There are now more than 600 deer farms in the country, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr Noel Davern, said yesterday, writes Sean MacConnell.
Officially opening the Second World Deer Congress at the University of Limerick, the Minister said that in 1983 there were only three deer farms in the Republic. "There is now a substantial breeding stock population of around 23,000 animals in the country which provide a viable alternative farming activity," he said.
He expressed confidence that the deer sector could successfully build up sustainable domestic and export markets.
