Move over cows, a clinical trial of elderly Kiwis drinking deer milk found it to be good for their health.

The New Zealand study, conducted by Massey University and commissioned by the government-owned company Pāmu, found that drinking the company’s deer milk improved nutritional status, muscle mass and physical performance in women aged 65 and over.

The trial recruited 120 women over the age of 65 with a lower to normal Body Mass Index (BMI) to consume 200 ml of Pāmu deer milk or a market-leading commercial oral dietary supplement daily for 10 weeks.

Given their BMIs, we suspect that for some simply eating something would improve things, but what we noticed in a country where cow diary is a top export is that they also milk deer.

Pāmu has been developing the deer milk business for over five years, selling both domestically and to various markets in Asia Pacific. The milk comes from farmers Peter and Sharon McIntyre, who run a deer farm near Gore, in the South Island, as well as the company’s own farm, Aratiatia, in the Central Plateau of the North Island.

The company also produces cow’s milk, beef, lamb, game and wool.

Pamu’s powdered deer milk

Professors Marlena Kruger and Pamela von Hurst, lead researchers from Massey University, said of their report that in addition to its other benefits, the milk “may support bone health in postmenopausal women by reducing bone breakdown and bone loss over time.”

Hamish Glendinning, manager of Pāmu Deer Milk, said that deer milk has significantly higher protein and calcium content compared to other dairy products.

“With a rapidly aging population and the health challenges that come with it, we are confident there will be more demand for clinically proven, natural product solutions,” he said.

“This is an exciting innovation, a natural product with concentrated nutrition that we believe will make a difference to those who want to restore their mobility and strength as they age.”

Apparently, 90% of the trial participants would also recommend venison milk to friends and family. But here’s the thing: it’s powdered milk.

As a child of the ’70s who grew up forced to drink powdered milk, we’re a little concerned about the culinary aspirations of our older Kiwi cousins.

So we wait for the venison cheese, thanks.