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Deer stalking and venison setback could lose sector up £9 million, survey on Covid-19 impact finds


By Hector MacKenzie

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The impact of the crisis is laid bare in the report. Picture: Alasdair Allen
The impact of the crisis is laid bare in the report. Picture: Alasdair Allen

A PROBE of groups with an interest in deer and venison has found millions of pounds are on the line as a result of the coronavirus public health crisis.

A survey undertaken by the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG), Lowland Deer Network Scotland (LDNS) and the Scottish Venison Association (SVA) has found that if there is no let stalking this year for stags, hinds, roe bucks or roe does then the 103 respondent businesses will lose in excess of £2.5m.

That could equate to £9m for the wider sector.

The research was undertaken to establish what the financial loss would be to those letting upland and lowland stalking given restrictions on UK and foreign travel under current Covid-19 regulations and social distancing rules, and how this might affect 2020/21cull plans.

The survey also wanted to establish how the loss of let stalking and potential changes to game dealer/ processor arrangements, which will be subject to reduced capacity due to the inefficiencies created by distancing requirements, might affect volumes of venison going into the food chain.

On loss of income from let stalking it finds that 103 respondents covering around 800,000 ha stand to lose in excess of £2.5m if there is no let stalking this season.

However, if there is no or limited let stalking this season, the deer cull plans of 57 per cent of respondents would be unaffected.

Whatever the degree, we must expect disruption and significant economic damage including potential job losses, both part time and seasonal, as survey respondents have flagged up. We must also recognise the loss to the wider rural economy from the income that this type of sporting tourism generates.
Richard Cooke

Half of respondents said the loss of all or part of their letting income would not affect the volume of venison they put into the food chain.

More than 62 per cent said that if arrangements with their game dealer, including price, change they would adjust their planned cull.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the Association of Deer Management Groups, said: “This survey gives us some very valuable insight into the potential impact on deer management businesses if there were to be no let stalking in the coming season due to the fallout from Covid-19.

“Our sample represents just under one-third of the sector, so the consequential loss of let stalking being impossible can be estimated at around £9m total before any impact from downgraded venison sales is also taken into account. This is of course the worst-case scenario, full cancellation, and hopefully the impact will be less if the Scottish Government roadmap out of lockdown proceeds as hoped.

"However, there will undoubtedly be some effect due to cancelled bookings and the difficulties of organising Covid-safe stalking with guests. Whatever the degree, we must expect disruption and significant economic damage including potential job losses, both part time and seasonal, as survey respondents have flagged up. We must also recognise the loss to the wider rural economy from the income that this type of sporting tourism generates.

“As for venison, the processors have lost all their restaurant, food service and catering customers and may be sitting on unsold stock from last season. While these markets should recover it would be unrealistic to expect that in the short term and they are therefore facing a situation of reduced demand and extra cost due to the need to incorporate social distancing within their processing operations. The effect on price remains to be seen.

“The Scottish Venison Association, supported by ADMG, is developing a recovery plan for discussion with the Scottish Government and ADMG is also working with other bodies to advise Scottish Government in the provision of advice on how to conduct deer management and other outdoor activities with social distancing taken into account.

"ADMG’s firm advice must be to take planned culls in full to avoid future problems with deer numbers but a high degree of cooperation with processors will be necessary to ensure that the venison supply chain can remain operable throughout the coming months.”

The full results of the survey are now online and include a summary of additional comments from respondents.

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