Venison price is ridiculous

[Gamekeeperwill]

I'm not surprised the price of deer is so low, people wouldn't dream of buying this over beef at 1/4 of the price. Deer is easier to process than beef, and readily available, but dealers pay peanuts for it and expect the public to pay through the roof

 

[Gamekeeperwill]

Pic

 

[YoungGun]

Lucky to get a £ a pound for roe and yet I see roe fillet for sale in London at £35-40 a kg.

It is worth going to some of the food market to laugh at the prices

 

[Gamekeeperwill]

Dealers are shafting people, all this crap you see online promoting game meat, but what person in their right mind would pay this price for it? Maybe if the dealers were more honest and cheap then we wouldn't be in this position

 

[CarlW]

Once everyone starts shooting it with copper bullets, the prices will go through the roof...

 

[jimmer.13]

I know this dealer very well and had this discussion with him many times.

The argument always comes back to overheads:

Useable carcass shot damage etc,
Meat to bone, fat ratio skin weight adds up to 65% loss Im told
Staff wages running costs of the plant facilities vehicles
Supply and demand
Brexit is now in there too

Compare the cost of rearing live stock , transport to auction and abattoir, slaughter auction commissions the list goes on and what farmers are paid for animals live weight for slaughter and then the prices at the butchers.
You can see where prices to the consumer start to stack up with every one wanting to make a pound.

I've always argued that I have overheads also. Rent insurance and such but I agree with the OP I think the profit margins are extortionate in comparison to farmed meat.
They will say the game industry is not geared up the same as commercial farming but I cant see how large game dealers differ from any other meat processors.

I haven't put a carcass into a dealer for well over a year now as 48p per llb barely covers the fuel cost to drop it off and I have worked hard to find alternate legal outlets and worked with the council and food hygiene authorities to make sure I'm ticking all the boxes.

It was a bit of a struggle through lock down with restaurants and pubs closed but the reward of cutting out greedy middle men was payment enough.
I know of more and more shoots that are starting to process their own game and venison and supplying local retailers and doing very well at
Providing venison and game at reasonable prices.
I know this doesn't help small outfitters or the recreational stalker who might use some of his meat money to fund his sport but supply and demand is the key.
I have no idea what prices some of the big contractors are paying north of the border for the Reds so I cant comment if they are getting a good deal but I when I see imported venison in super markets it makes my **** boil as how can venison from NZ be cheaper than venison from Inverness.

The economics don't stack up for the Farmer and the Hunter alike. This is an Age old argument on SD and I have read many solutions to the problem but the odds always seem to fall in favour of game dealers.

Just adding my rant to every body else's

 

[Mr. Gain]

The economics don't stack up for the Farmer and the Hunter alike.

And yet this is the shape and scale of the economic model that supposedly necessitates the whole shooting world gearing itself up for a transition to copper!
Is that going to boost the demand for game meat to the point where it becomes a sellers' market for producers? I wouldn't hold my breath.
Likewise, I can't imagine any regional co-operative created to squeeze a better price out of game dealers staying watertight for a second.
I'd guess the best model would be small teams with a shared processing hub and outlets to local farm shops, pubs, etc. (as Jimmer suggests)

 

[Woodsmoke]

This vendor used to sell roe deer loins at over £100/kg. Looks as though he's been forced to wind his neck in somewhat . . . . .

It's still a ridiculous price though

Roe Deer Loins

<p>Perfect for enriching your meals, use this succulent roe deer as you might a steak. Caramelise in minutes in the pan for a light, earthy game flavour.</p>

www.donaldrussell.com

 

[Woodsmoke]

I'd guess the best model would be small teams with a shared processing hub and outlets to local farm shops, pubs, etc. (as Jimmer suggests)

This would be a superb solution for both stalker, and consumer. The very best produce, sourced and consumed locally. What's not to like about that model?

 

[levigsp]

If such a thing as a monopoly commission looked at game dealers, they would shut them down, all stitch up prices accross the board and make ridiculous profits.

 

[Dhindes]

What would be excellent would be for someone to do as many fishermen are now doing - set up good internet site and sell directly to the public. I have normally vegetarian friends who will happily eat wild meat !!! they argue better animal welfare and more sustainable - I could not agree more.
I am sure a market exists with courier delivery. When the Restaurant trade dies in Cornwall during COVID a number of Fisherman found they could sell direct on line to the public and make more money.
In fact, if I ever move back to the UK, I think I will set up a small business doing this with game - I bet there are some rules to stop me though !!

 

[muddy42]

What would be excellent would be for someone to do as many fishermen are now doing - set up good internet site and sell directly to the public. I have normally vegetarian friends who will happily eat wild meat !!! they argue better animal welfare and more sustainable - I could not agree more.
I am sure a market exists with courier delivery. When the Restaurant trade dies in Cornwall during COVID a number of Fisherman found they could sell direct on line to the public and make more money.
In fact, if I ever move back to the UK, I think I will set up a small business doing this with game - I bet there are some rules to stop me though !!

I agree, this should be so much simpler. The legislation depends on whether you live in England or Scotland and even then different local authorities seem to have different interpretations.

There are a few people who have got themselves registered (as food business etc.) that are selling venison on Facebook. I have argued before, that there should be a gap in the market for a dedicated website. This wouldn't be a game dealer (stalkers would need to be registered in their own rights) but simply facilitated the market for a small % like Ebay. The website would register producers, set the minimum standard for packaging, presentation, host feedback etc.

 

[baguio]

Deer is easier to process than beef, and readily available, but dealers pay peanuts for it and expect the public to pay through the roof

Deer isn't easier to process at all. Beef cattle are done on a massive scale and produce large cuts in less time. Sorry but that part of the argument doesn't stack up.

 

[Fair Hill]

This is what wild British venison was selling for in Lidl in Ireland last week....

 

[Klenchblaize]

If truth be told there must be many a semi-pro deer stalker (sorry Manager) who simply use a game dealer as an alternative to landfill.

That is if they are meeting or even coming close to their cull plan!

K

 

[NickJ]

Dealers are shafting people, all this crap you see online promoting game meat, but what person in their right mind would pay this price for it? Maybe if the dealers were more honest and cheap then we wouldn't be in this position

Not sure about that, dealers are going bust by the week...

 

[sunndog]

Venison's dear isn't it

 

[Gamekeeperwill]

Deer isn't easier to process at all. Beef cattle are done on a massive scale and produce large cuts in less time. Sorry but that part of the argument doesn't stack up.

Of course it is, smaller, takes less equipment, most people do them in they're garage or shed, could you do that with a cow?

 

[Heym SR20]

There are several challenges:

1) UK consumers view venison as “Posh” and “Difficult”

2) Most chefs / butchers don’t know how / don’t want to deal with it. Especially in the Skin. There all sorts of clipboards full of regs about what can and cannot go into a commercial kitchen - venison often falls into the “too difficult, doesn’t fit tick box” mentality.

3) FSA stating the lead shot game meat may be harmful to consumers.

4) Very large culls being carried out by government agencies flooding the market

5) European export market no longer there / same difficulties as fish and other animal products in terms of large volume of paperwork

6) Lockdown has closed off all the pub / restaurant trade.


To put this into perspective, I was talking with a former university colleague a few weeks ago. He is now responsible for managing all of the universities woodlands, as well as university residential with full catering. They manage fallow, muntjac and Roe in the woods and shoot a few hundred deer a year.

Because of regulations they are unable to deer deer shot on the university woods direct into the university kitchens to serve to students and staff. The kitchens can only take ready portioned cuts of meat and are unable to / unwilling to do any butchering of meat.

 

[Klenchblaize]

To put this into perspective, I was talking with a former university colleague a few weeks ago. He is now responsible for managing all of the universities woodlands, as well as university residential with full catering. They manage fallow, muntjac and Roe in the woods and shoot a few hundred deer a year.

Because of regulations they are unable to deer deer shot on the university woods direct into the university kitchens to serve to students and staff. The kitchens can only take ready portioned cuts of meat and are unable to / unwilling to do any butchering of meat.

Given they will already be FSA registered as a food business they surely need only invest in the appropriate larder equipment and allied training of select members of the Kitchen Team to permit turning what is their in-the-fur venison into cuts that may be cooked and distributed throughout the Uni campus?

Clearly there has to be the desire/will for such a venture along with enough interested employees.

K