Previous issues
In this issue:The National Velvet Accreditation SchemeThe National Velvet Accreditation Scheme
Do you sell velvet from your deer? Yes? Then you should read this now!
The Chair of the National Velvet Accreditation Scheme (NVAS), Dr Sue Joubert (WA) recently wrote to all deer farmers accredited under the NVAS to advise them of new regulations that restrict all trading of velvet antler to antlers bearing an approved tag with the grower’s NVAS Accreditation Number or the NVAS number of an approved veterinarian. Tags must be obtained from the official tag supplier and will only be issued to deer farmers with a current ("active") Accreditation Number.
Under these new regulations, companies that purchase green (unprocessed) velvet will not be allowed to export that velvet unless the grower’s tag or approved veterinarian’s tag is attached. It is anticipated that untagged velvet will effectively be unsaleable.
The NVAS Administrator will only issue an Accreditation Number for the 2001/2002 Velvet Season to those velvet growers who have submitted (1) their Annual Return for 2000/2001, (2) an Exam Update and (3) the agreed Administration Fee for non-DIAA members. NVAS Accreditation Numbers are valid for one year only. The update exam form can be obtained by eMail from the NVAS Secretariat.
Annual return forms were sent to all NVAS members last year. A new copy can be obtained from the NVAS if necessary. A supervising veterinarian must sign the form.
If you plan to harvest velvet antler from your deer in the coming spring/summer and you do not have an accreditation number from the NVAS and a supply of approved tags for the coming season, it is critical you contact the NVAS Secretariat immediately. Do not delay! The NVAS scheme is designed to provide reliable assurance to government agencies, importing countries and animal welfare groups that Australian velvet antler is hygienic and humanely harvested. The NVAS and the tight AQIS export regulations are especially important this year with Australian velvet now accepted for direct entry to the Korean market, at a time when tight import restrictions have been imposed on North American velvet due to the outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease.
Further information can be obtained from the NVAS secretariat at PO Box 37, Lismore Vic 3324 or telephone 03 5596 2323, facsimile 03 5596 2313 or Email shapiro@gatewaybbs.com.au.
Information on the web
RIRDC has collected a list of websites with useful information for deer farmers. This list includes:
(more deer websites will be published in coming issues)
- Deer Industry Association of Australia:
- Deer species, domestication and farming
- Feeding and nutrition tables for deer
- Malignant catarrhal fever in deer
- Meeting the standards for the Deer QA On Farm Program
- Parasitism in deer
- Parentage testing of deer
- Recognising & controlling tuberculosis in deer
- Wapiti hybrids
Johne’s Disease Policy
In negotiations between the deer industry and government authorities about Johne’s disease (JD) and its control, the industry is represented by the Deer Industry Association of Australia.
The DIAA is currently developing and documenting a range of policy position statements for this disease and is seeking input from deer producers on issues including the importance and appropriate management of JD in the deer industry.
This is the opportunity for deer farmers who are concerned about JD to have a say in the policies that the industry presents to governments about JD control programs in other species that are affecting deer trading.
Submissions on appropriate policies for JD in deer, preferably in writing, are now being sought by the DIAA and should be sent to:
Mr Guy Dockrill,
Chair, JD Sub-Committee
12 Village Street
BALNARRING VIC 3926
or emailed to:
deerguy@pen.hotkey.net.auAustralian Velvet Antler and Deer Co-products
Developing domestic markets (Part A) Final Report - RIRDC Project BII-1A
Principal Investigators: Bilby International Pty Ltd and Mr Chris Tuckwell
This RIRDC project was established to determine whether higher returns for Australian deer farmers can be obtained by the development of a domestic market for the co-products of venison processing. Better prices paid to deer farmers in New Zealand for slaughter stock can be explained, at least in part, by established markets for venison co-products in that country.
Bilby International Pty Ltd, the major research contractor for this project, now processes a significant proportion of all the deer slaughtered in Australia and was therefore in an ideal commercial position to investigate and develop a domestic market for venison co-products.
Chris Tuckwell, from Rural Industry Developments, assisted with the planning and documentation of the project.
In the past, the many processors of Australian deer have been unable to, cost effectively, separately market their small volumes of co-products and these have been sold at a discount price or discarded. Recent rationalisation in the venison-processing sector has, however, created an opportunity for efficient marketing of commercially realistic quantities of value-added venison co-products.
New Zealand companies are also now investigating the potential Australian domestic market for co-products.
This market is based in health food shops, Asian herbal medicine outlets and tourist outlets that particularly cater for Asian tourists. The size of this market appears to be growing rapidly but much of the product stocked by these outlets is of New Zealand origin. Knowledge of Australian products and potential products in the retail sector of this market is almost non-existent.
The report from this RIRDC project highlighted the advantages of Australian antler and co-products with regard to human health risks associated with the presence of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies such as BSE in the animal populations of other countries.
This project investigated co-product processing and packaging requirements of the domestic market, potential market demand, the nature of the market and its requirements, the impact of success in this market on returns to deer producers and the risks.
A major conclusion from this project presents a very significant challenge for the industry. "To successfully develop the apparent market opportunities the Australian Deer Industry must work cooperatively to ensure the regular supply of marketable volumes of high quality quality product. The cooperative development of these apparent markets can lead to a direct increase (co-product premium) in processor payments for livestock from the collection and sale of co-products. If the industry segregates and too many individuals or groups (more than 1 or 2) compete in their attempt to influence and service the apparent market, each small group is unlikely to be able to source, process and supply quantities of product that will sustain consumer interest. The lack of interest in sourcing product from a myriad of small suppliers will inevitably lead to a fall in demand for Australian products and any co-product premiums paid by deer processors are likely to disappear." The Report from this RIRDC project suggests that cooperation with potential New Zealand competitors in the development of supply channels to market value-added velvet and venison co-products to Asian tourists arriving in Australia may be more beneficial than direct trans-Tasman competition.
Establishing a reliable supply and marketing chain is critical.
Based on 20% of inbound Asian tourists consuming the quantity of co-product now reported to be purchased by similar tourists entering New Zealand, the estimated retail value of these products in the domestic market may be at least $A60M.
There may also be a significant market for venison coproducts in medicinal products developed for the pets of Asian tourists.
The report says that development of a local co-product market has the potential to improve farmer returns from venison by $0.22 (red), $0.11 (fallow) and $0.01 (rusa) per kilogram hot carcase weight, a 5% to 10% increase on returns in recent years.
This project also investigated the limitations to domestic markets for value-added co-products under Australian law, imposed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA).
The report suggests a need for careful consideration of TGA and ANZFA regulations.
In the course of this project, Bilby International began paying small premiums directly to deer farmers for co-products obtained from deer they had purchased, as evidenced by purchase receipts. Financial data provided by Bilby indicates that in the period from 17 January 2001 to 24 April 2001, growers received in excess of $9000 for this "co-product bonus".
Deer Industry
Quality Assurance: The Australian Deer Industry QA program is one of the projects that are designed and planned to help guarantee market access for your products.
Increasingly, international and domestic markets for all manner of products and services expect suppliers to take full responsibility for the goods or services they supply. While Quality Assurance may not necessarily guarantee a premium price for products, it may well guarantee market access for product.
The RIRDC funded QA project has recently been completed and a report submitted to RIRDC for consideration.
Major outcomes of the project were the written publications produced and updated including, the Deer Farm Best Practice Manual, the Deer Transport Best Practice Manual and the Venison Processors Best Practice Manual. The project also developed the new Deer Industry Code of Practice and Deer QAMA computer program.
Deer QAMA is a computer database program (`Deer Quality Assurance Management and Analysis’) that will easily record, store and report on all information required to be maintained by all businesses accredited by the Deer Industry QA program.
All those who currently hold registered Deer Industry Quality Assurance program manuals will receive appropriate manual updates and a free copy of the Deer QAMA program when funding for their duplication and distribution becomes available. New applicants for Deer industry QA accreditation will receive appropriate copies of updated manuals and a free copy of the Deer QAMA program.
Venison Prices: Table 1 shows venison prices for the last financial year as the hot carcase weight (HCW) price less the industry levy but without deductions for freight or processing costs.
Table 1. Average venison prices paid to farmers ($/kg hot carcase weight less the industry levy) 2000/01
Tables 2 and 3 below provide a summary of average venison prices HCW less the industry levy paid at the abattoir for Red (including hybrids) and Fallow deer for the 2000/2001 financial year. Data in tables 4 and 5 show the percentage of carcasses processed that are above and below what might be considered an ‘ideal’ average carcass weight range. An ideal carcass weight is obviously determined by market requirements, so the average minimum carcass weight may change between markets and between and within seasons. Data is for July to June in the 2000/2001 financial year.
Table 2: Average prices for Red and Red Hybrid Venison according to weight range 2000/01
Table 3: Average prices for Fallow Venison according to weight range 2000/01
Table 4: Percentage of Red and Red Hybrid carcases (HCW) in ranges 2000/01
Table 5: Percentage of fallow carcases (HCW) in ranges 2000/01
Company Report
Average Venison Prices ($A/kg HCW)
Data in the body of tables below show the average price per kilogram ($/kg HCW less the industry levy) paid to farmers for animals within each weight range displayed. The maximum value displayed is the maximum price paid for animals of the species for that month, the minimum value is the minimum price paid and the average price is the average price paid across all weight ranges for the species for the month.
RIRDC Deer Industry – Sub-account balances
The following table shows the closing balance for the deer program and compares it with the earlier financial period (1999/2000). It shows a closing balance of $472 010. Details of the revenue and expenditure items are presented.
A National Livestock Identification Scheme for deer
With the current focus on preparedness for any outbreak of an exotic disease such as Foot and Mouth Disease and more efficient control of endemic diseases such as Johne’s disease, livestock identification has become a hot topic in agriculture.
This has led to more rapid progress recently in the longstanding plan for a National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS).
Mandatory identification of traded cattle has been in place for many years, recently with additional requirements such as those related to use of Hormonal Growth Promotants.
Identification of individual animals is a key element of most Quality Assurance programs and is required for access to markets such as the European Union (EU).
National sheep industry organisations are now supporting an NLIS for sheep, based on an eartag with a Property Identification Code (PIC). Properties selling cattle already have allocated PICs.
Trading in deer does not normally involve sale by auction at public saleyards, making the tracing of animal movement for QA and disease control much simpler for deer than for other animals.
Nonetheless, as the major animal industries adopt NLIS systems, pressure will mount for the smaller industries to follow.
Markets, such the EU, are increasingly demanding individual animal identification and recording systems that permit effective animal tracing to property of origin when a disease or chemical residue is detected.
This trend is likely to increase.
Animal Health Australia has recently written to the DIAA asking for "advice on the current state of progress on a national animal identification scheme in your industry and when you expect such a system will be implemented nationally." There are different systems available to the deer industry in terms of identification device (eg. eartags or inserted microchips), the information to be encoded (property of birth or last property of residence) and integration of this ID with vendor declarations.
The system may be voluntary or mandatory or initially voluntary with progression to mandatory. Any mandatory scheme will require new government regulations in most states and territories.
Deer producers who wish to comment on this proposal for a national identification scheme for deer should write to Dr Laurence Denholm, PO Box 1564, Orange, NSW 2800 or the DIAA Secretariat.
RIRDC Deer Program publications
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Last updated: 16 August 2001
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