Antler
Bony outgrowths that develop annually on the heads of male deer (stags), shed and regrown each year. In New Zealand farming, antlers are harvested as velvet for the export market.
Antlerless stag
A stag that fails to grow antlers, often due to genetics, injury to the pedicle, or hormonal abnormalities. Antlerless stags have limited value in velvet production systems.
Autumn stag
The period in late summer and autumn when stags come into rut and actively seek hinds for mating. Stags during this period can become aggressive and difficult to handle.
Body condition score (BCS)
A standardised numerical assessment of a deer’s body fat reserves, scored on a 1 to 5 scale. Used to guide nutritional management at critical times such as mating, fawning, and velvet recovery.
Cast stag (cryptorchid)
A male deer resulting from non-surgical castration where the testes are retained internally. Cast stags grow permanent velvet antler (cactus antler) and are commonly used in velvet and venison systems.
Caudal velvet
The soft, vascularised skin covering growing antler, rich in nutrients and biologically active compounds. Harvested as velvet antler for the Korean and Asian health product markets.
Cervid
Any member of the family Cervidae (deer family). Farmed deer in New Zealand are predominantly red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wapiti/elk (Cervus canadensis), with some fallow and sika.
Conception rate
The proportion of hinds that conceive during the mating period. A key reproductive KPI in deer farming. Target: >90% in well-managed herds.
Cull
The planned removal of animals from the herd due to reproductive failure, poor production, structural unsoundness, injury, age, or welfare reasons.
Deer Improvement (DEERSelect)
New Zealand’s national deer genetic recording and improvement programme, providing estimated breeding values (EBVs) to guide selection for velvet weight, liveweight, and carcase traits.
Dystocia
Difficult or prolonged birth requiring assistance. Less common in deer than in cattle or sheep, but can occur in hinds mated to large sires or in first-calving hinds.
Elk (wapiti)
A larger subspecies of deer (Cervus canadensis) used in New Zealand deer farming to produce larger velvet antlers and heavier carcases through crossbreeding with red deer.
Estimated breeding value (EBV)
A statistical estimate of a deer’s genetic merit for specific traits (velvet weight, liveweight, antler configuration) relative to a breed base population, produced through DEERSelect.
Fallow deer
A smaller deer species (Dama dama) farmed in some parts of New Zealand, producing fine-grained venison and relatively small velvet antlers.
Fawn
A young deer, typically referring to the animal from birth to weaning. In New Zealand red deer, fawning occurs in November–December.
Fawning percentage
The number of fawns weaned per 100 hinds mated, a key production KPI. Target: >85% in well-managed red deer herds.
Feed budget
A calculation comparing pasture or feed supply with herd demand, used to anticipate feed deficits and plan supplementary feeding or destocking.
Gestation length
The period from conception to birth in deer. Red deer: approximately 233 days (33 weeks). Wapiti/elk: approximately 245 days. Fallow deer: approximately 230 days.
Hard antler
Fully calcified, hardened antler after the velvet has been shed or stripped. Hard antler stags are more aggressive and hazardous to handle and must be managed carefully.
Hind
An adult female red deer, equivalent to a cow in cattle or ewe in sheep.
Hind-to-stag ratio
The number of hinds allocated per stag during the mating period. Typical ratios for red deer are 1 stag per 30–50 hinds in paddock mating systems.
In-fawn rate
The percentage of hinds that are confirmed pregnant following the mating period, determined by pregnancy scanning or observation of fawning outcomes.
Liveweight (LW)
The total body weight of a live deer measured on a scale. Used to monitor growth and guide management, velvet cutting timing, and slaughter decisions.
Liveweight gain (LWG)
The increase in liveweight over a defined period. A primary production measure in venison systems.
Mob
A defined group of deer managed together as a unit for grazing, feeding, or husbandry purposes.
Mob stocking
A grazing management system in which a large group of deer graze at high density for a short period before being moved, allowing extended pasture recovery.
NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing)
New Zealand’s mandatory livestock traceability scheme. Deer farmers must register their properties and tag all deer for movement recording.
Neonatal mortality
Death of fawns within the first few days of life, associated with cold, wet weather, poor shelter, mismothering, or starvation.
Oestrus
The period of sexual receptivity in a hind, during which she will stand to be mated by a stag. In red deer, oestrus occurs approximately every 18–20 days during the autumn rut and lasts approximately 18 hours.
Pedicle
The permanent bony base on the stag’s skull from which antlers grow each year. Injury to the pedicle can result in abnormal antler growth.
Planned start of mating
The date on which stags are first introduced to hinds, or AI begins. In New Zealand red deer, mating typically begins in late March–April to align fawning with spring growth.
Polled
An animal that is naturally without horns or antlers. In deer, absence of antlers in stags is usually due to pedicle damage or genetic factors rather than being naturally polled.
Pregnancy scanning
Ultrasound examination of hinds to confirm pregnancy and the number of foetuses present, allowing targeted nutritional management of pregnant hinds.
Red deer
The primary deer species (Cervus elaphus scoticus) farmed in New Zealand, introduced from Scotland in the 19th century. Valued for both velvet antler production and venison.
Regrowth period
The time elapsed since velvet was last harvested, used to estimate the amount of velvet present and guide cutting decisions. Velvet weight increases rapidly from mid-spring to early summer.
Rut
The annual mating season in deer, characterised by vocalisation (roaring), antler sparring, and active competition between stags for hinds. In red deer, the rut peaks in March–April in New Zealand.
Sika deer
A smaller deer species (Cervus nippon) farmed in some regions of New Zealand. Sika velvet is valued in Asian markets, and sika venison is highly regarded for its fine flavour.
Spiker
A young stag growing his first antlers, which typically appear as simple single spikes without branching. Spikers are usually in their first or second year of life.
Stag
An intact adult male deer used for mating or velvet production.
Stocking rate
The number of deer (expressed as adult hinds or stock units) per hectare of effective pasture, a key driver of pasture utilisation and farm profitability.
Tagging
The application of ear tags for individual identification and NAIT traceability. Fawns are typically tagged soon after birth or at the first yard-up.
Topping (velvet)
The minor trimming of velvet tips to remove heavily mineralised tip sections and encourage regrowth. Practised in some velvet systems to improve velvet conformation.
Ute
A utility vehicle commonly used in New Zealand farming, similar to a small pick-up truck and typically fitted with an open rear tray.
Velvet antler
The soft, growing stage of antler covered in vascular skin (velvet), harvested annually from stags under veterinary-approved analgesia protocols. New Zealand is a leading global producer of velvet antler for Asian health product markets.
Velvet cutting
The surgical removal of velvet antler, carried out by or under the supervision of a registered veterinarian using approved protocols, at the optimal growth stage before mineralisation advances.
Velvet weight (VW)
The fresh weight of velvet harvested from a stag per year, a primary production KPI in velvet farming systems. High-performing red deer stags can produce 8–15 kg of velvet annually.
Venison
The meat from farmed deer, valued for its lean, high-protein composition and premium export market status. New Zealand exports venison primarily to Europe and North America.
Wapiti (elk)
See Elk. A large deer subspecies used in crossbreeding programmes to produce heavier velvet and carcase weights.
Weaning
The separation of fawns from their mothers, typically carried out at 3–5 months of age. Weaning weight is an important production benchmark.
Weaning weight
The liveweight of a fawn recorded at weaning, used as a measure of maternal ability and early growth rate.
Withholding period
The minimum time that must pass after an animal is treated with a veterinary product before its meat can be supplied for human consumption.
Works (meatworks)
A colloquial New Zealand term for an abattoir or slaughterhouse where deer are processed for venison production.
Yearling
A deer approximately 12 months of age. Yearling liveweights are commonly recorded as performance benchmarks in both velvet and venison systems.
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