New to deer farming 11 years ago when they moved from a small Marton family farm to the 408ha Pohangina Valley property, buying the operation “lock stock and barrel”, the Grays are pleased with their foray into the industry.
The bank manager asked once if they really wanted to be deer farming. Tony reminded him of the relative workloads of sheep and deer.
“We only spend about two weeks doing deer work in the year.”
Despite knowing little about deer the Grays quickly developed a fondness for the animals they find majestic but know well enough to never take for granted.
“We have never been beaten up too badly – but I never take my eye off them,” Tony says.
“I love deer. I can find them tremendously frustrating but you see a mob of hinds and fawns moving across a hill face and they are really impressive. And they can be very intelligent too.”
Buying into the Firstlight co-operative as a shareholder allowed the Grays to fulfil a number of farming objectives.
“We liked the concept of being a niche marketer and getting closer to our customers and we have met some great people from overseas through the Firstlight contracts.”
Tony says when the venison commodity price has been low the Firstlight marketers have been innovative and looked for different markets to maximise income. Buying into the vertically integrated company as a breeder allowed the Grays to simplify their farming operation when they were learning the deer trade, selling all of their venison as weaners out the gate to the Linklaters with only a few “fluffys” – smaller late-season fawns – left behind on the farm.
Finishing their top 50 stags on winter crops and forages will improve profitability on Tony Gray’s Utuwai farm, about an hour north of Palmerston North.
