The deer farming industry says it is hoping the health of waterways, rather than arbitrary rules, will drive the way councils enforce the government’s new freshwater regulations.

The National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-FW), stock exclusion regulations, and regulations in the measurement and reporting of water takes are now law.

Venison marketers are building demand for NZ venison products that consumers can eat at home. The challenge is to find profitable channels to replace reduced demand from foodservice during Covid-19. Retail, on-line and meal kits all show potential. 

DINZ is inviting farmers and their advisors to a series of technical webinars on Zoom. Each webinar involves an expert presenting on a topic with viewers able to ask questions during the presentation. These are a great way to hear about a topic of interest in more depth and explore how it works in a real farm setting without spending hours on travel.

Prospects for deer velvet sales in Asia in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic look okay. While DINZ can’t rule out some continuing market disruption during the 2020-21 season, long-term demand in Asia for natural health food ingredients like velvet looks relatively stable.

Results from a just-completed trial at AgResearch Invermay have shown that progeny of stags with high CARLA scores grow better, faster and more profitably. High genetic merit for CARLA is really positive for deer productivity and welfare.

• On-line conference presos on YouTube and podcast
• Novel Korean market visit great for the NZ velvet brand
• Future deer farmers’ tour applications close today
• Hawkes Bay deer farmer briefing, 5th August
• Hawkes Bay NZDFA members – it’s our shout, 6th August
• Make your native bush sing
• Bigger is not always better
• Geoff Asher retires
• Lincoln deer scientist retires
• Calling rural professionals in the south
• Wintering barns, sediment traps and more

Our model is unique

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2020 Virtual Deer Industry Conference

Markets: China re-opening “great news”

Markets: Looking to NZ retail for venison sales

Industry News: Normality returning for venison processing

Markets: Bank upbeat about venison prospects

Covid-19 is still raging in Europe and the United States, but marketers of Cervena™ venison are pulling out the stops to keep this premium meat in front of consumers, says Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) venison marketing manager Nick Taylor.

“The Covid-19 lockdowns around the world have had a bigger impact on sales of venison than for lamb or beef, because – as a premium product – a much greater proportion of venison is sold through food service to chefs.”

Our venison marketers are actively developing their retail offerings in association with their market partners,” he says.

Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) has been working with chefs in China to develop recipes showing how venison can be used in traditional Chinese cuisine styles. These will be used in resources to help our venison marketers to promote our farm-raised venison there.

In this photo montage we can see chef Shen going through his paces, as well as one of the dishes he has developed.  

Covid-19 Level 1 – but we’re still available to Zoom: After several weeks working remotely, DINZ staff are back in the office and face-to-face meetings have resumed.
 

A catalogue of approved animal species for human consumption has been issued by the Peoples Republic of China. It includes venison from farmed malu – the Chinese name for red deer – along with more traditional farm animals and poultry.

Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) chief executive Innes Moffat says the inclusion of our deer is great news for venison producers and marketers, as it will make it clear to officials across China that the sale and consumption of our venison is legal and safe for Chinese consumers.