This week on the podcast we have Duncan Humm. Duncan farms Deer for venison and velvet and is also one of the minds behind NZ Farming on Facebook.

Mark and Duncan discuss deer farming, a topic not often covered on the Head Shepherd podcast. Duncan farms with his partner Lorna in the picturesque foothills of the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand. 

They have two different lines of deer with their velvet hinds looking drastically different to their venison hinds, rather than attempting a duel purpose animal.

"The velvet hinds are like these tiny little 'Perendale' type things versus our massive venison animals"

Duncan says he focuses on temperament and maternal ability when picking replacements. "The velvet industry has been a bit too focused just on kilos which has left a few of those maternal traits behind as a result"

"They wouldn't be the first industry to get lost chasing  the product and forgetting about the animals" Mark says.

"There's still so much potential in deer genetics. With one good stag, you can jump the genetics up not by 100's of grams, but by kilos" Duncan says. "It's pretty exciting.. if you have deep pockets"

Duncan is now planning on putting in 35Ha of solar on their Canterbury farm. It will be the second solar farm in the area.

"It's been something we've been looking for for quite some time. A big part of driving it is farm succession and resilience to climate and governance."

Their proximity to infrastructure and their summer climate means they are well set up to produce power. "Mid-Canterbury power demands are opposite to that of the rest of the country. Peak usage is in the summer in the middle of the day. So solar is the perfect fit for this area, it's pretty cool."

Duncan Humm is also one of the brains behind NZ Farming, "New Zealand's #1 grass roots social media community. Telling the story of real farm life and where your food comes from through the eyes of farmers".

The initial intent was for it to be a community for those who couldn't get down to a local rugby club or pub for a yarn. Tyler, the original creator wanted a space for people to have a chat with likeminded individuals and it definitely worked with over 420,000 followers across a range of platforms.

If you're not already following NZ Farming, make sure you do!
NZ Farming Facebook
Nz Farming Instagram

Designer Genes
Later this month neXtgen Agri will be on the road in the North and South Island to bring our "Designer Genes" workshop to you.
https://www.nextgenagri.com/events

Check out The Hub
thehub.nextgenagri.com
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Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited.

We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected].

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