In this episode, Al & Juddy sit down with Canterbury deer farmer Stu Stokes to explore the unique quirks of farming deer and the role of forages in driving performance, from how day length shapes appetite and reproduction, to the strategies Stu uses around weaning, mating and feeding.

This conversation sheds light on the practical realities of running a successful deer system.

“Every day you fawn a hind earlier, you could pick up 450 grams a day. So four days earlier means nearly two kilograms on your weaning weight - and that’s huge, because it’s hard to achieve those numbers once they’re off mum.” - Stu Stokes.