DEER & STuDSTOCK TRANSPORT SPECIALISTS

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS

We started out almost by accident really, after a crate was built for our own deer on our petrol D Series Ford truck. That truck could cart 25 hinds. It certainly wasn’t state-of-the-art and was a dinosaur compared to some of the other transport trucks getting around - but what we did have was a competent and caring driver for a developing industry.

Many of the farms we were delivering to were still being set up, and often the last strand of netting, or the gate, got wired in place as we arrived! We helped build ramps, get deer in off the paddock, draft and even drench deer! All part of the Downlands service.

As deer numbers grew, so did Downlands, which also purchased Mainland Deer, Jeff Yule and more recently Otago Deer Transport. Truck capacity also increased over time, as did the quality of trucks and trailers.

We became well known of the care and attention we took for sire trophy stags which has since led us to also transport stud bulls and stud rams – filling any gaps throughout the year and giving our drivers some variety.

If you want to read more about stories from the last 40 years of business check out our journals.