“We consider this essential in order to substantiate trial results to other deer farmers,” Shaw said.
More detailed milk analysis over the coming season would help with the refinement of soft cheeses and further development of new products.
A decision around full commercialisation of deer milk products would be made at the end of the season.
Shaw is upbeat about the latest developments. “We are in the best position we have been in for three years.”
Shaw, along with Maniototo farmer John Falconer and Falconer’s sister and brother-in-law Brent and Susan McEwan, took the first tentative steps with milking deer in 2012. At Falconer’s farm, Clachanburn, they did the seemingly impossible – cupping up and milking hinds.
They took another step, building a prototype six-stall, walk-through dairy and from late 2013 until May 2014 milked up to 50 deer once a day. Falconer said at the time although he was surprised at the relative ease with which the hinds adjusted to the daily milking, taking the enterprise further would depend on financial viability. This year he stepped back from the venture, milking only a handful of hinds to supply Shaw.
Meanwhile, Di Herron who last year managed deer milking at Clachanburn, is working for a Canterbury partnership also assessing the potential of commercial deer milking. A farmer involved in the partnership was unwilling to discuss their plans publicly until further down the track.
