New Zealand farm venison prices have hit a four-year high, reflecting demand in overseas markets and favourable currency movements.
At $8.63 per kg, the spring peak of the 2015 venison schedule was 11 percent higher than 2014 and the highest since 2011, Deer Industry NZ chief executive Dan Coup said in a statement.
Venison prices peak each year in spring in response to demand from traditional game meat markets in Europe, Coup said.
"Demand for chilled venison during the 2015 season was solid, with air freight shipments continuing up to Christmas," he said.
The average stag venison schedule now stands at 728 c/kg, compared with 630 c/kg at the same time last year - an increase of 16 per cent. This reflects an 11 per cent currency gain and a 5 per cent market gain. Coup said market price gain reflected a 12 per cent increase in the per kilogram value of chilled venison exports.
