Edendale Deer
Deer is where Whyte Farming Co. began
Since it's inception, Whyte Farming Company has been breeding to produce top quality meat and velvet. Later in the 1980's, we started to selectively breed and record DNA data to produce top quality animals. With this process in place, we are proud of our range of top quality trophy stags and velvet.
Today, Glen and MJ run the deer unit on Mt Possession through Edendale Farming Limited. They farm 5000 deer which includes a red velvet herd, Elk and Wapiti terminal animals. Donald and Leigh run fallow on their bush block in Woodbury, near Geraldine.
We hold our annual terminal sire sale in January.
History
Donald's first love has always been deer. He and Leigh purchased Edendale Station in 1986 and they set about converting the high country sheep farm into a highly productive deer unit. In the 1990's, Donald approached his father, John Whyte, (who owned the neighbouring property) about converting Mt Possession Station into a deer farm also. This process included upskilling John's farming knowledge to include deer.
Trophy animals
We have been in the trophy animal business for a number of years now and are proud of the quality animals we breed for the market. Each year we produce a strong offering of red stag, elk bull and fallow buck trophys, specifically bred to produce typical and non-typical hard antler heads that customers seek.
Through Edendale Farming Limited, we also have a small selection of bison trophy animals available annually.
Deer velvet
Deer velvet is the soft, growing antler tissue on male deer, developing quickly each year. Antlers can grow up to 1 inch daily, reaching full size in months. This fast growth comes from the velvet's rich nutrients, growth factors, and hormones. Deer velvet, known for its healing properties, is used in traditional medicine for joint health, boosting immunity, improving athletic performance, and overall vitality. Its nutrient-rich makeup aids tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and enhances circulation.
Venison production
Each year we finish 1400 weaners at our finishing block in Alford Forest, Mid-Canterbury. These young animals are fed a mix of winter feed and fresh grass. This specialised feeding regimen ensures that the young deer receive the right balance of nutrients for optimal growth and development. This combination helps the weaners thrive and gain weight effectively before they are ready for market.
Mountain River Venison partnership
Since 1994, Whyte Farming Company has proudly been in partnership with Mountain River Venison and was the original farm to supply stock. For the past 30 years, our venison production has been part of the Mountain River Venison From Farm to Chefs Plate venture, an integrated deer farming, venison processing and marketing business committed to operating as a successful and sustainable team. Alongside other local farms, we have built up the venison market in New Zealand. Mountain River Venison is a New Zealand company, based in Rakaia, that ships product thoughout New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Japan, China and the USA among others.
