Yearling deer on Doug Maxwell's Alexandra deer farm. Photo
by Diane Brown.
Doug Maxwell has seen it all before and he hopes this
time is not a repeat.
A shortage of deer sends the price soaring and meat companies
scrambling for animals only for the markets to react and the
price to plummet.
"I have been in this situation four or five times. You get a
big increase in price, then you get a big drop," the deer
farmer from Springvale, near Alexandra, said.
He would like to see a happy medium, where everyone made a
profit - not that he was complaining about the prospect of
$9.50 a kg for for the prime deer he intends selling in
October and November.
The extra income was needed to pay for higher fertiliser,
fuel and compliance costs, he said.
Mr Maxwell has maintained his deer numbers and targeted the
spring supply of stock despite several difficult years.
Farmers and deer industry observers spoken to say a high hind
kill in the past couple of years and ground lost to dairying
and dairy grazing meant it would take the national herd a
while to recover.
The industry was buoyant, however, with an observer saying he
had seen figures showing income from venison easily competed
with dairy grazing.
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