This is a collaboration between Mountain River Venison and Lincoln University and falls within the Mountain River Future Value Project.
Mountain River Venison is pleased to announce a research partnership with Professor Pablo Gregorini and the Lincoln University Pastoral Livestock Production Lab. Internationally recognised for his pioneering work in functional grazing systems, plant-animal interactions, and animal welfare, Prof. Gregorini is now leading the Deer Healthscape Farming Framework (DHFF) project - a bold initiative that connects the dots between nature, nutrition, and the future of farming and profitability.
Professor Pablo Gregorini of Lincoln University
This partnership is focused on designing next-generation deer farming systems - ones that are productive, profitable, and mutually beneficial for venison, people, and the land. Together, we’re building a model that reflects the future of food production: systems that deliver healthier animals, healthier environments, and healthier people.
Why It Matters
The Deer Healthscape Farming Framework aims to deliver:
Greater on-farm productivity
Better nutrition for consumers
Tangible environmental improvements
By integrating plant diversity, soil health, and grazing design, this project lays the groundwork to future-proof farming. It ensures the integrity of our natural systems while producing venison that aligns with what today’s consumers are looking for: food that’s both nutrient-dense and sustainably sourced.
This framework represents a strategic evolution for everyone in the Mountain River Venison value chain - farmers, processors, marketers, retailers and customers. It’s a platform to grow value, increase resilience, and strengthen our market positioning.
Project Objectives at a Glance
1. Design an Integral Health Farming System
Develop a farm system based on integral health farming principles that supports the production of high-health venison from ecosystems in balance. This includes building a “healthscape” model for future farm design.
2. Optimise Nutraceutical Potential Using Pasture Management
Explore how diverse, phytochemically functional pasture arrangements can increase the nutritional value and bioactive compound content of venison.
3. Optimise Human Health Impact of Venison from Natural Systems
Assess how venison from these enhanced farming systems delivers measurable health benefits to people, using nutritional analysis and biomarker research.
4. Achieve Measurable Environmental Gains via Functional Grazing
Apply grazing strategies that reduce nitrogen leaching and methane emissions, while restoring soil function and boosting biodiversity on deer farms.
What This Means for Us All
Whether you’re supplying animals, supporting on-farm innovation, or helping take New Zealand venison to the world, this work is building a stronger future for us all. The DHFF is more than a research program - it’s a pathway to long-term sustainability, improved profitability, and a story of real value we can share with our markets. As Wayne Allan often commented, we all want deer farmers thriving not surviving.
We look forward to keeping you updated as this groundbreaking partnership takes shape.
Note: Mountain River Future Value Project
The Mountain River Future Value Project is the banner or masthead project for the future. Both the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) and Lincoln University projects come within this project.