Deer farms’ win approval

ABOUT 100 of Ireland’s 300 deer farms are now quality assured, according to Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

Nearly 800 tonnes of venison is produced annually from Ireland’s deer population of nearly 50,000, and a quality assured scheme has improved the marketing potential of the meat, Minister Coughlan told the Dáil.

In reply to a Dáil question by Bernard Durkan, she said about 70% of production is exported to Denmark, Britain and the US. There is severe competition from larger, lower cost producers, especially Scotland and New Zealand.