Deer Farming At Lincoln Begins

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 1

Deer Farming At Lincoln Begins

The 14-pointer stag which yesterday afternoon became the first animal on the experimental deer farm at Lincoln College has as company two other stags, four mature hinds, which are likely to be pregnant, and two yearlings.

Game recovery, processing and exporting interests in the South Island are providing several thousand dollars for the farmlet, which is being established on five acres on the research farm.

Keeping a watchful eye on the unloading was Mr C. A. Murdoch, of Timaru, who has world wide patents for pistols, rifles and syringes used In tranquillising animals. He took part in the recovery of the deer.

Mr Murdoch said that the deer had been “shot” with tranquillising syringes fired from a pistol from a helicopter 200 ft to 300 ft above the ground and sometimes lower. The objective was to hit the deer in the major muscle of the hindquarter—not a very big target, particularly when the animals were running “like fury.” Two or three minutes after being hit, he said, they were “right out” and they remained' so for 25 to 30 minutes.

They were then carried out in pairs in a net suspended about Bft below the helicopter.

The two other stags brought to Lincoln had their horns sawn off before they left Luggate to reduce the risk of fighting. As it arrived at the research farm the lorry carrying the deer bogged in the rain-soaked ground near the cattle yards, and it took two tractors to move its eight tons. Lincoln College staff yesterday hurriedly prepared the cattle yards for the newcomers pending the erection of a 7ft fence round the farmlet. Netting was put up above the yards to provide an Bft stockade. Reluctant to Leave About six men struggled to load the reluctant 14-pointer stag at Luggate yesterday morning. At Lincoln Mr Murdoch was reluctant to immobilise the animal with tranquiliser for fear that it might be harmed, but he gave it a steadying dose and only after much pushing and prodding with sticks would it budge from the vehicle. It was then confined to a pen of its own, where it stood quietly. One of the hinds showed more spirit and moved swiftly round the pen, and one of the last deer out of the truck tried to break out at the entrance to the yards. But soon all were peaceful and one could be seen munching hay which had been laid over the floor of the yard. The unloading was watched by Mr J. R. Maddren, chairman of the Game Exporters’ Association, who has been involved in the initiation of the project on behalf of game interests.

Professor I. E. Coop, professor of animal science at the college, said that the experiment was likely to run for some years.