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Our People Resized

Red deer. It’s in our DNA.

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They say if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. And we love Red Deer.

It’s a passion that runs through our entire team; an unwavering respect for our animals, a deep-seated appreciation for the environment which surrounds us, and an enduring commitment to the industry we operate in.

Where it all started

The Peel Forest Estate Stud was purchased by Graham Carr in 1987. With the vision of creating a world class red deer stud he set about importing high performance deer of various bloodlines from Croatia, Germany, Hungary and England. These genetics now form the basis of todays herd.

Branching out

As time passed and our expertise grew, we expanded our horizons. Today, we have a herd of more than 8,000 fully recorded, electronically ear-tagged deer, and a global presence in the venison, velvet and trophy markets. We’ve developed our own state-of-the-art stock breeding systems, broken some significant records, and earned a reputation as a world leader in the field of genetics.

Room to roam

Located in the heart of South Canterbury, 20kms from the township of Geraldine and a stone’s through from the Rangitata River, Peel Forest Estate is a natural haven for deer. Our 7,000 acre slice of paradise boasts a blend of lush, green paddocks and rugged hill country – the ideal environment for breeding healthy, hardy animals.

The relentless pursuit of excellence

Despite being widely-regarded as one of the very best in the business, our work is never done. Our success has been built on the highest of standards and a real willingness to innovate, and those will always form the foundation of our operation. We’re constantly exploring new trends, trialling new methods and investing in new technology, striving to improve our product and continue to raise the bar.
Our Facilities

At Peel Forest Estate, nothing is more important to us than the welfare of our animals. And our facilities play a big part in that.

We have four deer sheds across the farm, including our main building - a spacious new shed measuring 29m x 18m. This building was specifically designed to make handling easier, minimising the stress on our animals. This is particularly important for stud operations, where the animals are handled more frequently than commercial stock. Rubber matting throughout the shed helps to reduce injury during velveting, and minimises the risk of foot issues like fusiformis.

Of course, hygiene is another huge consideration. The shed has been fitted with high-pressure hoses and walk-in freezers to store our velvet harvest, as well as the latest EID equipment from Gallagher. This not only ensures NAIT readiness, but also facilitates herd data recording.

A custom-designed crush and an automatic electronic weighing and drafting crate have also been installed by Farmquip, and we have a dedicated surgery where we conduct a large Embryo Transplant programme each year.
Our Technology

We’ve always been early to adopt new technology, and have some of the most innovative tools and resources at our disposal.

All of our deer have electronic ear tags, with Gallagher equipment used to monitor everything from animal health, weights, grouping and pedigree analysis to trait and activity recording. We use bar code printers for labelling lab test samples (streamlining the handling process and limiting the risk of human error), and employ a highly-advanced data collection system, analysing that data on HerdMASTER or Gallagher’s APS office software.

We also utilise the AgHub app. This allows our team to monitor and administer stock movements on a digital map, straight from their smart phone or tablet. It also helps them oversee task management, feeding programmes and pastoral management.
Our People

Our People

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