Hawkes Bay Advance Party third on-farm
meeting
Thursday 31 July 2014
Karen & Michelle Middelberg
with Rob & Jen Evans
“Clovelly”
241 Hinerangi Rd, Hatuma
Agenda:
Be on farm by midday please- travel time just ten minutes from Waipukurau.
Please bring four wheel motorbikes and the helmet you brought to
Waipapa
12.00: Introductions and plan for the day followed by lunch (provided). Amy Wills
from DINZ attending.
12.45: Three stop tour of Clovelly- start at deer shed and overview of whole farm
followed by stop at the top of the hill for a view of the basin and deer farm.
Then down the lane for a look. And out down the gully. A bit dependent on
weather and lambing...
3.00: Return to homestead, smoko and group discussion to work through options
for Clovelly.
Clovelly stock numbers for winter 2014:
Stock class
Total area
Effective area
Deer fenced area
Effective deer fenced
area
Clovelly
565 ha
555 ha
254 ha
250 ha
su
Total su
5647 su
10.2 su/eff ha
MA hinds (in fawn)
R2 hinds (in fawn)
R1 deer
R2 stags
R3 stags
MA stags
deer
334
108
337
16
11
16
812
2.4
1.9
1.7
2.5
3.2
3.5
802
205
573
40
35
56
1711
MA cows
R1 bulls
R2 heifers
R2 bulls
R2 steers
R3 steers
cattle
0
60
0
81
42
12
195
5.5
4.5
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.5
0
270
0
446
231
66
1013
MA ewes (sil)
2T ewes (sil)
Lambs and hoggets
Rams
sheep
1495
653
760
35
2943
1.1
1.1
0.7
0.8
1645
718
532
28
2923
Total
3950
6.8 deer su/deer ha
5647
NB: stock units based on DINZ for European red deer and on BLNZ
information for sheep and cattle
“Clovelly” was owned by the Beetham family in the early days of deer farming and
was purchased by Bert and Kay Middelberg in the early 1990’s. About sixteen years
ago the neighbouring farm, “Puketaha”, also a Beetham property, was purchased. A
block at the northern end of Hinerangi Road, “Maratarangi” was purchased in the
intervening years but was sold again about three years ago.
The deer farm has been expanded considerably and a new deer facility was built
within existing covered sheep yards. The hind herd has built up from a number that
were initially share-farmed with Clint and Shelley Thomsen and has stayed largely
red deer based. Bert did have some good elk stags as terminal sires and enjoyed
considerable success in velvet competitions. Bloodlines are largely European and
the emphasis is on venison with the business currently supplying the Cerco Supply
Group.
Karen and Michelle now lease the farm from the family trust and have undertaken
considerable change with policy, direction and development- the 2013 drought
necessitating some of these. Rob and Jen Evans began here late 2013.
This is definitely a “work in progress” so all ideas happily received!
Identified issues for Clovelly...





Wean better weaners. There is good scope for fawning on the hills but weaner
weights are sometimes disappointing. How to juggle good fawning areas with
better feeding?
Use of supplements or crops over summer for lactating hinds- ideas from
members.
How to identify that lactating hinds aren’t getting enough good feed?
Ideas for growing bigger R1 deer from weaning onwards- looking for a
“formula”. This applies to R1 stags in particular as there is now a one year
policy for stags which are to be killed in late spring.
Incorporating a velvet stag mob. Aim to hold hind numbers but with a move to
a one year policy for stags, no beef cows now and a flexible cattle policy,
where do group members see stags fitting in- what areas, what management?
Identified group member issues at 2013 meeting...
Ru, Hugh, Ben:





Completed AP on-farm meeting 10 April 2014
Identifying late born small fawns to their dams so dams can be culled
Adding terminal sires into the breeding programme
Improved weaner growth rates
Use of crops for R1 deer in particular
Developing a firm long term direction- venison and/or velvet?
Grant, George and Matt:

Improving velvet production through DNA or use of a spotting scopecost/benefit and use of data
John and Matt:

Matt:
Weight loss in stags over autumn- management (feed, space) or science

Feeding two year olds at pinch periods and effects on lifetime performance
Karen:

Velvet in a venison system
Karen and Richard:

Improved weaner weights and continually improved velvet production
Evan and Linda:


Completed AP on-farm meeting 2 July 2014
“Blank canvas”- any input on development plans welcome
Want to hold hind numbers but develop a plan to utilise the extra deer fenced
area- velvet, improved feeding
 Do things “better”- feeding, genetics source and pairing up hinds/fawns
 How to best tap into potential genetic gains