Seminar to discuss facilities for slaughter of deer

Press, 5 September 1980, Page 18

Seminar to discuss facilities for slaughter of deer

When the deer farming industry was getting off the ground a few years ago there were discussions, and also some action too, about the provision of- slaughtering facilities for these animals, and at one time there was a mobile . slaughter unit, but in the -years since as the industry has expanded tremendously the thought of deer slaughter has receded into the-background. It might have been expected that slaughter would have been an essential part of any developing animal industry as surplus and cull stock and animals produced >, specifically for meat production reached the stage where they had to be disposed of. But then something happened which led to the retention of every available

animal, as prices for the velvet from stags soared from a modest $2O or so per.lb to about $l2O. Now the inevitable in all primary product markets. has happened; ■ln spite of the extent and great populations of the Asian countries where the velvets are highly regarded for their medicinal and health promoting qualities, - the prices, for deer velvet have declined, although from, a layman’s point of view prices ’ now around - the . $7O to ' $BO per lb mark do not look too -bad; But an industry ■ based; on even higher prices tends to be .vulnerable and the deer industry is going through these agonies at the moment - with animals ; for breeding purposes and farming no longer worth the moriey -that had been ? expected for them in fairly recent times. ’ ’

The point is that the day could be approaching when, animals will at last become available for slaughter, and there is . some concern among deer fanners and others that this stage could be reached before the slaughter facilities are available, which could have chaotic results. Yet there is uncertainty about when and to what extent - these animals will come available for slaughter. There are a number of factors that will have a bearing on this: position. . Now it seems that there is quite a difference between the productive ability of animals as far as velvets are concerned. Some animals are not just as good as others. It is not. a. question either of production dropping off with age. Rather the reverse is the. case. They

produce more as they get older. It is a genetic factor. ’ Therefore deer farmers are coming to appreciate tliat they might be better off. rid of some animals and these-could find their way to slaughter. But if the market for live animals remains ahead of the worth of animals for slaughter, then there, will be a, continued incentive for farmers to want to quit live animals, The market ' for live animals, which has recently been - weakening, could make some recovery again as a result of < the Inland Revenue Department’s agreement to lower very considerably the levels to which those now .embarking on deer farming, and those' who ; have done so since October ’ last year, can write down the value of their animals for taxation, purposes.

So on the one hand there is a need for slaughter facilities, but on’ the

other hand uncertainty about the extent to which they will be used in the early stages at least and consequently the very important question of their economic viability. On the afternoon of September 10, .beginning at 1 pun., a seminar will be held in the Yaldhurst hotel at which this question of the provision of slaughter facilities for deer will be tossed around. * If the establishment of such facilities in the.early stages, is a questionable one economically, then it may be up to farmers to get into the play and put up at least some of the money and bear some of the risks themselves. Thus some. sort of co-operative enterprise may be the answer and this sort of approach is becoming popular these days among farmers in an increasing range of activities beyond the farm gate. It could, however, be that game

interests could be part of such a venture. At -' the seminar there will be speakers who will present both the game industry view and the case for co-operative slaughter facilities. ’

Mr Graeme Thompson, who is involved in deer farming, will be putting the case for a co-operative and Messrs. John Morrissey. of Edmonds, John Scandrett, of -.Wilson Neills, and Noel Searell, of Westland Game Products, the industry view. .' - It seems likely that the facility will have to be a static one rather than a mobile one. The Ministry of Agriculture has,' in fact, approved plans for a slaughter facility. Initially it maj- be on a fairly modest scale and it is believed that the outlay could be between about $130,000 and $lBO,OOO. There would be provision for slaughter and dressing, with only a handful of men involved

in the The carcases would be loaded directly into a mobile chiller waggon. But the facility would be built in such a way that there would be provision for expansion, including the pro-vision-of chiller space. • The cost might also be reduced by locating the facility near a rural centre so that it might qualify for regional development assistance. It is foreseen that the provision of two of these facilities in the South Island might service the industry satisfactorily in at least the early stages — there could perhaps be one in Canterbury and another.in Otago-Southland. As well* as discussions about the provision of slaughtering facilities, there will also be talk about the allied topic of marketing, and in this area, too, there has been some talk of a co-oper-ative approach to safeguard the producer’s interests.