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Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation |
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Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation |
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Contact the editor, Dr Laurence Denholm, at: PO Box 1564, ORANGE NSW 2800 Phone/fax 02 6361 3268, Mobile 0418 641957, email: denholml@bigpond.com |
August 1999 |
Other issues of this newsletter
RIRDC Research in Progress:
The influence of pre-slaughter conditions on the occurrence of ecchymosis (blood-splash) and high pH in deer carcasses
Mr Kevin Barnes, Balhannah SAKevin Barnes reports that after long and frustrating delays the Strathalbyn abattoir finally finished building the covered ramps, lairage and restrainer in March. After a familiarisation period with the new facilities, recording of carcase parameters commenced in early May. A large amount of data has been collected over the last few months and Kevin says the new system is working very well, with a marked decrease in ecchymosis in carcasses.
Contact: Kevin Barnes Tel. (08) 8388 4205 Fax (08) 8388 4205
Decision support system for managing red and rusa deer in Queensland
Mr Stephen Sinclair, DPI(Qld)Stephen Sinclair reports he has completed a detailed literature review of nutritional management of red and rusa deer in Queensland and much of this data is now available to the Queensland deer industry via the "QDPI Note" series. New feed requirement tables allow ration formulation and feed management planning to be initiated on a larger industry scale.
The objective of this project is to develop and commercialise all existing nutritional knowledge into a computer Decision Support Software (DSS) package which will evaluate farm management scenarios for red and rusa deer in Queensland. The DSS package is designed to assist farmers with their whole farm management skills on an individual property basis. Stephen reports the project is on schedule and a commercial DSS will be available for Queensland deer farmers by the end of 1999.
Contact: Stephen Sinclair Tel (07) 3280 1905 Fax (07) 3812 1715
Domestic Venison Marketing: A test case
Mr Daryl Heslop, Cedar Creek NSWVenison marketing arrangements have been completed with 5 domestic butchers in the Hunter region, with venison promotion via new point-of-sale material and print advertising. A dozen restaurants have also been contacted. As a result, 20 carcasses were produced at Woy Woy abattoir. Mr Heslop designed and built a new slaughter box and deer transporter suitable for use at abattoirs by a single operator. Market investigations are continuing.
Contact: Daryl Heslop Tel (02) 4998 1576 Fax (02) 4998 1576
Drought feeding - Early weaning strategies
Dr Gordon Dryden, University of QueenslandDr Dryden reports that his preliminary work has shown that early weaning of red deer calves at 7 to 9 weeks of age is feasible, using a self-selected diet of concentrated pellets and lucerne hay. Growth was steady and both groups (7 or 9 weeks weaned) grew at the same rate. Chemical analyses and statistical analysis of data is proceeding.
Contact: Gordon Dryden Tel.(07) 5460 1255 Fax (07) 5460 1444
Overcoming summer/autumn nutritional constraints
to deer production in Southern AustraliaDr Philip Tow, University of Adelaide
The aim of this project is to compare a range of feedstuffs for fallow deer (cereal and pulse grains, silage, hay and fresh lucerne) in the two months following weaning, prior to transfer to regenerated annual legume pasture. Escape of some of the deer through electric fences was a problem in the project and this is currently being addressed. Initial concern about the effect of abnormally low rainfall between November and April last year on the lucerne and medic pastures has proved to be unwarranted as the pastures survived. Dr Tow says he expects the project to be successful.
Contact: Philip Tow Tel. (08) 8303 7857 Fax (08) 8303 7979
Nutritional requirements and growth characteristics
of pregnant and lactating red and fallow deer
Dr Robert Mulley. University of Western SydneyDr Mulley reports that he has now measured the feed intake and energy requirements of pregnant and lactating fallow does over two breeding seasons. Results of the data analysis show particular energy needs associated with the last nine weeks of pregnancy and the first ten weeks of lactation.
Observations of feeding behaviour have been collected for deer at pasture and in pen feeding trials, and these will be analysed to assist with validation of feed requirement data obtained from feeding individual animals in pens. Current work is focussed on the effects of various levels of maternal nutrition on placental development and foetal growth in the first trimester of pregnancy. This work will complement work previously completed on placental and foetal development through the latter half of pregnancy.
Contact: Rob Mulley Tel.(02) 4570 1438 Fax (02) 4570 1383
RIRDC DEER INDUSTRY R&D SUB-ACCOUNT (1998/99)
1999 ($) 1998 ($) Accumulated surplus at the beginning of the reporting period REVENUES Industry levies Commonwealth Contributions Interest Other Income Total Revenues EXPENDITURE Research and Development Programs Research and Development Program Communications Research Coordination and Management Committee Fees and Expenses Levy Collection Costs RIRDC Service Fees1 Other Total Expenditure Deficit of revenues over expenditure Accumulated surplus at the end of the reporting period 1Represents funds paid to RIRDC for program management and financial administration services.
This amount has been eliminated from the Statement of revenues and Expenses.Development of the Deer Industry as a major Australian Livestock Industry
Final Report - RIRDC Project DIP-1A
Principal Investigator: Chris Tuckwell, Deer Industry Projects and Development Pty LtdThis was the major industry development project funded by RIRDC in recent years. The company contracted by RIRDC to undertake this project, Deer Industry Projects and Development Pty Ltd (also known as "The Deer Industry Company" (DIC) is a subsidiary of the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA). DIC employed Mr Chris Tuckwell as Deer Industry Development Manager. Mr Tuckwell wrote the final report, now available from RIRDC at PO Box 4776 BARTON ACT 2604.
Industry Statistics: The project led to improved reporting of industry statistics, including venison market data, most important now the industry is no longer dominated by speculative trading in breeding stock. However, good data on the national farmed deer herd remains elusive. Best estimate of the total herd size in 1999 is 188,000. Of these, 49% are fallow, 39% red or red hybrids, 6.5% rusa, 3% elk/wapiti and 2.5% chital. Farmed deer are fairly evenly distributed between states on a population basis (30% in NSW and the ACT, 26.5% in Victoria, 15.5% in SA, 11% in Queensland, 8.5% in WA and 8.5% in Tasmania.) The majority of farms (77%) have only one species. Mr Tuckwell suggests "the industry’s current population can, at best, be described as stable".
Quality Assurance: The deer industry’s Quality Assurance Program began in earnest in May 1998 with facilitators trained and accredited in each state. More than 100 deer farmers have now purchased the QA Manuals and are at various stages along the road to industry accreditation of their farms.
Venison Market: Since mid-1997 the market in Australia has moved from relative buoyancy with average price (Hot Carcase Weight) at about $5.10 per kg to a depressed state with the price below $2 per kg. Mr Tuckwell attributes this decline to 3 factors: (i) the Asian currency downturn, (ii) the Australian industry’s lack of competitive advantage in influential markets (especially in comparison to NZ competition), and (iii) excessive competition within industry for processing and marketing limited volumes of venison product. (In this environment, the original objective of the project to double the size of the Australian farmed deer herd rapidly became unachievable.) In Australia today, each venison "marketeer" is only able to access a small volume of venison, but a relatively large number of marketeers, each with only a small volume of product, is active in all major international markets and played off against each other by venions buyers, with disastrous results for Australian farmers. Slaughter costs for deer are also too high, up to 230% more than for sheep and cattle.
The future: Mr Tuckwell says the requirements for industry stability and renewed confidence include (i) a reduction of the number of people and groups competitively marketing Australian product, (ii) grower commitment to ensure animals meet minimum processor specifications, (iii) collective commitment to QA programs, (iv) strategic alliances between groups of growers and selected processors and (v) processor commitment to long term market development and prompt payment to growers for stock.
The Deer Industry Company report
The major project managed by the Deer Industry Company since may 1997 (the RIRDC funded project 'The Development of the Deer Industry as a major Australian Livestock Industry') was concluded on 30 June 1999.A detailed report on the activities and achievements of the project has been submitted to RIRDC for publication and it is hoped that copies of the report will be available and the industry's conference in Albury this year.
Summary outcomes of the 26 month project include:
The final data venison processing data for the 1998-99 financial year, May and June shows that prices for red deer venison fell from $1.81/kg HCW (price paid less industry levy) in April to $1.70/kg HCW in June. The price for fallow deer venison show a sharper decline during three months, from $1.94/kg HCW (price paid less the industry levy) in April to $1.52/kg HCW in June.
- an Australian deer industry manual of seven discreet booklets
- an industry promotional display
- venison, velvet, QA and general industry promotional brochures
- an industry reference data base
- a research reference data base
- a set of objectively detained industry population statistics
- data base of venison processing information including estimated numbers processed, hot carcase weight price, average hot carcase weights, etc.
- QA program implementation and expansion
An estimated 35,570 animals (11,560 red and red hybrids, 22,130 follow and 1,880 rusa) animals were processed during the 1998/99 financial year.
The total farm gate value of venison processed was incorrectly reported in the last newsletter. The total farm gate value (HCW price less the industry levy) for the period 1998/99 is $2.8 million. If average processing costs ($50 for red, $20 for fallow and $40 for rusa) are deducted from this value, the total value is reduced to $1.7 million.
FALLOW RUSA RED Weight
CategoryMAR 99 APR
99MAY
99JUN
99Weight
CategoryMAR 99 APR
99MAY
99JUN
99Weight
CategoryMAR 99 APR
99MAY
99JUN
99less than 20 less than 20 less than 30 20 to 22.9 $1.67 $1.68 $1.29 $1.37 20 to 24.9 xx xx xx xx 30 to 34.9 $1.70 $1.10 $1.86 $1.50 23 to 25.9 $2.12 $1.48 $1.63 $1.63 25 to 29.9 xx $1.00 $1.30 $1.50 35 to 39.9 $1.70 $1.09 $2.25 $1.50 26 to 28.9 $2.10 $1.92 $1.85 $1.93 30 to 34.9 xx $1.00 $1.42 $1.50 40 to 44.9 $1.70 $1.68 $1.53 $1.40 29 to 31.9 $2.20 $2.29 $1.62 $1.52 35 to 39.9 xx $1.00 $1.30 $1.72 45 to 49.9 $1.90 $1.82 $1.92 $1.70 32 and over $2.01 $2.58 $2.02 $2.00 40 to 44.9 xx $1.66 $1.62 $1.85 50 to 54.9 $2.10 $2.02 $1.62 $1.67 Maximum $2.20 $2.58 $2.02 $2.00 45 to 49.9 xx $1.63 $1.62 $2.29 55 to 59.9 $2.20 $2.23 $2.20 $2.16 Minimum $1.27 $1.48 $1.29 $1.37 50 to 54.9 xx $1.83 $1.82 $2.40 60 to 64.9 $2.30 $2.27 $1.72 $1.82 Average $2.08 $1.94 $1.60 $1.52 55 to 59.9 xx $1.82 $1.82 xx 65 to 69.9 $2.40 $2.22 $2.40 $2.40 60 and over xx $1.87 $1.87 xx 70 to 74.9 $2.00 xx xx $2.00 Maximum No $1.87 $1.87 $2.40 75 to 79.9 $2.00 xx xx xx Minimum Data $1.00 $1.30 $1.50 80 to 84.9 $1.80 xx xx xx Average xx $1.60 $1.44 $1.77 85 to 89.9 $1.80 xx xx xx 90 to 94.9 $1.60 xx xx xx 95 to 99.9 $1.60 xx xx xx 100 and over $1.50 $1.87 xxxx xxxx Maximum $2.40 $2.27 $2.40 $2.40 Minimum $1.50 $1.09 $1.53 $1.40 Average $1.95 $1.81 $1.69 $1.70 Graph 1 below demonstrates the change in average prices for all venison sold by the cooperating processors and the average price of venison for Red (and hybrid), Fallow and Rusa deer. Graph 2 shows the variation in volume of venison processed by the processors providing data to the Deer Industry Company.
Australian Deer Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Plan (ADJDMAP) With the recent introduction of movement restrictions on deer as part of the National Johne’s Disease Control Program, many deer farmers are now faced with disruption to their trading in live deer for breeding or fattening (that is, deer sold other than direct for slaughter.) There are more than 50 deer farms in the Residual Zone for Ovine Johne’s Disease in NSW which includes the Central Tablelands, Goulburn and Braidwood RLPB districts and part of the Yass and Molong districts. Deer farmers in these areas other than fallow farmers are affected. In the Control Zone for Bovine Johne’s Disease (all of Victoria and South Australia and parts of Riverina and coastal areas of NSW) all deer farmers including fallow farmers are affected, but only with respect to interstate movements.
Affected deer farmers can only trade in deer (other than for slaughter) if their herd has been tested for Johne’s disease according to a protocol approved by the national Veterinary Committee but to date no protocol has been approved for deer.
Other species affected by the national JD program have established Market Assurance Programs (MAPs) for this purpose.
The Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) has written to the Australian Animal Health Council Ltd (AAHC) and has gained approval to develop a Market Assurance Program for deer during 1999 for submission to Veterinary Committee. AAHC has offerred to assist with this process. The JD Committee of DIAA will be starting work on this in the next few weeks, using the MAPs for sheep, cattle, goats and alpaca as a starting point. It is hoped that a draft MAP for deer can be circulated to deer farmers by late October for submission to VetComm before the end of the year. In the meantime, affected farmers who wish to trade should be able to undertake testing according to non-MAP protocols for other species, with prior approval of the relevant Chief Veterinary Officer.
If you wish to have an input into the development of the ADJDMAP protocol, please contact one of the members of the DIAA JD committee. For further Information, contact Laurie Denholm on (02) 6361 3268/ 0418 641957.
Last updated: 20 August 1999
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