The timing though, is not right just now and that has been reflected in the annual Wapiti terminal sire sales over the past week.
Whyte put up 30 two and three-year old Wapiti terminal sires in the 18th annual sale at his Edendale Stud in the Canterbury high country, but like the earlier sales in Southland and Otago, the result was not exciting.
A keen hunter as a youngster, Whyte moved to live heli-capture and in 1986 purchased Edendale Station and converted it from sheep to deer farming.
Running 5000 deer, including a red velvet herd, Wapiti terminal sires and fallow deer, the Whyte Farming Company now runs one of the largest deer farming operations in NZ.
“For us, despite the market conditions, this is our business as usual,” Whyte said.
“Our point of difference is the consistency and constitution of our bulls.”
The young sires offered for sale are bred initially for their own use in the Edendale stud to provide the 1500 venison weaners finished each year.
They had wintered for two years in their age group mobs, being drafted from the main group in mid-December after velveting.
Whyte was confident this year’s line-up for auction were some of the best stock offered in the 18 years of the annual on-farm sale.
But the result did not reflect the quality of the Wapiti bulls.
Buyers were cautious and prices, following the trend of the season, were significantly back on last year.
“It’s not really exciting,” Whyte said.
“We have done our best, you have done your best – that’s where business is this year,” Whyte told the buyer gallery at the conclusion of the auction.
“Some animals sold at value, they (buyers) picked the eyes, but that’s reflective of the year.”
Whyte urged fellow deer farmers to be patient.
Edendale supplies all its stock to Mountain River for processing and Whyte himself on several occasions has travelled the globe as the farmer behind the brand.
“I have been overseas as the farmer behind the brand, I have seen the sparkle in the eyes of chefs when they see NZ venison,” he said.
“They like it, they want it. So be patient and stick to what you are good at.
“The markets will still want NZ venison when the world gets through the covid-19 blip, as an industry we need to keep mating hinds.”
The top price on the day at Edendale was $5000, paid for three-year-old sires which generally sold from $2200-$5000.
The four-year-old bulls ranged from $2200-$4000 and while not a full sale day clearance, Whyte is optimistic most of the Wapiti bulls will find a new home post sale.
“I did have to lower my expectation and my upset price to meet the market on the day,” he said.
At the Connemara Wapiti bull on-farm sale in Southland the average price of the day was just shy of $4000.
It was the last sale for owner Murray Hagen, who is stepping away from deer farming.
Three years ago his sale average was $8500 a head, last year it was down to $6000, this year it struggled to get close to $4000.
“That was when venison was as high as $11.50 per kilogram, it’s $5 this year,” Hagen said.
“I have been selling for 17 years, I have had a fantastic time with the deer but I’m retiring now, covid has been a challenge, it’s hit us hard.”
At the Lochinvar Station sale in Te Anau owner Chris Carran was happy, given the industry’s current challenges, with his 21st annual on-farm sale.
“The people were good, but prices were down, and that’s largely because of covid,” Carran said.
“No trophy stags have been sold this past year, so there’s a lot of stags left around the country and that’s the direct impact of covid.
“Covid has significantly impacted on venison values, and the ability to get it to market, and velvet is back too.
“I’m pretty happy, it’s been a good sale for the way the year has been.”
Lochinvar offered 25 terminal sire bulls that made a sale average of just under $4000 with just one passed unsold.
