stuff.co.nz - BRITTANY PICKETT -  February 3 2017
The record books will need to be changed after a Southland stud sold a velvet stag for $80,000 at auction.

The three-year-old red sire stag was sold at the Netherdale Red Deer sale, owned by David and Lynley Stevens, at Balfour last month and became the highest priced red deer in the region.
David Stevens said the top price was the highest he had received for one animal in a 30-year career.
Netherdale focuses on producing animals with good velvet production. Stevens said genetics and good weather had helped to make this year's sale their best.
"What we had on offer was probably the best we've ever managed to do."
The exceptional autumn and spring aided growth of the animals, he said.
Overall the January 12 sale averaged $13,000 per animal, with 27 of the 28 sire stags sold on the day.
Stevens said the sale's turnover was the highest of any before, with buyers from throughout the country wanting to take a Netherdale stag home.
Genetics played a big part in Stevens' sire stags. With a long-term focus on velvet production, buyers were looking for sires with good genetic potential for velvet and a nice style and clean head, he said.
"I've been in the game for a long time and you see that [genetic] improvement."
Stevens said buyers were looking for deer which would fit the traditional Korean velvet market despite the velvet market starting off slowly this season.
Elsewhere, red deer sales throughout Southland were strong this year.
PGG Wrightson deer specialist for Southland Brian Duggan said most sales had good clearances of animals on offer.
Venison prices were a dollar better than they were last year, and despite velvet sales being back farmers were looking for quality, he said.
"Although the velvet price is slightly back I think people are more focused on getting good quality animals and they're prepared to pay for good genetics."
A good example was Netherdale's record-making sale and its offering of only sire velvet stags, he said.
Buyers from throughout New Zealand travelled to Southland to buy animals, he said.
"They're probably some of the best animals in New Zealand now that are produced in Southland."
Velvet sales got off to a rocky start before Christmas after China put in place major regulatory changes designed to improve the safety of their food and traditional pharmaceutical supply chains.
China is the second largest importer of velvet, after South Korea.
Customers who had previously imported velvet as an agricultural by-product, needed to get a pharmaceutical processing or trading licence before they could import velvet.
There were also issues with discussions between buyers and sellers on an agreed price for velvet.
After a sluggish start velvet sales picked up again in the New Year.
Prices are about $25/kg back on last year's record returns, at levels similar to the six-year average. About $15/kg of the lower price can be attributed to currency changes since last season. The balance reflects market uncertainty relating to regulatory changes in China.