Stud breeders can access Deer Select to enter data via bureau. Bureau upload raw trait data and pedigrees. They assist with recording tools and techniques, and provide reports on breeding values, economic indexes and genetic progress.
There are two bureaus available for use by stud breeders for recording their deer on Deer Select. Both offer different types of services, so contact them both to decide which will be best for you. The two bureaux are Genetic Gains (contact Julia Aspinall ) and NZPRS (contact Barbara Beckett).
Bureaus can assist you with what data to record, and ways to record it. Your bureau will upload your data to Deer Select and manage it for you. Bureaus provide you with personalised BV and Index reports of use to your business, as well as genetic trend and linkage graphs for any BVs and Indexes that you request, whenever you require them. Your bureau will also provide you the Deer Select Quarterly Sire Summaries. There is a cost associated with uploading and processing information to Deer Select and your bureau undertakes all of the invoicing for this and their services.
Venison focussed herds
| Recording | Best Practise | Optional | Future Proofing |
| Pedigree of all live weaners | Can be by dna (most accurate) or observation | ||
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Foetal Age pregnancy scanning Estimated birth date |
Required to account for age effects on growth and other breeding values. Foetal age used to calculate conception ate and estimated birth date of progeny | ||
| Weaning data | A complete set of weaning weights on all live animals | ||
| Ideally 1 weight in each of the 4 weigh periods from birth to 12 months for males and females |
1 – Feb, Mar, Apr (weaning) |
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| Mature weight | An 18 month weight on hinds (used to calculate mature weight BVs) usually done at pregnancy scanning | Mature weight annually on mature hinds – usually done at pregnancy scanning | |
| Meat Information |
Ultra-sound muscle scanning – usually October CT scan (expensive) |
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Carla – parasite antigen
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Saliva swab- 6 or more commonly at 10 months of age | ||
| Hind Fertility | If complete pregnancy records are available – can calculate Fertility Bvs for young and mixed age hinds | ||
| Fawn survival | Recording wet and dry hinds at weaning | ||
| Body Condition Score | At mating or pregnancy scanning – hinds (no BV as yet) |
Velvet Focussed Herds
| Recording | Best Practise | Optional | Future Proofing |
| Pedigree of weaners | Can be by dna (most accurate) or observation | ||
| Estimated birth date | Desired to account for age effects on growth and velvet breeding values (usually derived from foetal age data at pregnancy scanning) | ||
| Weaning data | A complete set of weaning weights on ALL live animals including mob information | ||
| Additional weights | Additional weights would add accuracy to growth BVs | ||
| Weight at 11 or 12 months | Liveweight at 11 or 12 months | ||
| 2 year old velvet weight | Left velvet weight, right velvet weight and/or total velvet weight | Velvet grade, beam circumference | |
| Mature velvet weight | Recommended |
Left, right or total velvet weight Velvet grade Beam circumference Remarks/scores |
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| Fertility | Pregnancy scanning information | ||
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Fawn Survival |
Wet& dry hinds at weaning (no BV as yet) | ||
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Body condition score |
At mating or pregnancy scanning- hinds (no BV as yet) |
Another factor to record for selection purposes are fates and remarks. Fates are deaths and culling decisions and can be recorded on Deer Select. Recording why animals die, be it misadventure, disease or any other reason, aids selection for less measurable traits like survival/robustness/resilience. Similarly it is important to record why individuals are culled to provide numeric data on less measurable traits such as temperament or fertility.
Culling decisions can be many and varied, but by recording them, patterns can be found. Examples of culling decisions include ‘not pregnant’, ‘aggressive’, ‘condition/weight loss’, ‘suspected disease’, conformational faults, and low BV or index value.
