It was not alone in achieving phenomenal prices.
The Stevens family from Netherdale stud in Southland sold a velvet stag for $90,000, another Southland stud, the Elder family’s Altrive stud, got $75,000 for a velveting stag, Brock Deer from Gore sold a velvet stag for $70,000 and Tower Farms, Cambridge, made $65,000 for a velvet-trophy stag.
Deer Farmers Association chairman John Somerville said while those stags captured headlines, prices were high across the board with stags that last year sold for $10,000 to $15,000 making $20,000 or more.
The high prices and demand show the industry is enjoying a golden patch fuelled by high and stable venison and velvet prices, Somerville said.
It also shows farmers are investing in herd genetics.
Markets for venison and velvet have diversified, exporters are dealing less with traders and the United States is now a stable, key, year-round venison market.
He is delighted farmers are taking the opportunity of high product prices to invest in their businesses.
“Farmers are cashed up, they know where they are, which makes quite a difference, and that is driving investment.”
AgriHQ data shows venison was steady at about $10.20/kg last week but back slightly from $10.70 a year ago.
Similarly velvet prices have been stable, ranging from $100/kg to $125/kg for the last four years.
Farmers remember the industry correction in the early 2000s but the limited number of farmers and venison and velvet supply mean the industry is less exposed now than it was then, Somerville said.
There is some limited expansion, mainly existing farmers increasing herd size, though he has heard of some new deer farms being converted in Canterbury.
Stag sales reveal a high level of clearance with most studs selling all their offerings.
The highest average was $30,136 achieved by Crowley Farms for 11 velvet-trophy stags. The same vendor sold 10 hinds with a top price of $20,000 and an average $7130.
Altrive Red Deer averaged $21,456 for 23 velvet stags and 49 hinds for an average of $2104.
Netherdale Deer sold 26 velvet stags for a $19,615 average and 83 hinds for an average of $2155 and Brock Deer 23 stags for an average of $17,500, 30 yearling hinds for $2350 and 65 velvet stags for $2150.
The top Wapiti price was $15,000 for a bull sold by Tikana Wapiti near Winton in Southland. It average $8357 for 10 bulls.
PGG Wrightson deer genetics manager Graham Kinsman said while prices were exceptional for the top 10-15% of sires, demand was consistently high across the board.
The number of people attending the sales was greater than in other years.
The industry’s buoyancy should continue because supply of venison and velvet is stable and expansion limited as sheep, beef and dairy are all enjoying prosperity.
The optimism and positivity in the deer industry make it a great time to be involved, he said.
Rural Livestock southern deer representative Adam Whaanga said while product prices are underpinning the industry, the velvet market is driving demand for the top stags.
Fifteen years ago a three-year-old stag was cutting on average about 4.5kg of velvet. Today that average is about 8.5 to 9kg but in the last two years it has increased by up to 2kg.
The absence of any sudden industry expansion gives Whaanga confidence venison and velvet prices are sustainable.
