The New Zealand deer industry began in the 1960s with small exports of venison from feral deer. By the 1970s breeding herds were established to provide a continual supply of high-quality venison. By the mid 1970s, deer exports had expanded to include velvet. Top quality velvet has become a valuable export to traditional Asian medicinal markets, particularly in the Republic of Korea.

Resources

MPI's Policy Group runs an annual monitoring process to examine the production and financial status of farms in terms of the cash income and expenditure. Trends, issues and deer sector concerns are also monitored and reported annually.

MPI's Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture & Forestry (SONZAF) report provides an annual overview of issues faced by the deer industry.

Official list of approved certification bodies and certified herd testers (Info is from 2008)

Statistics

Deer numbers in New Zealand as at 30 June, 1979 to most recent

Annual data about the total number deer in New Zealand, and numbers of deer by age and sex.

• Livestock statistics

Animal Welfare

Codes of Welfare

• Deer
• Commerical Slaughter
• Painful Husbandry Procedures

Codes of Recommendations, Minimum Standards and Guidelines

• Animals at Saleyards
• Deer during the Removal of Antlers
• Emergency Slaughter of Farm Livestock
• Yearling Fallow Deer During the Use of Rubber Rings to prevent Antler/Pedicle Growth
• Red and Wapiti Yearling Stags During the Use of Rubber Rings to Induce Analgesia for the Removal of Spiker Velvet