The net result has been mis-mothering, and a number of fawn deaths usually within the first few days after birth. Although unhappy with the losses Glen believed the trade-off was better milking hinds and therefore faster growing weaners for the pre-Christmas chilled market.
The Lauder Store bed and breakfast, run by Earl and Pam Harrex, is the third arm of the family’s farming business.
However, joining the Deer Industry of New Zealand (DINZ) Otago Advance Party changed his thinking. He found that other farmers were achieving similar weaner growth rates – without the fawn losses – on more extensive dryland hill country.
After further discussions Glen and Renee have decided to deer fence 80ha of dryland pastures for use as a fawning block. Although the details are not finalised the area will most likely be subdivided into 10-16ha blocks, and grow lucerne-based pastures.
“We want it so it can be cropped and break fed and rotationally grazed. Overall it should mean better pasture management,” Glen said.
The deer fencing will start in autumn and be finished in time for this year’s fawning. The plan is to fawn 580 mixed-age and all R2 hinds on the new dryland block, bringing them and progeny back on to the irrigated pastures in late December until pre-rut weaning at the start of March, 2016.
There won’t be enough space to fawn all the hinds on the new block so some will be left on the irrigated blocks. It’s not ideal but will serve as a useful benchmark comparison between the dryland and irrigated fawning systems.
“It will be interesting to see what happens – hopefully it will do the trick. It will boil down to having the right stock, at the right places, at the right time of the year.”
After further discussions Glen and Renee have decided to deer fence 80ha of dryland pastures for use as a fawning block.
To fill the gap on the irrigated blocks created by fewer fawning hinds, cattle will be brought in to control the spring irrigated pastures. The grazing of cattle integrates well with deer breeding and finishing. The Harrexes winter up to 500 dairy cows for 12 weeks, graze dairy heifers from December until calving and buy about 200 Friesian bulls, selling them on for finishing at 17-months old. Also, Renee raises Hereford-Friesian calves for slaughter at two-years old.
The third arm of the Harrex family farming enterprise is Lauder Store, a bed and breakfast business alongside the Otago Central Rail Trail. Glen’s parents Pam and Earl started the “semi-retirement” project seven years ago.
The couple, farm-stay hosts for several years, seized the opportunity when the store came up for sale in 2007. Pam said she was “keen for a challenge” and saw the opportunity for accommodation to serve the growing stream of bike riders pedalling the 150km trail from Clyde to Middlemarch.
It took most of 2008 to transform the former shop, built in the early 1900s, and involved stripping some of the interior back to the original sun-dried mud brick.
They also converted a house backing on to the shop, developing three separate accommodation options catering for up to 14 people. The main season runs from October until May during which up to 900 guests, a mix of “rail trailers” and non-cycling guests, check in. Many are return guests who appreciate the special touches such as lavender soap and fresh muffins on arrival. Earl also offers tours to local historical sites of interest.
Group projects
The DINZ Otago Advance Party has eight farmer members. Facilitator Simon Glennie said other confirmed projects included:
- Improving weaner growth rates through monitoring and management to meet the pre-Christmas chilled market
- Identifying ways to improve the conception rate of first fawning hinds in uncultivated hill country
- Targeted and improved feeding of hinds, and
- Improving the rate of fawn survival by identifying when fawn losses occur.
