Deer farming as profitable agribussines: The hidden potential in Serbia
Authors: Urošević Miroslav , Čer Sara , Beuković Dejan , Mirčeta Jovan , Abramowicz Beata , Polovinski-Horvatović Miroslava 
Published: June 2024

The farming of deer (Cervidae family) has increased globally during the last decades, both in the number of farming operations and the economic output. The increasing interest of consumers in the so-called "freerange products" is reflected in the worldwide development of wild animal farming. Deer are farmed on multiple continents for multiple markets including products such as venison, velvet, urine and antlers. New Zealand is by far the largest exporter of deer meat (venison) and products in the world. Venison equates to 91 percent of the total volume of their deer products exported, however is just over 58 percent of the value. In the United States of America (USA) deer farming as alternative agricultural pursuit is a promising way to preserve the traditional rural way of life while taking advantage of a booming industry. In Europe, production and consumption data for farmed deer are scarce. An exception could be the report of EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) 10 years ago. It stated that approximately 280.000 deer, predominantly Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Fallow deer (Dama dama) are farmed in Europe, but less than half of these are slaughtered annually. In Serbia and throughout Europe, venison from deer has increased in popularity and market value owing to its high nutritional value, excellent eating attributes, environmental sustainability, and deep cultural roots. Concomitantly, cattle production has become less profitable and production has decreased over the last two decades leading to protests and economic stagnation in rural Serbia. The low labour regime for deer farming (1 hour work/ per day) means that it can easily complement other livestock and arable enterprises. Dairy cattle farms, with existing buildings, are ideally suited for conversion to deer. In the future, deer farming will increase in Central-, Southeast Europe; smaller farms tend to fallow deer - bigger farms to red deer. Venison is an emerging agro-industry throughout Europe and deer farming has the potential to bolster declining agricultural markets in Serbia. Currently in Serbia all venison is derived from hunted animals, farming does not yet occur. The challenge in Serbia is therefore to harmonize production, regulation and markets with the European Union while making the Serbian venison market equitable, sustainable and profitable. Regulations must be harmonized with European Union, educational programming for deer farmers need to be developed, and venison markets need to be created. As an example, in the Animal welfare law in Serbia it is not present any definition of deer or wild game farm. Consequently, there are no guidelines about the conditions of accommodation, housing, feeding, management and handling. Also, in the Regulation about animal transport there is a lack of rules about the transport of wildlife (or game animals) as well as on the provision of relevant certificate of competence for drivers or handlers. National legislation about meat production in Serbia should consistently define "small quantities", "local sales" and "direct supply to the final consumer" for the purposes of supply of in-fur carcasses.