51kg heavier than the current herd.

Chardon says, however, that such intensive selection for growth rates would compromise selection for other traits which affect animal health, fertility and adaptability.

Deer Improvement consciously makes trade-offs to ensure genetic variation and so avoid problems associated with in-breeding.

“We will continue to develop more bloodlines and select for new breeding values including temperament and disease resistance.” He says.

LIC business development manager Garth Anderson says that given 70% conception rate, the cost of using AI on the top 15% of a commercial herd with 500 hinds is typically recouped within three years.

As well as compounding financial gains through improved performance, herd values increase significantly, adding more dollars to the bottom line.