Breeding values proving worth in commercial settings
Challenging Conditions - marketers adapting and rethinking strategies in response to global headwinds
Blocking Ticks - experts discuss beat measures for tick control as warming extends pest's range
Immune Function - well-timed research to explore potential of velvet to boost vaccine response

The 2020 velvet antler selling season is well underway, with marketers making large sales to their major customers in South Korea and China. While there has been an overall reduction in prices, demand is proving to be resilient, given the impact of Covid on many customers.

- Venison hot on-line in the US
- Making it tougher for the cowboys
- No more on-farm TB testing of many deer herds
- Leading deer farmer dies suddenly
- South Westland TB movement control area extended
- Hakataramea Station family wins food challenge
- Industry conference in Invercargill in May 2021
- Original Maori place names for SI farms
- Hilson retires from practice management 
- Two Deer Facts in Deer Industry News
- Goodbye 2021, welcome 2021

Strong sales of venison in China are one bright light in otherwise stormy seas, says Deer Industry NZ venison marketing manager Nick Taylor. “September was a good month, with exports to China of 225 tonnes, by far the highest monthly total since Covid-19 emerged.

A 13.38 kg head of velvet from Greg Oliver’s red stag Benda was the big talking point at the 2020 NZ National Velvet and Hard Antler Competition held in Invercargill last week. It won first place in the 5 yr-old section and also took out the supreme Open Champion award. 

Many countries and regions have re-imposed hospitality lockdowns in response to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. Expensive cuts like lamb racks, venison striploins and beef tenderloins are sitting in freezers in Europe and the United States waiting for the restaurants to reopen.

Breeding values really show their worth in a commercial farm setting. That’s been the resounding conclusion of a year-long exercise on three commercial venison farms.

Consumer demand for NZ deer antler velvet appears to be firming in the main markets, South Korea and China, as well as new growth markets like Taiwan. This is reflected in some reasonable sales of the new season’s crop, says DINZ markets manager Rhys Griffiths.

• VelTrak welcomed by major international customer
• Try and keep those tags loose
• How can I estimate my greenhouse gas emissions?
• Breeding for parasite resistance sparks interest
• CARLA webinar on Tuesday
• Interested in becoming a DINZ Board observer?
• Velvet made with care
• Low-slope rules fail high country eco-farmers
• Thinking of next winter yet?
• Deer farmer wins 2021 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship

- Joint promotions gain momentum
- Rural Professionals: Diverse group of professionals get down to deer farming business
- Supplementary Questions: think about the end use for your supplement when planning feed needs
- Southland on Show: Southland Environment AP shows off farm projects and winter housing systems

DINZ has set up a contestable venison marketing fund to support marketers with innovative projects that have the potential to build new sales for venison. The $250,000 fund, which at this stage is a one-off, is a response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has severely disrupted venison markets.

Venison marketers say the long-term future for venison is great. Its attributes – a healthy, nutritious, natural, tasty food produced in a great environment – are just what many consumers are looking for. But Covid-19 is still far from being defeated, with severe sales disruption in major markets.

• Consumer-friendly velvet product launched in Taiwan
• The perils of market predictions
• Trees for deer
• Last season for paper-based velvet tracking
• Interested in becoming a board observer?
• Further caution on mature stags
• Transporting stock – is your paperwork right?
• Ticks moving south

NZ deer velvet products are enjoying strong underlying consumer demand in a very uncertain world. It is unknown how these opposing factors will influence prices to farmers in the 2020/2021 season, which is now underway.

Deer farming has a long history of striving for better environmental stewardship, but it has had to take a hands-on approach to getting its message across to regulators. Industry representatives have found the best way to communicate is through ‘deer 101’ farm visits for officials and training days for regional council auditors.