Venison.

[wullie m]

For Dut' really, apparently the demand for venison exceeds supply here and Scottish game dealers import some from New Zealand, is this from Red Deer, (presumably introduced) and is it farmed or wild.

[Duthill]

Wullie ,
we have no native land mammals here , that why we had to nick Red Deer and Elk from you lot over there

The first ones that were farmed were recovered live from the bush by blokes who jumped out of helicopters onto the deer and slung them into nets and flew them home.

A Brief History of the NZ Deer Farm Industry
The first deer were brought to New Zealand from England and Scotland for sport in the mid-late 19th century. They were released mainly in the Southern Alps and their foothills. This environment proved ideal and, with no natural predators, wild populations grew quickly. By the middle of the 20th century wild or feral deer were regarded as a pest because of their impact on native forests and bird habitats.

The export of venison (deer meat) from hunted feral deer started in the 1960s. In the early 1970s a few farmers started capturing live, wild deer, contained them in fenced paddocks and farmed them. As demand for product grew, the industry expanded, including the export of velvet. Deer farming is now commonplace throughout many regions of New Zealand.


Deer Farms and Deer Numbers
There are approximately 3,000 farms in New Zealand with deer. These range in size from smaller hobby farms to large, extensive farms. Commercially farmed deer in New Zealand are grass-fed and live outdoors all year round. They often form part of mixed livestock enterprises, usually with sheep and cattle.

Around 1.2 million deer were farmed in New Zealand, as at 30 June 2009 – about half the world’s farmed deer population. There are an estimated 700,000 female deer ('hinds' or 'cows') and 500,000 males ('stags' or 'bulls'). Young deer are known as 'fawns' or 'calves'. The main breeds are red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus), wapiti (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and wapiti/red deer crossbreds. Wapiti are also called elk.



Read more at Suite101: Deer Farming in New Zealand – Venison and Velvet Deer Farming in New Zealand – Venison and Velvet

How big is the back paddock on your croft cuz ?

[wullie m]

A big industry Dut' I expect the farm stags are killed young, a big stag here is 18 stone, much bigger in the English parks and in New Zealand I expect. They come roaring round the hoose at night, they're no feart at this time and you have to watch dogs. The shooting stops in another week or so, they get a week's respite then the keepers start on the hinds, the stags are no daft, they know when thier turn's bye and the landrover no longer scares them. The grazing at the hoose is all let to the shepherd who also puts the hill coos up for the summer, they have the life of Riley and can wander up the glen for about ten miles, never going high on the hill, they hide the new calves in the woods. So sheep, deer & cattle keep the place from getting overgrown. Not daft on venison myself, OK in a stew, I get a lump every winter but give it off. A leg of lamb, that's another matter. Thanks for the info' Wullie.

[Duthill]

Yeah , I know the feeling . I can take it or leave it myself.
I like goat . It was our staple meat when I lived in the Taranaki back country.
We had farmed sheep and cattle , as well as wild pig and cleanskin cattle , even a few deer , but goat is my favorite

[wullie m]

Never tried it Dut' sounds like it would be good in a curry. NZ did well against Oz at the Rugby! wullie

[Duthill]

Originally Posted by wullie m

Never tried it Dut' sounds like it would be good in a curry. NZ did well against Oz at the Rugby! wullie

With curry , yeah , I 'spose , never tried it that way . It makes an excellent roast , good chops , great stew . Same all round as lamb . Just more tasty

We always do ok against Aussie at rugby mate , 'cept for the odd world cup . Not that that matters , we've been the top team in the world at it for over a century

[wullie m]

Dut, I'm told I can get goat in a Halal butcher in the west end here. Will investigate further. Off to the fantasy croft to sweep the fantasy lums before winter. wullie.