Our History
The story of the Bennett family and Deer Genetics NZ
Since 1979, the Bennett family has combined hard work, innovation and an eye for opportunity to develop exceptional deer genetics sought by breeders around the world.
A family business built around deer
The Bennett family’s involvement with deer began in the North Island in 1979, during the pioneering early years of New Zealand deer farming. As the emerging industry developed, Don and Anne began establishing a herd of their own.
At the time, mature captured deer were scarce and extraordinarily expensive. Instead, Don and Anne purchased younger animals captured from the wild by helicopter, which were more affordable and easier to settle into farm life.
These early beginnings laid the foundations for a family business that would become Deer Genetics NZ, now recognised internationally for its elite red deer trophy genetics.
Their son Kelly grew up immersed in the farm. In the 1990s, Kelly’s experience with deer farming extended well beyond New Zealand. At just 17 years of age, he travelled to Wales to work at Robin Pratt’s deer farm, gaining valuable hands-on experience handling deer as well as a range of other species, including guanaco and llamas. From Wales, Kelly travelled to France, where he worked in deer fencing, before heading to Australia to further broaden his experience in deer farming and livestock management. These international experiences gave Kelly an appreciation of different farming systems and approaches, and helped shape the knowledge and practical expertise he would later bring back to NZ where he would work alongside Don to develop renowned bloodlines.
Over the decades, DGNZ has produced a succession of influential sires and world-record-breaking stags, with its genetics contributing to breeding programmes throughout New Zealand and around the world.
NZ's pioneering deer industry
The DGNZ story is closely connected to the remarkable development of deer farming in New Zealand.
Deer were first introduced to New Zealand into the wild in the late 19th century, but commercial deer farming did not begin until the 1970s. New Zealand went on to pioneer commercial deer farming, developing purpose-built handling systems, farming practices and breeding technologies for an animal that had previously lived largely in the wild.
At the industry’s peak, New Zealand had around 7,500 deer farmers. By 2025, that number had reduced to approximately 1,400, farming around 800,000 red deer, elk and fallow deer. However, advances in breeding, animal management and productivity mean the industry now produces around three times as much velvet as it once did, while producing approximately half the volume of venison.
Today, New Zealand deer are principally farmed for venison, velvet and trophy production. Deer Genetics NZ has developed expertise across all three areas, with a particular reputation for breeding elite trophy animals.
1980's Importing genetics from UK and Europe
Breeding world class genetics
From its earliest years, DGNZ has focused on breeding deer with outstanding and highly heritable antler characteristics. Length, width, strong lower tynes and overall visual appeal remain central to the breeding programme.
During the 1980s, Don became closely involved in sourcing and selecting international bloodlines through his work with Dalgety Crown and Wrightsons. His work took him overseas, including to the United Kingdom, where the Dalgety team searched deer parks and farms for superior animals. Don helped select English deer for import into New Zealand, bringing new genetics and valuable knowledge back to the developing deer industry.
Don was also developing his own herd at Apirana Farms near Whakatāne. In 1984, a six-month-old first-cross English hind fawn bred by Don sold for $6,000 — a price reported at the time as the highest ever paid for a hind fawn anywhere in the world. The fawn combined a wild-caught New Zealand hind, hand-reared by Don, with influential English genetics from Warnham Deer Park.
This early success reflected both the extraordinary values of the fledgling deer industry and Don’s growing focus on carefully selected bloodlines.
That focus produced many notable DGNZ sires, including Adonis DG, Morpheus DG, Huneric DG and Leonides DG. These and other influential stags helped establish DGNZ’s international reputation and contributed genetics to herds in New Zealand and overseas.
DGNZ has also embraced reproductive technology to accelerate genetic progress. Artificial insemination has been used within the programme since 1999, followed by embryo transfer from 2008. These technologies allow genetics from the best-performing animals to be used more widely and have become an important part of the breeding programme.
Taking NZ genetics to the world
DGNZ began exporting in 1998, initially sending live deer to South America. As reproductive and export technologies developed, the focus increasingly moved to semen and embryos, making it possible to share DGNZ bloodlines with a much wider international market.
Today, DGNZ produces annual semen and embryo catalogues and continues to build long-standing relationships with breeders throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and other parts of the world.
Don and Anne were strong advocates for building relationships throughout the international deer industry. Over many years, their international travel and connections with breeders, farmers and industry people helped broaden DGNZ’s understanding of overseas markets and breeding programmes. Kelly and the DGNZ team continue to build on those relationships today.
An international impact
The impact of DGNZ genetics can now be seen in herds around the world. Descendants of DGNZ bloodlines have produced outstanding trophy animals across the United States, Canada and South America—from Quebec and Texas to Patagonia—including a 700-inch trophy stag bred in Argentina.
These results reflect decades of careful selection by Don and Kelly, and demonstrate the breeding potential of DGNZ bloodlines across a wide range of environments.
For the Bennett family, seeing animals bred overseas achieve exceptional results is one of the most rewarding parts of the business—and a continuation of Don’s vision of making elite New Zealand deer genetics available to the world.
Velvet & hard antler
Velvet and hard antler have been an important part of the Bennett family’s work for more than 35 years.
In the early years of the industry, Don became one of New Zealand’s largest independent velvet buyers, travelling throughout the North Island - all his clients became his mates.
Don purchased velvet on behalf of a Christchurch-based processor, sometimes buying enormous quantities over a single weekend. On one occasion, he purchased two tonnes of velvet over two days, worth around $700,000. Don remembered those early buying years with great fondness — for him, it was not simply a job, but a lot of fun.
That work continues today through Southern Velvet Buyers, which Kelly operates alongside DGNZ. The business now purchases velvet and hard antler directly from deer farmers throughout New Zealand.
Hard antler — the fully developed, calcified antler — is another specialist market. Kelly travels throughout the country sourcing and purchasing hard antler, connecting New Zealand farmers with domestic and international buyers.
New Animals and New Breeding Programmes
While red deer remain at the heart of DGNZ, the family’s interest in distinctive animals and exceptional genetics has continued to broaden.
In 2017, DGNZ purchased the Royal Lochinvine white deer herd, originally developed by Janey Hayes. DGNZ has continued to selectively breed these striking animals, using artificial insemination and embryo transfer to enhance the same qualities sought in its red deer: impressive length, width, structure and visual appeal.
Kelly has established a purpose-bred fallow deer programme, with selection focused on antler width, length, palmation and overall appearance. The fallow herd has been DNA profiled, with artificial insemination introduced in 2023 and the first embryo-transfer trial undertaken in 2024.
More recently, Kelly established Texas Longhorn NZ, applying his long-held interest in genetics and spectacular horn development to Texas Longhorn cattle. The venture reflects the same curiosity and breeding philosophy that has shaped DGNZ: identifying exceptional animals, understanding the inheritance of desirable traits and breeding for quality over generations.
People at the Heart of DGNZ
DGNZ has always been about more than the deer. It has been built around family, people and relationships. The Bennett children grew up around deer and within an enterprising family, while generations of family members, staff and friends have played an active part in the business, both on the farm and behind the scenes.
DGNZ has always been a place where people are warmly welcomed. As the Bennett children were growing up, visitors from around the world often came to live and work on the farm, while others came to visit, learn and exchange ideas. The Bennetts enjoyed meeting people from different backgrounds, sharing their knowledge and forming lasting friendships.
That tradition continues today. DGNZ regularly welcomes school and tertiary groups, veterinarians, researchers, breeders and other industry visitors. Deer farmers and enthusiasts are welcomed from around the world to see the animals, farming and breeding practices, and to learn and exchange ideas.
This openness to people, knowledge and new possibilities has helped shape DGNZ — creating a business deeply rooted in family and the New Zealand deer industry, while maintaining connections around the world.
DGNZ Today and into the Future
Don passed away suddenly in April 2021, leaving an extraordinary legacy within DGNZ and the wider deer industry. By then, Don and Kelly had spent decades working side by side, developing genetics, growing the business and navigating the changing deer industry.
Their shared ability to recognise opportunity, adapt to change and build a resilient business helped shape DGNZ into what it is today. Since Don’s passing, Kelly has continued to build on those foundations while taking the business in new directions of his own.
One of Don’s enduring lessons was the importance of developing multiple streams of income to help weather the highs and lows of the industry. Kelly has carried that philosophy forward, continuing to grow and diversify the business across trophy breeding, live animal sales, semen and embryo exports, velvet and hard antler trading, and new breeding ventures.
Across five decades, the Bennett family has experienced significant change and weathered the inevitable highs and lows of the deer industry. Their ability to adapt, embrace new technologies and recognise potential in both animals and markets has been central to the continued development of DGNZ.
As studmaster and owner, Kelly now leads the breeding direction of DGNZ, develops its international relationships and continues to identify new opportunities for the wider business. He is supported by Farm Manager George Lott, who oversees the day-to-day farming operation and works closely with him to turn breeding plans into results on the ground.
Supported by Felicia, the farm and office team, and the wider Bennett family, Kelly is leading DGNZ into its next generation.
The business remains grounded in more than five decades of family knowledge and experience, while being driven by the curiosity, determination, adaptability and enterprising spirit that have shaped it from the beginning.
There is always something new taking shape at DGNZ. Kelly and the team continue to explore new genetics, breeding ideas and opportunities, and we look forward to sharing these developments with you. Follow us on Facebook and keep an eye out for our latest sale, semen and embryo catalogues.
