The Venison Advisory Service Ltd (VAS) is a consultancy established specifically to provide support and advice to those considering setting up a commercial deer farm as a business venture or an additional revenue stream.
The UK venison market is growing significantly. Demand outstrips supply. Scotland is a major supplier to the UK and European markets, with a current estimated out-turn of some 3500 tonnes per annum, the majority of this coming from the wild red deer cull.
Figures for market growth show that between 2006 and 2009 UK retail sales increased by more than 34 per cent. More recent figures suggest that that growth has accelerated. In January 2016, Sainsbury’s reported that venison sales over the festive period were up 115 per cent on the same period from the previous year.
In 2011, the two main game dealers servicing Scotland imported in excess of 25,000 deer carcases (over 1000 tonnes) from farms in New Zealand, Poland and elsewhere in Northern Europe to keep pace with demand.
Scotland’s deer farms now produce around 50 tonnes of venison per annum, and the wild red deer cull is static (and forecast to decline) creating an even greater vacuum to be filled with imported product.
This is why Scotland’s deer farming sector needs to expand. The drive towards healthier eating, greater awareness of venison as a healthy food, and increasing interest from Scottish Government and its agencies for development in this area all present an encouraging backdrop. Scottish venison also already enjoys an enviable reputation and an excellent image not just in the UK but further afield.
Scotland has a mix of suitable terrain, ideal climate, access to wild stock and access to markets that make deer farming prospects well suited. Indeed, Scotland pioneered the concept of deer farming in the 1970s, although it has never developed here on the same commercial scale as it has in, for example, New Zealand.
The initiative to encourage more farmers and landowners to consider the commercial opportunities arising from farming deer is gathering momentum. The Scottish Venison Partnership, the pan-sector group that promotes Scottish venison and represents its producers, has estimated that Scotland needs up to 400 more deer farming enterprises to meet demand (an additional 1000 tonnes of venison) by 2020, and more as the market continues to develop.
For those considering the opportunity to enter the sector, or to diversify into deer farming, there is very little advice currently available.
The Venison Advisory Service has been established to provide just that – quality, experienced project-led advice and consultancy to those looking at deer farming as a commercial, revenue-generating opportunity.
Find out more about the services the Venison Advisory Service has to offer to those wishing to get started in deer farming.
The VAS starter guide to deer farming and deer park management, produced as a part of the Scottish Government funded Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Project is available to download here .
Recent news:
A BDFPA open day is being held at Cassafuir Farm, Blairhoyle, Port of Menteith FK8 3LF on Saturday 29 April 2017 from 09.30 – 15.30hrs by kind permission of Jamie and Natalie Hammond. The full day event gives a comprehensive picture particularly to aspirational deer farmers about entry to the sector and getting started and includes what is sure to be an inspirational talk by Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor on a chef’s view of venison.
The day comprises a series of morning presentations followed by a farm visit with plenty of time for discussion and networking. Cost is £20 per delegate for BDFPA members, £30 for non-members.
The day is sponsored by the Venison Advisory Service and Tornado Fencing.
Places can be booked through the BDFPA website or e mail claire@bdfpa.org
A full programme for the day is available here.
“Deer farmers have this week been informed the future is still bright with increased demand for venison outstripping an estimated 5 per cent annual increase in production.”
A joint Lowland Deer Network Scotland – Scottish Land & Estates ‘Walk and Talk’ event will be held at Caddonfoot Hall, Clovenfords TD1 3LG, Yair Hill Forest and Torwoodlee and Buckholm Estates on Wednesday 8 June 2016
The final demonstration day in the 2015 series will take place in Fife on Friday 20 November.
The next deer farm and park demonstration project event takes place at Borgue Village Hall and Gledpark, Borgue, Dumfries and Galloway (courtesy of Rupert Shaw) on Tuesday 15 September 2015.
The Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Project in 2015 will be based at a number of different locations rather than just one. Venues will be Clathic, Crieff, Perthshire, and Gledpark, Borgue, Dumfries & Galloway. There will be two days held at each location and a final day at a third location yet to be decided.
An excellent new report on the health qualities of venison and the requirement and work being done to increase venison production in Scotland has been published by the Food Health Innovation Service in Scotland.
Download the report (PDF, 665 kB).
John Fletcher is a speaker at the Farming Scotland Conference, ‘Progress to Profit’ which takes place in Carnoustie on 5 February 2015. John, a deer farmer, vet, and a director of Venison Advisory Service Ltd, will be speaking on The Background to the Recent Upsurge in Scottish Deer Farms and Venison Production.
Other speakers at the conference, which is sponsored by EQ Accountants, Bell Ingram, Thorntons Law and RBS, include Professor Nick Hanley, Environmental Economist, St Andrews University; Angus Duncan, Head of Procurement, Diageo International Supply, and Jonathan Skinner, Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year 2013.
The latest edition of Rural Business News from Saffery Champness carries an informative article from Susie Swift of the firm’s Inverness office on tax and business planning considerations for prospective deer farmers. Read the article.
The first day of the Deer Farm Demonstration Project will be held on Tuesday 15 April at Culquoich, Glenkindie, Strathdon courtesy of Ali Loder.