Tikana Wapiti Stud

contact.	Dave Lawrence
address.	374 Livingstone Rd Browns RD1 Winton New Zealand
ph.	03 236 4117
	info@tikana.co.nz
url.
Tikana Wapiti Stud was established in 1984 with the importation of our foundation sire “Reginald” from Clearstone Farm in Canada. One hundred acres at Browns in central Southland has been home for the stud since 1996. Tikana has made huge gains in performance over the last two decades with new technologies being utilized in management and strategic genetic input. A share in Blue 116, when Sir Tim Wallis sold him, was a big boost to our stud in the 1990’s. Further genetic input has been by annual use of AI using the best genetics available from North America (when it was possible) and subsequently from within New Zealand. The culmination of our efforts saw our 6yr old stud sire “Trilogy” this year produce a New Zealand record head of velvet – 22.3kg.

Our breeding objectives at Tikana are focused on Growth Rate, Velvet and Genotype.

All stock are DNA profiled with our aim to stabilize the herd at 80% elk genes. Mother nature ensures the odd pure elk is bred but most stock are around the 80% mark which ensures we retain some of the “hardiness” for which Fiordland Wapiti are renown, and avoid the “ranginess” so often seen with purebred elk.

Selection pressure for Growth Rate is based on a 12mth GR (March/weaning to 15mths) and now means most of our bulls exceed 300gms/dy. Several bulls each year now reach over 200kg live weight at 12mths of age.

Velvet performance has shown a steady improvement. Using 2yr old weight as our benchmark we have almost doubled our average 2yr weight in the last decade. From 2.88kg in 1997 to our 2007 average of 4.68kg.

The culmination of Tikana performance is reflected in our current sires Kobe and Trilogy
Kobe cut 19.7kg EWSupreme this year at 8yrs and last year was Champion of Champions at the 2007 National Velvet Competition with a 17.3kg head. Trilogy our up and coming sire cut 18.1kg EWSupreme at 5 years and was named Champion of Champions at the Elk & Wapiti Society of NZ velvet Antler Competition 2008. This year he cut a NZ record 22.3kg of velvet.

Sire bulls are sought after at our annual sale for stud duties, as terminal sires and also for trophy potential.

Kobe

Trilogy

Brian Duggan - Deer Specialist

ph.
mob.	027 432 4212

Graham Kinsman - Stud Co-ordinator

ph.
mob.	027 422 3154