Deer decision welcomed

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 14

Deer decision welcomed

PA Wellington Deer farmers have welcomed a Government decision to keep freezing companies out of the farmed venison processing business. The Deerfarmers’ Association, which lobbied against freezing company involvement, said the decision would remove uncertainty facing the deer industry.

The association’s executive officer, Mr Michael Pattison, said it would also allow planned slaughterhouses to go ahead. “We are pleased with the decision,” he said. “It will allow three or four plants whose plans had been approved to start construction, and it will encourage others to go ahead, with their plans.” The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Maclntyre) told the association in a letter that he

had decided not to extend the legal definition of stock to include deer — a move which would have allowed freezing companies to process the animals.

The Freezing Companies’ Association hoped it would boost throughput in beef chains working well below full capacity.

However, the deer farmers cited poor industrial relations in the meat processing industry, and trade barriers to farmed venison exports. A spokesman for the association said meat processors were not upset about the decision.

The right to slaughter deer could have been useful to companies with under-used beef chains, and the deer farmers could have appreciated facilities if farmed venison exports expanded rapidly, he said.