Deer milk wins global award

Pāmu chief executive Mark Leslie says the win in these awards is a validation of the hard work and innovation that has gone into creating an all-new product for the agri-sector.

“All New Zealanders, as shareholders in Pāmu should be really proud of this win, at what is essentially the World Cup for the dairy sector,” says Leslie.

“Our deer milk product has been steadily growing in popularity among high end chefs and as a unique new ingredient in cosmetics.

“This win recognises the extensive application and unique properties of deer milk, and the growing recognition of deer milk as an additional milk product alongside bovine and sheep milk.”

Pāmu Deer Milk is sourced through a partnership with Peter and Sharon McIntyre, who run a deer farm near Gore and now through the company’s own pilot farm Aratiatia, in the North Island’s central plateau.

“While Covid has seen demand for deer milk fall in the short term, the reopening of the world means deer milk can once again make its way back on the world stage, and this win is an incredible boost to that,” Leslie says.

The company is excited about the potential for the product and the opening of a new deer milking facility near Taupo, to complement the existing supply from the McIntyre’s, is a testament to that.

Pāmu has also developed a world first deer milk nutritional supplement range called Doe Nutrition containing Pāmu Deer Milk which they say offers a range of nutritional benefits. They go on sale in Vietnam soon.

Leslie says the growing recognition of deer milk’s unique properties – which make it an excellent ingredient in cooking, as a cosmetic and as a nutritional supplement – shows the versatility of deer milk, and the potential it has to be a contributor to our primary sector.

“This award is a very important milestone as we continue to take deer milk global. The sky is the limit for Pāmu deer milk,” he says.