Written answers

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Deer Farming

6:00 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent of deer farming here in comparison with other EU member states; the way the price paid to the producer compares with those charged to the consumer throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4196/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The number of deer slaughtered at plants approved by the Department during the period 2002 to 2009 is as set out in the following table. It should be noted that there is also a cross-border trade in deer with Northern Ireland which is not reflected in these figures. According to the 2000 Census of Agriculture conducted by the CSO, there were 12,055 head of farmed deer on Irish farms in June 2000. There is no EU-wide system in place for the collection of data on deer prices and slaughterings so it is not possible to say how well developed the sector is in Ireland as compared with other member states. Venison remains very much a niche product within the Irish meat sector and it is fair to say that it falls into this category across the EU and, as a result, there is little or no data readily available on the sector.

YearDeer slaughterings at approved plants
20021759
20031,278
20041,079
2005957
20061,875
20071,443
20081,325
20091,247

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