Venison Price drop!

[Chill 123]

I have just received a email from Ben Rigby . As from 1st November Fallow price per Kg is down to £1.50 . Any Fallow under 19kg (which most fawns are this time of year ) 80p per Kg ,

Chill

 

[Blaser243]

Quelle surprise on the timing, but the price for smaller deer is derisory. They won't be getting any of mine this year, nor will anyone else offering such poor returns. I'd sooner give it to the public direct for free.

 

[Dorset Deer]

All this at a time where we are being actively encouraged to get on top of Fallow.
What ever happened to the subsidy that was being looked at for Fallow & Muntjac?
I Had meetings with other DMG`s inc BASC and BDS, where there was going to be a financial incentive to actively manage these two species in particular.
This would have offset the poor carcass values currently being offered by the likes of BR etc

 

[TringSaint]

I have just received a email from Ben Rigby . As from 1st November Fallow price per Kg is down to £1.50 . Any Fallow under 19kg (which most fawns are this time of year ) 80p per Kg ,

Chill

Why not just build a network of friends and family and ‘sell’ to them.

I don’t bother with game dealers because they are perennial pi$$ takers, instead I trade my venison for firewood, wine, bark chippings, hardcore, whatever I need really and it does me fine.

My firewood supplier has c£200 of venison at retail and I get c£200 of well seasoned wood. It costs each of us next to nothing (he is a tree surgeon) but the benefit we each get is immense.

Of course, if you are killing loads then this might be a challenge.
Could always advertise on ‘giving up the game’ or whatever the site is called.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Ok. I’ve been moaning about venison prices for years, but increasingly have shifted slightly…
A) there’s very little point, it achieves nothing, and won’t change things.
B) if you want more money, pay out, convert a garage, spend a load of money on fitting out as a commercial set up, etc and process it yourself. You’ll need to register for self assessment etc (which we probably all should if supplying any significant quantity!) and check the council is happy for you to run a business from your property of course…. And you’ll have to dispose of all byproducts appropriately at your expense.
C) the deer you shoot (unless you pay handsomely for the lease) costs you nothing to produce, you’ve not had to feed, house, pay for veterinary treatment etc, it costs you a bit of time, fuel and a bullet. And this for most of us is a pastime we do as a hobby/sideline.
When you factor in all the various links in the chain between you as trigger puller and the supermarket shelf, there’s an awful lot of time/energy/staffing/logistics to transform that deer into something the consumer will see. We are but a cog.

 

[Tim.243]

Ok. I’ve been moaning about venison prices for years, but increasingly have shifted slightly…
A) there’s very little point, it achieves nothing, and won’t change things.
B) if you want more money, pay out, convert a garage, spend a load of money on fitting out as a commercial set up, etc and process it yourself. You’ll need to register for self assessment etc (which we probably all should if supplying any significant quantity!) and check the council is happy for you to run a business from your property of course…. And you’ll have to dispose of all byproducts appropriately at your expense.
C) the deer you shoot (unless you pay handsomely for the lease) costs you nothing to produce, you’ve not had to feed, house, pay for veterinary treatment etc, it costs you a bit of time, fuel and a bullet. And this for most of us is a pastime we do as a hobby/sideline.
When you factor in all the various links in the chain between you as trigger puller and the supermarket shelf, there’s an awful lot of time/energy/staffing/logistics to transform that deer into something the consumer will see. We are but a cog.

%100 Andy. We all had a mortgage and job to pay for it way before shooting deer.

I could see the application form coming back in the post
Question 1 Main source of income?
"shooting deer"

 

[VSS]

%100 Andy. We all had a mortgage and job to pay for it way before shooting deer.

I could see the application form coming back in the post
Question 1 Main source of income?
"shooting deer"

For some on here, shooting deer is their main source of income.

But aside from that, in-skin carcass price  should be up in the region of £4 / kg. But it never will be, while the quality of the supply is so inconsistent. Unless stalkers are going to up their game across the board, the price will always settle at the lowest denominator.

 

[nun_hunter]

For some on here, shooting deer is their main source of income.

But aside from that, in-skin carcass price  should be up in the region of £4 / kg. But it never will be, while the quality of the supply is so inconsistent. Unless stalkers are going to up their game across the board, the price will always settle at the lowest denominator.

He in lies the problem, the hobby stalker wants the price to reflect what a professional would get while providing a less than consistent supply (both in quantity and quality) while the professional can't get top price due to the inconsistencies in the market.

Personally I seel surplus to a game dealer so I'm not wasting carcasses I can't use myself. The money is a bonus but not why I do it. I do still provide a quality carcass because I wouldn't dare sell something I wouldn't put in my own chiller and feed to my family, so much so the farmer (sheep and cattle) I shoot for has commented how clean and well presented they are.

 

[Ratel]

We have decided this year that we only deal with one person in limited amounts and we just ask so much per doe. Some of this can be done on a swap basis for other meat. The rest will go to the freezers of estate management, staff, stalkers who assist and personal friends all round, free gratis. Sod putting it into any game dealer. I was told by another ancient stalker this week what used to be said to him years ago.
"Eat all you can, give friends all they need, and if there's any left sell it to the theiving game dealer".

 

[One on top of two]

Why not just build a network of friends and family and ‘sell’ to them.

I don’t bother with game dealers because they are perennial pi$$ takers, instead I trade my venison for firewood, wine, bark chippings, hardcore, whatever I need really and it does me fine.

My firewood supplier has c£200 of venison at retail and I get c£200 of well seasoned wood. It costs each of us next to nothing (he is a tree surgeon) but the benefit we each get is immense.

Of course, if you are killing loads then this might be a challenge.
Could always advertise on ‘giving up the game’ or whatever the site is called.

I have done similar for a good number of years now . Alway been a big believer in the Trade .. trades idea .

 

[Lace1978]

It's pretty much what happened to the feathered game market it won't be long before you will be giving it away

 

[RCS Deer Management]

%100 Andy. We all had a mortgage and job to pay for it way before shooting deer.

I could see the application form coming back in the post
Question 1 Main source of income?
"shooting deer"

For some of us shooting deer is our main source of income? And yes, a dip in carcass prices does hit us hard

 

[hoodwink]

For some on here, shooting deer is their main source of income.

But aside from that, in-skin carcass price  should be up in the region of £4 / kg. But it never will be, while the quality of the supply is so inconsistent. Unless stalkers are going to up their game across the board, the price will always settle at the lowest denominator.

Unfortunately it appears Ben Rigby are not treating their most consistent suppliers any better than everyone else. But when push comes to shove maybe they will still take carcasses from the good guys.

 

[TringSaint]

He in lies the problem, the hobby stalker wants the price to reflect what a professional would get while providing a less than consistent supply (both in quantity and quality) while the professional can't get top price due to the inconsistencies in the market.

Personally I seel surplus to a game dealer so I'm not wasting carcasses I can't use myself. The money is a bonus but not why I do it. I do still provide a quality carcass because I wouldn't dare sell something I wouldn't put in my own chiller and feed to my family, so much so the farmer (sheep and cattle) I shoot for has commented how clean and well presented they are.

Given the current economic climate, I’m sure we all know of some individuals and families who are finding it tough going at the moment, so maybe we all seek to help out those who are less fortunate than we are if we have some surplus venison.

You never know, the lack of supply might even drive the price up!!

 

[TringSaint]

Unfortunately it appears Ben Rigby are not treating their most consistent suppliers any better than everyone else. But when push comes to shove maybe they will still take carcasses from the good guys.

I think BR take all of the venison from Ashridge - if that is the case then they will get a huge dump of carcasses over the next 6-8 weeks, hence the price drop.

 

[VSS]

Unfortunately it appears Ben Rigby are not treating their most consistent suppliers any better than everyone else. But when push comes to shove maybe they will still take carcasses from the good guys.

That's exactly my point. The one price that they set for everything is based on the poorest deer that they're presented with.
As for better treatment for suppliers of better carcasses, it's a case of "damned if they do, damned if they don't". I have seen game dealers slated on here for offering a higher price for head shot deer (ie, better carcasses).
I tell you something: If I was a game dealer, I'd only be buying head shot deer, and I'd be paying proper money for them. Disposal of the shot damaged parts of chest shot deer is a cost, and the yield of saleable meat per carcass is considerably lower.
I'm not advocating everyone takes head shots, btw. You've got to shoot within the limits of your capabilities and be humane. But also be prepared to accept a lower price.

 

[hoodwink]

That's exactly my point. The one price that they set for everything is based on the poorest deer that they're presented with.
As for better treatment for suppliers of better carcasses, it's a case of "damned if they do, damned if they don't". I have seen game dealers slated on here for offering a higher price for head shot deer (ie, better carcasses).
I tell you something: If I was a game dealer, I'd only be taking head shot deer, and I'd be paying proper money for them. Disposal of the shot damaged parts of chest shot deer is a cost, and the yield of saleable meat per carcass is considerably lower.
I'm not advocating everyone takes head shots, btw. You've got to shoot within the limits of your capabilities and be humane. But also be prepared to accept a lower price.

I am fortunate that i dont make my living from this, it’s not something the market can support at the moment. I think having a bit of pride in anything you do is a good start, at least it should produce clean carcasses even chest shot carcasses can be acceptable.
I think from a recent discussion that the real cost of shooting and getting to larder a large deer is around £200 but generally those paid to shoot deer are lucky to get £100
these are approximate FC costs.

 

[Tim.243]

For some of us shooting deer is our main source of income? And yes, a dip in carcass prices does hit us hard

I don't make the prices but as I replied to Andy and echo that the majority of people on SD scratch a few deer, some shoot a good deal more. Most of my farm welding work has dried up for the winter and no one has anything to say about that! I started work at 16 in 77 was you having a wage from deer back when you was 16?

 

[Firefly]

Venison is the only thing I’ve ever sold where the buyer gives me the price he wants to
I know they are from a farmed source but - Haunch Steaks Waitrose £ 37/kg
How can we ever sort this $h1t out !?

 

[nun_hunter]

Given the current economic climate, I’m sure we all know of some individuals and families who are finding it tough going at the moment, so maybe we all seek to help out those who are less fortunate than we are if we have some surplus venison.

You never know, the lack of supply might even drive the price up!!

I'd be happy to give whole carcasses away but most people I know unfortunately wouldn't know where to start butchering it. I tried giving up the game on Facebook but it was so hot and miss with people actually replying it wasn't worth it.