Deer
The New Zealand deer industry began in the 1960s with small
exports of venison from feral deer. In 1970 the first breeding herd
was established to provide a continual supply of high quality
venison. By the mid 1970s, deer exports had expanded to include
velvet. New Zealand is the major world supplier of
venison.
New Zealand's deer herd is mostly red deer (approximately 85
percent) this reflects the originally imported wild
population. The majority of the remaining national herd is
Elk (also known as Wapiti). New Zealand has the worlds
largest and most advanced deer farming industry with approximately
half the world's deer farm population, approximately 1.7 million
deer, farmed in New Zealand.
There are an estimated 3,800 farms in New Zealand with deer,
farms range from stations to lifestyle properties. Often deer
are farmed along with sheep and cattle as part of a diversified
livestock portfolio. The majority, more than 90 percent, of
New Zealand's deer industry products are exported.
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