Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dong’e Ejiao, one of China’s largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) companies. The MOU represents a commitment to exploring joint opportunities in the research, development and marketing of deer products, particularly in velvet – prized in China for its traditional medicinal properties.

DINZ Chief Executive Rhys Griffiths shares some thoughts after returning recently from China, where meetings revealed both exciting market potential and growing challenges.

Leaders from across the livestock sector have come together with the Government to sign a new agreement on how to prepare and respond in the unlikely event of a foot and mouth disease outbreak.

DINZ CEO Rhys Griffiths has wrapped up a busy few days in Seoul, where he met with both long-standing industry partners and some exciting new players in the Korean health and wellness space. This article highlights a few key takeaways.

At the annual deer industry conference in Queenstown in mid-May, the concept of export licensing for deer velvet was introduced for the first time. DINZ Trade Strategy Manager Damon Paling presented a vision to help address rising farmer concerns around price instability, levy non-compliance, and unfair trading conditions.

May was a busy month for DINZ-coordinated farm planning workshops, with workshops kicked off in the North Island in greater numbers while continuing across Southland. Some new farm planning modules are being developed, particularly in pest and disease management.

The day after the annual deer industry conference, attendees traveled from Queenstown to just over the Otago/Southland border to Fairlight Station for the post-conference farm field day.

Celebrating 50 years of the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association was always going to make this year’s annual deer industry conference a special one, and it did not disappoint.

The venison industry has invested in building a premium retail presence in North America through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) – North America Retail Accelerator (NARA) programme.

Finding the sweet spot | Meet and Greet: Glen Whyte | Industry News: Modest Malcolm honoured, Changing of the guard, Wild deer out of control, Going for gold, Pāmu confidence in deer industry, More inside knowledge | Venison: Game plan pays off, Q2 in the books for NARA project | NZDFA: The rap from the regions, Weaning recap-plus at Canterbury field day | On Farm: Rolling in the Wild West, Rangitikei family affair ticks the box | Animal Health: Weaning strategies for better hind and fawn performance | Science 4 Success: Deer Select 2 - new and improved, “Deer-livering” us from the evils of ageing? | Recipe: Grilled venison flat iron steak with summer salsa