Applications for RIRDC funding for 2008-09 are now CLOSED
Click here for  information on the application process, and to apply for RIRDC scholarships
 

Objective: 
To foster the development of an Australian deer industry as a profitable, efficient and sustainable mainstream agricultural enterprise with internationally competitive products.

Research Manager: 
Dr Laurence Denholm, phone 02 6271 4100, Email: denholml@bigpond.com

Market Focussed Alliances for the Australian Deer Industry - Key Documents

RIRDC Deer Research Results:
Deer publications for sale	Free downloadable research reports
Free Short Reports (research sumaries)	Five-year Deer Industry Plan
Completed Projects in 2005-2006 & Research in Progress as at June 2006
Handbook of New Industries entries	Deer Agfacts (factsheets)
Deer R&D Newsletter
About the RIRDC Deer Research Program:
Key longterm strategies	Some key performance indicators
Background	Strategies for 2007-2008
Expected key outputs in 2007-2008	Expected key outcomes in 2007-2008
New projects funded in 2007-2008	Total program budget 2007-2008
Industry related links:
Deer Industry Association of Australia

• Improve understanding of and cooperation between participants in the value chains for venison and velvet products
• Improve market demand for venison and velvet products by improving product quality and quality control systems and improving consumer understanding of venison and velvet products
• Improve market demand for deer products by improving end-user knowledge of the attributes of Australian venison products and developing new value-added venison and velvet products that reflect current and emerging market requirements
• Promote utilisation and adoption of research results to improve the uniformity and quality of industry products and the capacity of producers to consistently supply them
• Communicate research outcomes and promote their adoption to the deer industry through strong relationships with key industry organisations

The gross value of production (GVP) for 2005–06 is estimated at $3.362 million, compared with $4.785 million in 2004–05 and $7.466 million in 2003–04 (ABARE 2006).In 2000–01,1,680 tonnes of venison were produced – representing 50,000 animals slaughtered. In recent years there has been a decline in production, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia. Production has contracted in response to drought, reduced returns in domestic and export markets and problems with access to slaughter facilities. Over the last decade, prices for prime slaughter stock in the optimal carcase weight range varied from a low of $1.60 in 1999 to a high of $3.50 to $4 per kg hot carcase weight. in late 2006. Despite weaker market prices, between 2002 and 2006 the number of deer slaughtered annually increased, largely as a result of drought. The apparent increase in the number of female animals and ‘whole herds’ that were slaughtered over this period is a concern as it suggests the industry’s production capacity has been reduced.

Global prices for velvet antler were also depressed in historic terms over the last five years but rose to about $150/kg,in early 2007, a level that provides Australian farmers with a gross return above $150/DSE. Estimated velvet antler production in 2001–02 was 27.8 tonnes but has fallen since then. In 2006, second cut velvet re-growth sold for $75/kg, possibly indicating a major shift in the velvet market following scientific evidence of greater bioactivity in the growing antler tips.

Most commodities currently produced by the Australian deer industry are sold onto export markets – with venison exported predominantly to the European Union and South East Asia, and velvet exported to Korea, Hong Kong and China. Australia is currently a very small player on the international markets for deer products which are dominated by New Zealand.

The industry has gone through a number of cycles of expansion and contraction in the last three decades. The key challenge for the industry is to improve and sustain the profitability of deer production by balancing demand with supply as the industry grows its production base.

The industry believes it has the potential for real growth but this has been hindered by a commodity trading approach to deer production and product marketing. The industry is now giving priority to market development projects aimed at improving demand for its products and value-adding to ensure maximum returns to producers and processors..

Research in 2005 undertaken through a RIRDC funded project identified five key areas for industry success. The industry has taken a first step toward addressing these priorities through a program establishing Market-Focused Venison Supply Chain Alliances and has directed all its R&D funds towards this program as a short term measure to restructure the industry.

Major problems for the industry include the small number of deer processed, high slaughter costs and lack of access to slaughter facilities within a reasonable distance. One of the areas the research program is targetting is improved technologies in abattoir chilling, skinning and packaging operations to enhance industry production efficiency.

Individual producers and Alliances are now undertaking a range of venison value adding activities including making sausages, special cuts, roasts, pastramis and prosciuttos, pies and jerky using both primary and secondary cuts and the program is supporting research into development of frozen venison products. Improved shelf-life packaging technologies have been central to this new direction.

With appropriate R&D and support for technology transfer, further opportunities exist for value-adding venison and velvet. New research into the use of velvet antler for therapeutic application for animals will be a further focus for the program.

Some Key Performance Indicators

• Key research areas identified by three Market Focused Venison Alliances, with projects resulting in effective supply chain alliances
• New uses of velvet as a therapeutic product investigated, with results promoted to industry

New projects being funded or under consideration in 2007–08 include:

Project No	Title	Researcher	Phone
TBA	Various Stage 3 R&D Projects under the Market-Focussed Venison Supply Chain Alliances Program	Alliances

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project.

Research Budget:  $414,500