Through focused research and development the Deer Industry R&D Program invests in improving industry performance in four key areas where the industry has identified problems at both whole-of-industry and industry sector-specific levels.

The Program is funded by statutory levies paid by industry participants. This levy revenue is matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the Australian Government up to 0.5 percent of the gross value of farm production.

The Program's research investments are guided by the Deer Industry R&D Advisory Committee, following the Research & Development Plan for the Deer Program 2006 - 2011.