Glaadt Park Herd
Our commitment to the deer industry started way back in the early 1980s with the introduction of an Elk herd. Alongside that we imported the famed Schulte Wrede herd from Glaadt Park, Germany. This herd was made up of the top bloodlines throughout Germany and concentrated on Glaadt Park.
The balance of the Glaadt Park herd was eventually purchased, and after farming them in England for a short time we then imported them into New Zealand. The herd was culled, dissected and managed for two main genetic traits-antler formation and body weight. Some of the earlier stag weights were enormous with stags in the 300-350kg range. Antler formation was similar to the style and conformation of their forebears.
Since the herd arrived in New Zealand performance has improved and with the same breed influences of Red Baron, Myson, Munich and Image, an accelerated effect is becoming prevalent. To date our top line weaner stags are topping 90+kg at the end of March and our weaner hinds at 83+kg at the same time. Antler performance is also showing through with 8-12kg Hard Horn heads at 2 years old becoming the norm.
One of our top performing master sires Wredeson Major, a direct descendant from Wrede, is a perfect example of our genetic improvement. He weighed in at 303kg at 3 years with a 40 point, 10.2kg head at 405 SCI. That body weight would rate as one of the heaviest 3 year red deer weights anywhere in the world. The important point here though, is this stag has all three traits: record live weight, huge antler and superb temperament.
On top of that we produced the following year "Amadeus", an amazing animal with the biggest antler structure for a 2 year old the world has ever seen, clocking in at an incredible SCI score of 427, bodyweight of 218kg and a record 10.43kg HA. They are certainly powerful and heritable genetics.
We expect with continual management using DNA and hind indexing, that this herd will continue to grow and show that this is an exceptional herd of deer.
