Q. The Southland Branch of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association is hosting its 40th competition and judging starts today. How many farmers have entered the competition?
The competition’s 40th anniversary was supposed to be last year but it was cancelled due to Covid so we are celebrating the milestone this year. At the last competition in 2020, we had 80 entries — 56 red and 24 elk. We are expecting about the same amount of entries this year. About 70% of the heads come from the South Island.
The three judges will be looking for a combination of weight, conformation and style. The judges will be looking for what the market wants and is paying for. They want nice short, correct velvet of a traditional style. Anything that’s not of a traditional style will be penalised in points.
Q. All velvet entered must be grown in New Zealand and from this year’s crop. How have the conditions been for growing velvet in the South this season?
The season in Southland and Otago has been the best in living memory. To grow velvet you need sunshine and warm weather and Southland has had a boomer of a year.
Q. What region do you think the smart money will be on for winning the supreme awards in the red deer and elk sections and why?
In the red deer section, it is hard to go past the four big studs in Southland — Altrive Red Deer, Arawata Deer Farm, Brock Deer and Netherdale Red Deer but it’s not always the big studs who win. In the elk section, it would be hard to go past Tikana Wapiti Stud in Browns.
Q. How many people are you expecting at the awards dinner at Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Friday night?
About 250 people will be celebrating 40 years of the competition thanks to the rural businesses which have backed us including major sponsor PGGWrightson.
