Nutrition
There are two overriding drivers that govern feeding and nutrition for our stock. Firstly we aim to feed to allow the deer to express their genetic potential. The experience of commercial farmers using Wapiti terminal sires demonstrates just how critical this is. Wapiti cross finishing stock are genetically capable of growing faster than red deer finishing stock but they need to be feed more to do so, i.e. to realise their genetic potential. There is also a logical corollary to improving the genetics in your herd. Where the deer fenced area is a limiting resource, genetically improved stock require more feed which can only be achieved by reducing the stocking rate or increasing the inputs.
The second principle we adhere to at Tikana is farming on a pastoral basis. A pasture based agricultural system for raising livestock in New Zealand is the very thing that gives a competitive advantage in cost of production and profitability but also in modern times confers a significant market advantage. We feel strongly about this - no PKE (palm kernel extract) is fed to our deer. Our customers in the marketplace are discerning and the provenance of our product plays an increasingly important role. The Carbon Footprint in the production and transport of PKE is not something our market will want to see. We believe use of PKE on New Zealand deer farms is both morally and ethically wrong aside from the national biosecurity risk it poses.
The crop rotation at Tikana ensures an ongoing pasture renewal programme. Less than 10% of farm area is sown in swedes and kale in late spring. The following spring it is sown out in new pasture where we have used a variety of options - short rotation Italian ryegrass/red clover specialist pasture/permanent pastures with chicory and plantain included. We also have a small stand of lucerne which is mostly ensiled for strategic supplement.
The second principle we adhere to at Tikana is farming on a pastoral basis. A pasture based agricultural system for raising livestock in New Zealand is the very thing that gives a competitive advantage in cost of production and profitability but also in modern times confers a significant market advantage. We feel strongly about this - no PKE (palm kernel extract) is fed to our deer. Our customers in the marketplace are discerning and the provenance of our product plays an increasingly important role. The Carbon Footprint in the production and transport of PKE is not something our market will want to see. We believe use of PKE on New Zealand deer farms is both morally and ethically wrong aside from the national biosecurity risk it poses.
The crop rotation at Tikana ensures an ongoing pasture renewal programme. Less than 10% of farm area is sown in swedes and kale in late spring. The following spring it is sown out in new pasture where we have used a variety of options - short rotation Italian ryegrass/red clover specialist pasture/permanent pastures with chicory and plantain included. We also have a small stand of lucerne which is mostly ensiled for strategic supplement.
Environmentally winter is a challenging time to farm in our climate in Southland. With the exception of our rising 1st Calving cows all classes of stock are wintered off the pastures. Bulls are wintered on brassica crop (swedes/kale) with pasture baleage as supplement. When required we also have the option of a feed pad for them.
We are fortunate to have small woodlot on the farm and this is home for our Wapiti cows through winter. They are feed on pasture baleage. Our Wapiti calves are wintering indoors for their first winter. Clean, dry bedding plus a generous area allows them to behave and grow without stress. They have a diet of pasture baleage supplemented with deer nuts where necessary.
Different classes of stock have varying requirements that are often seasonally driven. We have our feed analysed particularly for energy and protein levels to ensure their varying requirements are met. Energy and protein is crucial for young stock to express their genetic potential for growth through their first winter. We have found it needs to have an ME of 10 or very close and a Crude Protein content of >19%
We strategically feed at critical times of the year to ensure the welfare and performance of the different classes of deer. There is a small window of opportunity for Wapiti bulls after mating and before winter (about 6weeks) to build up their body condition. Pasture quality is normally reducing at this time of the year and so high quality supplements are required. We use lucerne baleage and deer nuts. Dr Peter Fennessy back in 1989 was able to demonstrate that a high level of feeding around button drop and antler growth meant almost 20% more velvet produced. Our older bulls cast and start growing velvet in late August. In a normal Southland year that is at least a month ahead of good spring pasture growth and consequently we strategically feed deer nuts and Lucerne baleage at this time.
A critical time for cows is during lactation. In Southland we are fortunate to seldom experience summer dry but peak lactation in late December and New Year often coincides with pastures seeding and a drop in feed quality. Supplementing with quality pasture baleage at this time has proved invaluable at Tikana. We believe that post rut weaning is the best and least stressful option for calves and this makes feeding during lactation that much more crucial. We aim for a BCS (Body Condition Score) of well above 3.5 for our cows going to the bull and this has ensured no negative impact of conception date in our experience.
We are fortunate to have small woodlot on the farm and this is home for our Wapiti cows through winter. They are feed on pasture baleage. Our Wapiti calves are wintering indoors for their first winter. Clean, dry bedding plus a generous area allows them to behave and grow without stress. They have a diet of pasture baleage supplemented with deer nuts where necessary.
Different classes of stock have varying requirements that are often seasonally driven. We have our feed analysed particularly for energy and protein levels to ensure their varying requirements are met. Energy and protein is crucial for young stock to express their genetic potential for growth through their first winter. We have found it needs to have an ME of 10 or very close and a Crude Protein content of >19%
We strategically feed at critical times of the year to ensure the welfare and performance of the different classes of deer. There is a small window of opportunity for Wapiti bulls after mating and before winter (about 6weeks) to build up their body condition. Pasture quality is normally reducing at this time of the year and so high quality supplements are required. We use lucerne baleage and deer nuts. Dr Peter Fennessy back in 1989 was able to demonstrate that a high level of feeding around button drop and antler growth meant almost 20% more velvet produced. Our older bulls cast and start growing velvet in late August. In a normal Southland year that is at least a month ahead of good spring pasture growth and consequently we strategically feed deer nuts and Lucerne baleage at this time.
A critical time for cows is during lactation. In Southland we are fortunate to seldom experience summer dry but peak lactation in late December and New Year often coincides with pastures seeding and a drop in feed quality. Supplementing with quality pasture baleage at this time has proved invaluable at Tikana. We believe that post rut weaning is the best and least stressful option for calves and this makes feeding during lactation that much more crucial. We aim for a BCS (Body Condition Score) of well above 3.5 for our cows going to the bull and this has ensured no negative impact of conception date in our experience.