Today we visited the Red Deer Genetics farm in New Zealand. We rode on hay barrels throughout the red deer farm to feed the deer and watch them interact with one another. Throughout the tour, we learned the when, why, and how of deer farming. We learned that they cut the antlers of the deer using intricate gate systems and a stress free environment. There are also ideal times to cut the antlers so that they have the maximum amount of weight and they can be cut twice in a season. Additionally, we learned how deer antlers have immune-boosting properties and are generally consumed by the Asian market. The farm had 1500 deer ranging from $150-$100,000+ New Zealand dollar per deer. Older deer are auctioned off and moved to a large fenced in area during the mating season to be hunted– usually by the American market. Red deer stags are known for their notoriously large antlers and meticulously bred through artificial insemination and embryo transfer for improved genetics.
Dunedin Botanic Garden
Some of us decided to spend part of our free day in Dunedin exploring the Botanic Gardens. There are many plant collections within the Botanic Gardens including a rose garden, an herb garden, an arboretum, and many others. A greenhouse in the garden is home to many carnivorous plants and cacti. I have never seen such a large collection of pitcher plants! These plants catch insects with sweet smelling liquid in their pitchers. The insects fly in looking for a meal and cannot get out. It was a great day for a walk through this diverse and beautiful garden.
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