Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-04T19:25:32.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Venison production from farmed deer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. N. Barry
Affiliation:
Departments of Animal ScienceMassey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
P. R. Wilson
Affiliation:
Veterinary Clinical SciencesMassey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Extract

Deer farming commenced in New Zealand (NZ) in 1969, and since then the number of farmed deer has progressively increased, to reach 1·3 million in 1993 (Game Industry Board (GIB), personal communication). These comprise 85% European red deer (Cervus elaphus), with the remainder being composed of elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis), elk/red deer crossbreds, fallow deer (Dama dama) and small numbers of other species. Initially, deer were obtained from the capture of feral animals, introduced to NZ over 100 years ago, but in the last 10 years the increase has come from breeding on deer farms. The industry has a strategic marketing plan to coordinate all sectors in order to maintain profitability. This plan has been implemented and financed by the GIB, through the collection of compulsory levies on venison and velvet sales. With the formation of the GIB in 1984, the NZ Deer industry has been strongly export market-led, and thus differs from the NZ sheep and cattle industries, which developed with a production driven philosophy. Key aspects of the market-led approach have been to produce and market venison which is consistently tender and of low fat content, and at the carcass weight range and times required by the markets.

Type
Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Asher, G. W., Barrell, G. K., Adam, J. L. & Staples, L. D. (1988). Effects of subcutaneous melatonin implants on reproductive seasonality in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 84, 679691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ataja, A. M., Wilson, P. R., Barry, T. N., Hodgson, J., Hoskinson, R. M., Parker, W. J. & Purchas, R. W. (1992). Early venison production from red deer (Cervus elaphus) as affected by grazing perennial or annual ryegrass pastures, pasture surface height and immunization against melatonin. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 118, 353369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audigé, L. J. M., Wilson, P. R. & Morris, R. S. (1993 a). Deer herd health and production profiling: the method. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 10 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 78100. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Audigé, L. J. M., Wilson, P. R. & Morris, R. S. (1993 b). Deer herd health and production profiling: preliminary results. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 10 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 101114. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Barry, T. N., Suttie, J. M., Milne, J. A. & Kay, R. N. B. (1991). Control of food intake in domesticated deer. In Physiological Aspects of Digestion and Metabolism in Ruminants (Eds Tsuda, T., Sasaki, Y. & Kawashima, R.), pp. 385401. San Diego: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, C. E. (1993). TB control in the New Zealand deer industry: a review of progress. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 10 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 203208. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Clifton-Hadley, R. S. & Wilesmith, J. W. (1991). Tuberculosis in deer: a review. Veterinary Record 129, 512.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corrin, K. C., Carter, C. E., Kissling, R. C. & de Lisle, G. W. (1987). Short interval intradermal skin testing in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) inoculated with M. bovis. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 35, 204207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corrin, K. C., Carter, C. E., Kissling, R. C. & de Lisle, G. W. (1993). An evaluation of the comparative tuberculin skin test for detecting tuberculosis in farmed deer. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 41, 1220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Domingue, B. M. F., Dellow, D. W., Wilson, P. R. & Barry, T. N. (1991). Comparative digestion in deer, goats and sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 34, 4553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drew, K. R., Stevenson, J. M. & Fennessy, P. F. (1991). Venison – a marketable product. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 10 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 3135. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Fennessy, P. F. & Mackintosh, C. G. (1992). Hybridisation of red deer and Père David's deer. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, No. 9 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 181186. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Freudenberger, D. O., Toyokawa, K., Barry, T. N., Ball, A. J. & Suttie, J. M. (1994 a). Seasonality in digestion and rumen metabolism in red deer (Cervus elaphus) fed on a forage diet. British Journal of Nutrition 71, 489499.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freudenberger, D. O., Burns, C. J., Toyokawa, K. & Barry, T. N. (1994 b). Digestion and rumen metabolism of red clover and perennial ryegrass/white clover forages by red deer. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 122, 115120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffin, J. F. T., Buchan, G. S., Cross, J. P. & Rogers, C. (1990). Ancillary tests in epidemiological investigations of tuberculosis in deer. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 7 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 5259. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Haigh, J. C. & Hudson, R. J. (1993). Farming Wapiti and Red Deer. St Louis: Mosby.Google Scholar
Killorn, K. J. & Wilson, P. R. (1990). Copper in deer: a review. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians Deer Branch NZVA, No. 7 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 183185. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Loudon, A. S. I. & Curlewis, J. D. (1988).Cycles of antler and testicular growth in an aseasonal tropical deer (Axis axis). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 83, 729738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loudon, A. S. I., Milne, J. A., Curlewis, J. D. & McNeilly, A. S. (1989). A comparison of the seasonal hormone changes and patterns of growth, voluntary food intake and reproduction in juvenile and adult red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) hinds. Journal of Endocrinology 122, 733745.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackintosh, C. G. (1992). A review of yersiniosis in farmed deer in New Zealand. In The Biology of Deer (Ed. Brown, R. D.), pp. 126129. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mangan, J. L. (1959). Bloat in cattle. XI. The foaming properties of proteins, saponins, and rumen liquor. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 2, 4761.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marshall, B. L. (1991). Chemical residues and venison exports. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians Deer Branch NZVA, No. 8 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 4452. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
McKendry, B. (1992). The Game Industry Board Quality Assurance Programme. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 9 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 69. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Milne, J. A., MacRae, J. C., Spence, A. M. & Wilson, S. (1978). A comparison of the voluntary intake and digestion of a range of forages at different times of the year by the sheep and the red deer (Cervus elaphus). British Journal of Nutrition 40, 347357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mylrea, G. E. (1991). Reproduction in tropical species. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 8 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 249261. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Niezen, J. H., Barry, T. N., Hodgson, J., Wilson, P. R., Ataja, A. M., Parker, W. J. & Holmes, C. W. (1993). Growth responses in red deer calves and hinds grazing red clover, chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during lactation. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 121, 255263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, A. J. (1992). Farming of wapiti and wapiti hybrids in New Zealand. In The Biology of Deer (Ed. Brown, R. D.), pp. 173179. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Semiadi, G. (1983). The domestication and nutrition of sambar deer; a comparison with red deer. PhD thesis, Massey University, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Semiadi, G., Barry, T. N., Wilson, P. R., Hodgson, J. & Purchas, R. W. (1993). Growth and venison production from red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/ white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 121, 265271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soetrisno, E., Barry, T. N., Wilson, P. R., Hodgson, J. & Purchas, R. W. (1994). Effects of grazing red clover or perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture on growth and venison production from red deer. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 1927.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suttie, J. M., Corson, I. D., Webster, J. R. & Woodford, K. B. (1992). Photoperiodism and growth. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 9 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 136142. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J. (1973). The feeding value of herbage. In Chemistry and Biochemistry of Herbage, Volume 3 (Eds Butler, G. W. & Bailey, R. W.), pp. 131178. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Wilson, P. R. (1984). Diseases of farmed deer. Deer Refresher Course. Postgraduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. Proceedings 72, 505530.Google Scholar
Wilson, P. R. (1991 a). Disease processes of farmed game. In Wildlife Production: Conservation and Sustainable Development (Eds Renecker, L. A. & Hudson, R. J.), pp. 394402. AFES misc publ. 91–6, University of Alaska.Google Scholar
Wilson, P. R. (1991 b). Sustainable deer farming. In Proceedings of a Deer Course for Veterinarians, Deer Branch NZVA, No. 8 (Ed. Wilson, P. R.), pp. 1421. New Zealand: Massey University.Google Scholar
Wilson, P. R., Walker, I. H., Bond, D. B., Middleberg, A. & Staples, L. D. (1991). Field evaluation of melatonin implants to advance the breeding season in 1-year-old red deer hinds. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 39, 2328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woodford, K. B. & Dunning, A. (1992). Production cycles and characteristics of rusa deer in Queensland, Australia. In The Biology of Deer (Ed. Brown, R. D.), pp. 197202. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar