Geoff Pullar - More Velvet, Less Work

Since joining the Advance Party, Geoff has rolled out a number of improvements on the farm, including a new reticulated stockwater system costing $13,000. “It is working really well and it means every paddock has water.”

Although Geoff Pullar can’t claim the 60kg increase in cut velvet from his Wapiti stags is because of solely nut feeding, he’s sure it’s helped.

This season 310kg-plus regrowth was cut from 59 animals compared with 250kg-plus regrowth the previous season.

“We’ve only done it for one year so it’s hard to say what the biggest contributing factor is.

“I’m hoping it’s a combination of nuts, genetics and improved grasses,” Geoff says.

Until joining the Southland elk and Wapiti Advance Party a mixture of barley and nuts was fed in the lead-up to button drop.

But time and time again the stags would vacuum up the whole barley and leave the nuts.

Advance Party members suggested feeding only nuts, which he did for the 2015 button drop.

All the velveting stags got a 1kg allowance from just before button drop until harvest.

Article courtesy of Farmers Weekly.

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