One of New Zealands Most Beautiful Deer Farms… Deer Breeding Stud and Venison Finishing Operations
Converted into one of New Zealand’s largest deer farms in 1993, Criffel Station is a historic Otago high country station outside Wanaka run by Jerry and Mandy Bell.
The Bell family have owned Criffel since the 1960s, but the property has been a sheep station since the late 1850s and was home to an intriguing part of Otago mining history in the later part of the nineteenth century.
Turning an Otago Sheep Station into a Deer Farm
In 1993 Jerry and Mandy converted the station into a deer breeding and finishing farm.
Over the years as irrigation systems have been established, pastures improved and more and more land deer fenced, the property has been developed to the point where it offers 1850 effective hectares, including:
- 350 ha of finishing pastures on the flats and terraces with 315 ha irrigated
- 1500 ha of breeding/hill blocks on the steeper tussock country
These days the farm runs predominantly Eastern European red deer – genetically improved to increase growth rates and calve earlier – spread across:
- Commercial herd of over 2500 hinds
- Elite herd of up to 200 mixed age hinds
- Mixed aged stags both Red and Elk for mating and velveting
- Young finishing stock both bred on Criffel Station and trading stock
The property is effectively run as three entities – hill breeding, venison finishing and a stud operation. The stud operation measures breeding values with a primary focus on venison growth to 12 months utilising DNA technology to produce top quality breeding hinds and stags. The genetics are passed directly to the commercial operation and other commercial buyers.
Taking Deer Farming Into the Twenty First Century
Criffel Station has an emphasis on a balanced environment for the people, land and animals. This encompasses future generation sustainability – to allow ongoing enhancement and enjoyment of the property.
Both Jerry and Mandy are involved at various levels in the deer industry. Jerry currently sits on the Board of Deer Industry New Zealand. Mandy is a veterinarian and has been involved in a number of deer industry production projects – Johne’s Research Group as one of the key projects – and also with the NZ Deer Farmers Association.
Luke Wright manages the day to day operations on the property and has a passion for deer along with a strong interest in technology and production efficiencies.
Contact Luke for stud and commercial deer enquiries.
See recent Rural Delivery profile of Criffel Station.
