Wanted: Deer carcass

[devon deer stalker]

I'd rather see this ^^^^ than see supermarkets selling too cheaply and undercutting all the small-scale artisan producers. A small-scale producer has proportionately higher overhead costs per unit sold. Supermarkets can afford to stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap, but should they?

I agree, to a point, through my rose tinted specs when farm shops first started to pop up I thought, great, support the local producer, good on them for cutting out the super market and middle men, it's bound to be so much cheaper, how wrong was I.
For us to shop at our local farm shop it's more of a treat and convenience, I understand they have overheads but some prices are just extortion.
I guess in part it depends on if they employ someone to do the butchery etc
When I process a deer I don't count my labour as time spent butchering it.
At £42.50/kg are you a farm shop?
My mate is about to go down the venison processing route in a big way, luckily he has a village shop for his outlet, I will pass on what you are getting for what I assume is loin?
Cheers
Richard

 

[baguio]

I think for the most part people in this sport and industry do adhere to the regulations and law. There are as always a few who don’t and indeed won’t but mostly people do

I think that must be a typo? Surely you meant "don't"?

I'll bet that a significant proportion of the stalkers on this site who supply in fur carcasses are NOT registered as a food business! See post 19!

 

[sikamalc]

Who ever you purchase a carcass from make sure it is tagged with their number on it. Its illegal to sell it without a tag and their personal number on it. Any game dealer taking a carcass without a tag and number is committing an offence. Unless the stalker takes the whole pluck and head into the dealer so he may check it for himself to ensure it is disease free as far as they can tell.

 

[Uncle f]

Hmm I like to think the best in people mate to be fair

 

[Roestalker39]

Hmm I like to think the best in people mate to be fair

Indeed , and anyway if it wasn’t tagged with a number on it you would surely perish just looking at the beast .....

 

[baguio]

Hmm I like to think the best in people mate to be fair

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that they're terrible people. I'm just saying that there are a lot more people selling carcasses in the fur that aren't registered as food businesses than are registered. That I'm afraid means that they're selling carcasses illegally! Whether it makes any difference to our health is another matter altogether.

 

[Roestalker39]

Whether it makes any difference to our health is another matter altogether.

Only if they’re shot with lead

 

[sikamalc]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that they're terrible people. I'm just saying that there are a lot more people selling carcasses in the fur that aren't registered as food businesses than are registered. That I'm afraid means that they're selling carcasses illegally! Whether it makes any difference to our health is another matter altogether.

Well a few years back whilst delivering some deer into the game dealer at Bonar Bridge in Scotland, I had to wait yet again as an inspection was taking place on the premises. This was the second one within a few days. I asked the owners son what the issue was, only to be told that some idiot had put a carcass untagged into a local hotel/restaurant in Inverness within the last few days. This in turn had been contaminated and had put 6 people in Raigmore hospital with ecoli poisoning.

Whether people think its funny or right to illegally sell deer is up to them, but it does not look good on all of us when this type of thing happens.

 

[Roestalker39]

Well a few years back whilst delivering some deer into the game dealer at Bonar Bridge in Scotland, I had to wait yet again as an inspection was taking place on the premises. This was the second one within a few days. I asked the owners son what the issue was, only to be told that some idiot had put a carcass untagged into a local hotel/restaurant in Inverness within the last few days. This in turn had been contaminated and had put 6 people in Raigmore hospital with ecoli poisoning.

Whether people think its funny or right to illegally sell deer is up to them, but it does not look good on all of us when this type of thing happens.

So is it just the un tagged carcasses that are unsafe Malcom ?
Because I’ve seen the state of tagged carcasses too that clearly shouldn’t have been put in the food chain inspected by stalkers with Dsc and all the certs

 

[sikamalc]

So is it just the un tagged carcasses that are unsafe Malcom ?
Because I’ve seen the state of tagged carcasses too that clearly shouldn’t have been put in the food chain inspected by stalkers with Dsc and all the certs

If that's the case then they have signed the declaration on the tag and if it causes an issue they would be held to account. Its all about traceability and accountability. But at least they followed the law. Untagged carcass being sold without your number and Level 1 is breaking the law. Simple.

 

[Roestalker39]

If that's the case then they have signed the declaration on the tag and if it causes an issue they would be held to account. Its all about traceability and accountability. But at least they followed the law. Untagged carcass being sold without your number and Level 1 is breaking the law. Simple.

Indeed , I just can’t help but feel that these “ qualifications “ are somewhat lacking , I recall a dsc 1 “ qualified “ stalker on here asking what was up with a liver when he was pointing to the spleen ..... clearly I wouldn’t want this chap supplying me with venison

 

[deerstalker.308]

If that's the case then they have signed the declaration on the tag and if it causes an issue they would be held to account. Its all about traceability and accountability. But at least they followed the law. Untagged carcass being sold without your number and Level 1 is breaking the law. Simple.

often wondered this. So deer is tagged, through the hock normally, that tag stays with the carcass for all of 5 minutes while it is skinned, it’s then jointed, broken down etc. How is that traceable? There is no link between any of the various bits of meat, and the person that submitted it.
surely the traceability effectively stops at the point of sale to the AGHE, insomuch as the game dealer then takes responsibility for ensuring it meets their standards for processing. The notion that a packet of steaks or diced meat on the supermarket shelf can be traced back to a single persons trained hunter ID is fundamentally flawed..... probably one of the reasons the supermarkets have been slow on the uptake of wild British venison.

 

[sikamalc]

often wondered this. So deer is tagged, through the hock normally, that tag stays with the carcass for all of 5 minutes while it is skinned, it’s then jointed, broken down etc. How is that traceable? There is no link between any of the various bits of meat, and the person that submitted it.
surely the traceability effectively stops at the point of sale to the AGHE, insomuch as the game dealer then takes responsibility for ensuring it meets their standards for processing. The notion that a packet of steaks or diced meat on the supermarket shelf can be traced back to a single persons trained hunter ID is fundamentally flawed..... probably one of the reasons the supermarkets have been slow on the uptake of wild British venison.

True. Its difficult to prove anything once a carcass has been chopped up. But one assumes that game dealers have regular veterinary inspections in England, Wales or Scotland. I tag my carcasses on the lower flank. On the hock it can get chewed up on the gambrill sometimes and is easier to reach and read on the flank. Just my preference. At days end its all about accountability and traceability and being sure we act in a professional manner and making sure that whatever we put in the food chain is safe as we can possibly make it for human consumption.

I have a white board inside my larder room which is wiped clean when full. This has all the relevant details of each beast when shot, this is then photographed on a mobile phone when full and transfered onto a spread sheet. So I know where every beast is shot, where it was shot and the date, and who shot it, including the guides name if relevant.

 

[mo]

There is a facebook page called "giving up the game" not so long ago there was someone offering red carcasses at £40 each. I have no connection with that offer and also no info on if they were tagged (assuming they were) but the OP or anyone else might want to check that page out if after a deer carcass.

 

[Loler UK]

I spoke to someone from environmental health today.

Their advice was that someone with status of 'trained hunter' with the relevant meat hygiene certificate can sell to an AGHE, consumer (end user) or someone selling it directly to the consumer providing it is not processed beyond it's primary products ie eviscerated carcass less head & feet but still in the skin.

If you wish to sell deer beyond this primary product state the LA EH officers will make the decision whether or not you and your premises, equipment, work & sales practices etc can be registered as a food business.

I have heard a number of people (most with a vested interest) recently tell me otherwise and could not find a definitive answer online. From what I have found out it appears changes may be afoot in the future but right now we can still sell in the skin without registering as a food business, in some LA areas at the very least

 

[jimmy milnes]

I agree, to a point, through my rose tinted specs when farm shops first started to pop up I thought, great, support the local producer, good on them for cutting out the super market and middle men, it's bound to be so much cheaper, how wrong was I.
For us to shop at our local farm shop it's more of a treat and convenience, I understand they have overheads but some prices are just extortion.
I guess in part it depends on if they employ someone to do the butchery etc
When I process a deer I don't count my labour as time spent butchering it.
At £42.50/kg are you a farm shop?
My mate is about to go down the venison processing route in a big way, luckily he has a village shop for his outlet, I will pass on what you are getting for what I assume is loin?
Cheers
Richard

They charge a fortune because idiots pay it to be trendy and Bragg to tarquin an samantha how they shop at the farm shop, sh1t some of the freeks even go in waring sparkling clean wellys
A fool an his money an all that eh....

 

[baguio]

I have heard a number of people (most with a vested interest) recently tell me otherwise and could not find a definitive answer online. From what I have found out it appears changes may be afoot in the future but right now we can still sell in the skin without registering as a food business, in some LA areas at the very least

Wrong! See #20. This has been done to death. If you're not registered as a food business you cannot sell venison, in or out of the fur. Whoever you spoke to doesn't know what they're taking about! I can assure you that I have no vested interest and it's cost me a few quid to comply too!
PS, I have registered to sell on, ready to eat venison hence spending money on upgrading my facilities. 308 is quite correct about selling direct to the AGHE being free to register.

 

[deerstalker.308]

It doesn’t cost a penny to register as a food business with your local council, and it is the law, if all you do it take them from field to AGHE, there is no requirement to have premises inspected or spend any money on upgrading g facilities. It a simple form filled out and submitted. One could argue utterly pointless, but t’is the rules.

 

[Roestalker39]

One could argue utterly pointless,

Indeed ....

 

[Loler UK]

Wrong! See #20. This has been done to death. If you're not registered as a food business you cannot sell venison, in or out of the fur. Whoever you spoke to doesn't know what they're taking about! I can assure you that I have no vested interest and it's cost me a few quid to comply too!
PS, I have registered to sell on, ready to eat venison hence spending money on upgrading my facilities. 308 is quite correct about selling direct to the AGHE being free to register.

Would you be so kind as to post a link to this new requirement? Also does this mean that an aghe shouldn't accept deer from people that aren't registered?