Mar 2010

Schedules prices are stable at present, with kill numbers low in the frozen market period. Early sales are now being seen for weaner deer, with values in the $4-$4.60/kg LWT price range. The feeling is, that this may firm slightly with future auctions, but with Silver Fern Farms setting the spring schedule “bar” at $8.25/kg, margins will be squeezed, if too high a price is paid. And with a five year average drop in spring to summer schedules of about $1.44, this will give producers a feel for the market for budgeting purposes. For sustainable long term weaner deer production, farmers should be developing relationships with finishers, that share the highs and lows of venison prices in the spring. The focus should be on getting more, big early animals, on the ground in the autumn, factors that skilled management can influence.

The trend is steady , with prices now moving from the summer low. Those prices are now $1.44/kg behind last year.

The Euro is now 30% ahead of last year and influencing the schedule prices. Also production levels are 22% down which is helping minimise the price damage. The frozen market continues to be difficult, as we try and compete against European deer meat and cheaper protein options in a market, where the restaurant trade is slow. Kill estimates for the year are well back and are not predicted to pick up until 2012 when the increasing hind numbers are producing.

The sire stag season is finished and most record much better prices than last year. To see a summary of this years stag sales look in the stag store page.

Read MAF report- Outlook good for Deer Industry

for more trend graphs, see

- lamb
- beef
- deer
- velvet

for more perspectives, see

- Exchange rates
- Commodity price detail
- Farm cost indexes
- Interest rate trends
- Rural credit aggregates
- Farm sales activity
- International dairy prices

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