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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 |
June 1999 |
Exporting Venison to Israel: A Market Development Test Case
Other issues of this newsletter
Exporting Venison to Israel:
Final Report- RIRDC Project FPLA -1A
A Market Development Test Case
Investigator: Lynette Tume, Foodscape Pty LtdThis short project was undertaken to determine the market potential for Australian venison in Israel. Ms Lynelle Tume from Foodscape Pty Ltd in Queensland was contracted by RIRDC.
Due to climate and topography, extensive grazing is not possible in Israel. Much of the country’s sheep and beef meat demand in met by importation of live animals, particularly from Australia. Strict Jewish dietary laws mean that animals approved for use as food must be slaughtered under the supervision of trained Rabbis to kosher standards. Israeli law prohibits the importation of any non-kosher meat and this makes it difficult for countries such as Australia to export meat to Israel. However, meat importers in Israel dealing with a Western Australian company exporting live cattle to Israel have expressed interest in introducing venison from imported animals into the food service industry.
Due to above problems, the report (available as RIRDC Publication 99/58) from this project indicates that the Israeli market would be difficult. The preferred option is for the import of Australian venison packed to specification and ready to distribute, but currently this is not possible due to the political and religious control of food imports and the lack of any export slaughter facility in Australia accredited for Kosher slaughter.
The report says the[Israeli] clients will address the issue of non-kosher or kosher slaughter, but this will be the key factor in determining the market entry strategies for Australian derived venison The size of the market for venison in Israel will be small, at least initially. However, the identified target market of end-consumers (relatively wealthy, well travelled, adventurous with food and probably non-orthodox) is sufficiently large to justify the marketing exercise. Added to the resident population is the tourist market that has been estimated by the Israeli Tourist Authority to increase from 2 million to 4 million per year within 2 years. ….it is possible that some growth [in the market] could be promoted in the "friendly" Arab nations of Jordan and Egypt.
Have Your Say in Deer R&D Priorities
The Deer Industry R&D Advisory Committee is again seeking ideas from farmers about future priorities for deer R&D. If you would like to contribute to the future R&D of this industry please contact the chairperson, Nola Anderson by fax (03) 9642 8144.The committee is interested in ideas on what type of work should be funded and what should not. If you have a "gripe", let us hear it, but more importantly, if you have a good idea on how to improve the industry through the R&D program and you would like the Advisory Committee to promote the idea and try to find someone to run a project on the topic, please contact Nola.
Vale Jeff Fyffe
It is with great sadness that the Newsletter records the passing of Dr Jeff Fyffe on 25th June 1999. Jeff was a member of the DIAA Council and the current President of the DIAA Victorian Branch.Through his many contacts in the veterinary profession, Jeff was instrumental in gaining acceptance for the deer industry’s National Velvet Accreditation Scheme. He was the first Registrar of the scheme and devoted an enormous amount of his time and energy to getting the scheme up and running over the last three years. His enthusiasm and his ability to get on with the job will be greatly missed in the deer world.
Our condolences go to his family at this difficult time.
Correction - DIAA and RIRDC URLs
John Hayes, DIAA WebMaster and Secretary of the DIAA NSW Branch, sent an eMail indicating the DIAA URL was incorrectly listed in the last Newsletter. For those Internet enthusiasts who didn’t pick the backslash error, the correct address for the DIAA Website is http://www.diaa.org. This Newsletter can be found at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/deer.
Australian Venison – Fat Analyses
Analyses at the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories in SA again confirm the low fat content of Australian venison. All samples were less than half of the maximum fat content of 10% allowed for National Heart Foundation "tick" products.
Product Description Aus-Meat Spec. No. Fat %
m/mSodium
mg/100gStrip loin (Rusa) 0077 1.1 66 Strip loin (Red) 0078 1.3 79 Strip loin (Chital) 0079 0.8 54 Denver Leg (Red) 0063 0.6 87 Denver Leg (Fallow) 0063 0.6 55 Denver Silverside (Rusa) 0071 1.1 78 Denver saddle (Fallow) 0076 0.9 60 Blade (Rusa) 0085 1.5 84 Blade (Red) 0085 0.6 75 Blade (Chital) 0086 1.3 62 Boneless Fallow Shoulder 0084 2.9 81 Trim (Red) 0095 0.9 89 Trim (Rusa) 0095 4.5 98
Johne's Disease Zoning -
Movement restrictions for all animals susceptible to Johne’s disease (JD) - including deer - are being introduced across Australia. Under the National Johne's Disease Control Program, disease control zones (as shown in the maps below) will be proclaimed under the stock diseases legislation of individual states and territories, with movement of susceptible animals across boundaries between these zones subject to regulatory controls. Although JD has not been identified in deer in Australia to date, conditions for movement of animals susceptible to Bovine JD will apply to all deer including fallow. Conditions for movement of animals susceptible to Ovine JD will apply to all deer other than fallow. Movements of deer direct for slaughter will not be restricted.
Restrictions on Movement of DeerOther than movement direct to an abattoir, any movement of deer from a property in an OJD Restricted Zone (NSW Tablelands, Flinders Island, Kangaroo Island) to a property in an OJD Control Zone (the rest of Australia) now requires the herd of origin in the Restricted Zone to have been tested for OJD within the previous 12 months. From 1st August 1999, any movement of deer (other than direct to an abattoir) from a BJD Restricted Zone (Tasmania) to a BJD Control or Protected Zone (mainland Australia) will also require testing of the herd of origin, as will any movement from a BJD Control Zone (Victoria, SA, parts of NSW) to a BJD Protected Zone (Queensland, WA, NT, remaining parts of NSW). During these regulated movements between zones, all deer must be accompanied by an Owner’s/Vendor's Declaration on the approved form, stating results of specified testing in the herd of origin. Further details on these herd test requirements are available from state animal health authorities. Additional restrictions or conditions may apply to some interstate movements.
Please note that these are transitional arrangements. It is likely that Grafton, Gloucestor, Hunter, Kempsey and Maiitland RLPB Districts in NSW will become part of the BJD Protected Zone in the near future. NSW Agriculture has indicated that restrictions may not be applied in NSW to movements of deer between the BJD Control Zone within NSW and the BJD Protected Zone within NSW, but Queensland, the NT and WA will probably apply restrictions to movements of deer from the NSW BJD Control Zone to their own BJD Protected Zones. However, there is also some chance that movement restrictions for deer may be eased in the absence of evidence of the disease in deer.
Zoning for Johne’s Disease in Australia
OJD zoning from 1 July 99 BJD zoning from 1 Aug 99Map prepared by NSW Agriculture Resource Information Unit. Please note the black shading of Flinders and Kangaroo Islands. Gloucestor, Grafton, Hunter, Kempsey and Maitland RLPB areas in NSW are likely to become part of the BJD Protected Area.
Johne's Disease in Australia
Johne's Disease in New South Wales
Ovine Johne's disease (OJD)
New South Wales Residual Areas
The Deer Industry Company Report
Five new facilitators were trained in Queensland during April. Two of them have since completed requirements of the QA Board and have received their QA accreditation.Industry promotional material has been reprinted and is available from the Deer Industry Book Shop. Brochures of a general nature are available at no cost and venison specific information is available at a subsidised cost.
Registration of industry QA marks will take at least six months as the relevant Government authority has to allow appropriate checks of the mark and accept accompanying certification documentation.
Another processor has withdrawn their support of the venison price and volume data collection. Reasons cited included lack of industry support and honesty. Nevertheless, data collected is still estimated to represent at least 90% of venison processed in Australia.
The volume of venison processed in March and April fell sharply (particularly for red deer) from January and February. Average hot carcase weight (HCW) price data showed a continuing decline in March and April. Average price in February 1999 was $2.06/kg HCW and in April $1.83/kg HCW. The greatest fall in venison prices has occurred with red deer venison where prices fell from an average of $2.00/kg HCW in February to an average of $1.81/kg HCW in April. During the same period prices for fallow venison fell from $2.11/kg HCW to $1.94/kg HCW. During March and April the average weight of carcases has increased. This may be an indication that older animals have been slaughtered and may reflect sale of adult animals (disbanded herds?). An estimated 26,900 animals have been processed by the industry from July 199 to May 1999. That number is made up of about 9,600 red deer, 16,600 fallow and 700 rusa deer. The estimated total farm gate HCW value (less the industry levy) for venison sold from July 1998 to April 1999 is $3.11 million.
VENISON PRICES ($A/kg HCW)
FALLOW RUSA DEER RED Weight Category JAN 99
FEB 99
MAR 99 APR 99
Weight Category JAN 99
FEB 99 MAR 99 APR 99
Weight Category JAN 99
FEB 99 MAR 99 APR 99
less than 20 less than 20 less than 30 20 to 22.9 $1.69 $2.00 $1.67 $1.68 20 to 24.9 30 to 34.9 $1.20 $1.70 $1.10 23 to 25.9 $2.13 $2.12 $2.12 $1.48 25 to 29.9 $1.00 35 to 39.9 $1.40 $1.70 $1.09 26 to 28.9 $2.28 $2.03 $2.10 $1.92 30 to 34.9 $1.00 40 to 44.9 $1.80 $1.55 $1.70 $1.68 29 to 31.9 $2.33 $2.49 $2.20 $2.29 35 to 39.9 $1.00 45 to 49.9 $2.01 $1.84 $1.90 $1.82 32 and over $2.38 $2.55 $2.01 $2.58 40 to 44.9 $1.66 50 to 54.9 $2.15 $2.08 $2.10 $2.02 Maximum $2.3840 $2.55 $2.40 $2.27 45 to 49.9 $2.43 $1.63 55 to 59.9 $2.216 $2.20 $2.20 $2.23 Minimum $1.10 $1.79 $1.50 $1.09 50 to 54.9 $2.49 $1.83 60 to 64.9 $2.31 $2.30 $2.30 $2.27 Average $2.23 $2.11 $1.95 $1.81 55 to 59.9 $1.82 65 to 69.9 $2.41 $2.42 $2.40 $2.22 60 and over $1.87 70 to 74.9 $2.30 $1.82 $2.00 Maximum $2.49 No No $1.87 75 to 79.9 $2.34 $1.82 $2.00 Minimum $2.43 Data Data $1.00 80 to 84.9 $2.37 $1.82 $1.80 Average $2.47 $1.60 85 to 89.9 $2.17 $1.82 $1.80 90 to 94.9 $2.25 $1.82 $1.60 95 to 99.9 $1.82 $1.82 $1.60 100 and over $1.62 $1.62 $1.50 $1.87 Maximum $2.41 $2.42 $2.40 $2.27 Minimum $1.20 $1.55 $1.50 $1.09 Average $2.15 $1.97 $1.95 $1.81 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.
New Zealand Deer industry outlook
Venison returns for New Zealand deer farmers improved by up to 10% over the last month or so, due to a tightening supply of suitable slaughter animals. New Zealand exporters indicated that overseas markets had been steady during this period, but processor margins were cut due to increasing competition for the markedly reduced numbers of animals available in May. The tight supply situation resulted from many farmers slaughtering earlier than usual this year due to the drought. With a shortage of weaners this year, prices for live deer have also remained at high levels.Prices paid to farmers for slaughter stock in New Zealand remain well ahead of those received by Australian farmers.
In early May 1999, for example, New Zealand venison processors were paying between $NZ3.32 and $NZ5.20 per kilogram for red deer stags in the weight range 55 kg to 65 kg, depending on age and condition, with hinds about 10 cents per kilogram less than stags. By comparison, the Deer Industry Company quoted an average price for red deer sold in Australia in April 1999 of $A2.25 per kilogram hot carcase weight (see report on page 3).
After allowing for the exchange rate at the time ($A1.00 = approx. $NZ1.18), returns for New Zealand deer farmers over the last couple of months have been about 50% higher than returns for Australian deer farmers.
Of course such comparisons are always liable to be distorted by differences such as levies and the point of delivery of the animals (farmgate or abattoir). New Zealand deer farmers currently pay a levy of 19 cents/kg to run the Game Industry Board, 3 cents/kg for an Animal Health Board Levy and 1.4 cents/kg for the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association. In other words, New Zealand deer farmers are currently paying levies totaling about $NZ0.224/kg or $A0.19/kg, a similar level to that paid by Australian deer farmers.
Last updated: 14 April 1999
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