News

Well known stud breeder and industry pioneer Alastair Porter has joined the Board of Directors of genetics company Deer Improvement Ltd.

Alastair started farming deer during the 1970s when based at Kaipara.  An early member of the Deer Farmers Council, he played a key role in the formation of the Game Industry Board.  During the 1980s and 1990s he was a deputy chairman of the Game Industry Board and was a leader of many of its key programmes including being the founding architect of Cervena and finding the Cervena name.  He was also foundation chairman of the Quality Assurance & Research committees.  He is perhaps best known in the deer industry today as principal of the Remarkables Park Deer Stud at Queenstown. The stud has a solid track record in selection for venison traits so there’s common interest with Deer Improvement Ltd objectives.

So why would a stag breeder support the development of Artificial Insemination? Alastair Porter says “This industry can’t afford to pass up the opportunities presented by AI. Natural mating will not lift the genetic merit of the national herd fast enough.”

Alastair sees AI as part of an overall technology package. “We have selectively used AI as part of our stud improvement for many years.  DNA technology streamlines herd recording then the raw data is turned into Breeding Values. BVs simply draw on all the available information to tell us what genes will be transmitted. This provides the most objective basis for evaluating the performance of an animal. A significant advantage of Deer Improvement is that it provides a more objective industry assessment model to complement our stud herd selection and buyers pan industry assessments”.

The Deer Improvement Board is headed by Graham Fraser, an ex-Chairman of the Dairy Board and NZ Agricultural Trade Envoy, and currently a Director of Livestock Improvement, AgResearch and Skellmax. Mr Fraser said Alastair Porter’s deer industry experience makes him a valuable addition to the team which includes Livestock Improvement CEO Stuart Gordon and General Manager Peter Gatley. “We have a good range of experience around the table but Alastair brings specific industry knowledge and especially an understanding of the deer genetics market. We have a lot to learn and I’m sure he’ll help us in that process”.