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Like the sheep industry, the deer sector is facing challenges from dairy for areas of its land use.
Dairy support, and milking farms have replaced farms traditionally used for finishing of deer, and producing velvet. Deer farms have been pushed back into the hills where they compete well with traditional sheep systems.
The animal produces two good products, both of which are selling well in the international market. But it has failed to grow to the next level of size where economies of scale of processors, would reduce costs, and return more profits to farmers.
A "new broom" of leaders at DINZ with a different range of skills, could be just what the industry needs to help it grow again.
Deer Industry NZ board member Andy Macfarlane, Ashburton, was elected as the chairman at the 46th Deer Industry New Zealand board meeting on 15 July. He is the principal shareholder of the Mid-Canterbury rural consultancy firm, Macfarlane Rural Business, currently a director of ANZCO Foods, President of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management and a member of the Lincoln University Council.
The board also appointed Wanaka based deer farmer and businessman, Jerry Bell, Criffel Station as vice chairman. As well as Macfarlane, the 2010 Deer Industry New Zealand board has two other new appointments, Collier Isaacs, Landcorp Farming Ltd’s national manager for strategy and planning and Glenn Tyrrell general manager marketing at Silver Fern Farms. They join existing board members, Grant Cuff, CEO Alliance Group, Andrew Duncan, chief executive of Duncan and Company, John Macdonald, Velvet Processors Association and Graham Carr, Peel Forest Estate.
Andy Macfarlane in accepting the chairmanship commented that he’s pleased to be appointed to the Deer Industry New Zealand board and to deepen his involvement in an industry which he’s very passionate about. “I joined DINZ because the deer industry is a fantastic industry with great products in venison and velvet and I am keen to play my part to assist the industry in fulfilling its potential.”
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