New food safety films for venison sector now online

Three food safety films specifically to highlight potential high risk areas of contamination in the venison food chain are now available online.  The three films, titled The gralloch on the hill, Essential red deer larder work, and Field dressing a roe buck have been produced by the Scottish Venison Partnership, Scottish Quality Wild Venison, and Scottish Natural Heritage (Best Practice Guides) in order to increase awareness about contamination risks and steps that can be taken to prevent this.  The three films, made by Pace Productions, will be shown at two special workshops for stalkers and deer managers on Friday 29 June at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair this summer with opportunities for discussion and questions around this and related meat hygiene issues. The films can be seen on the Scottish Venison Youtube channel here.

Higher winter mortality expected in wild deer

ADMG is warning that, given the recent cold spell and conditions through the winter months, there is a possibility of higher deer mortality this spring than in recent milder winters.

Richard Cooke, Chairman of the Association of Deer Management Groups, says:

We have heard from some Deer Management Groups that deer in their areas were found to be in poor condition during the hind season and this cold spell will be hard for them, particularly if it now turns wet. Often it is the last few weeks before the grass starts to appear on the hill that leads to losses particularly of last year’s calves; also mature stags which use up most of their body condition in the breeding season in the preceding October and November can succumb.  Hinds tend to be more resilient. The thinner skinned roe deer are also susceptible to hard weather.

Winter losses are a natural process for wild deer, particularly in a year such as this but, by selectively removing the older and poorer individuals, management culling undoubtedly reduces natural mortality.  The Scottish red deer population is now beginning to decline due to culling effort, as found in the James Hutton Institute report to SNH in 2017, and the overall health status of our red deer is generally good and within the carrying capacity of their range, but hard weather takes its toll as it does on all birdlife and wildlife.

Our request to the hill-going public is please to give deer a wide berth to avoid imposing further stress. Also, we would urge particular caution on the roads as deer naturally seek shelter on lower ground in hard times and are a potential hazard for motorists.

Joint letter from rural organisations to Scottish Government highlights concerns over reintroduction of non-domestic rates for shootings and deer forests

Rural organisations have written to Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries setting out their concerns for the sector following the reintroduction of non-domestic rates on shootings and deer forests.

Scottish Land & Estates, Confor, Scottish Countryside Alliance, NFU Scotland, BASC, ADMG, and SACS have written a joint letter to Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, and Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. The letter expresses concern that the re-introduction is being rushed, Assessors have not had time or resource to implement the reintroduction satisfactorily, and it is rural businesses and communities that will suffer the consequences.

The organisations have welcomed further dialogue with the Scottish Government and seek the consideration of how unintended impacts on policies, such as those regarding deer management and forestry, can be mitigated.  Breathing space would allow businesses to plan while accuracy of valuations is established through the appeals process and the Scottish Government can undertake impact assessments which would fulfil their commitment set out during the Bill stages.

It is hoped this collaborative working and engagement will help with the understanding of how this reintroduction is unintentionally detrimentally affecting rural areas.

Scottish Deer Health Survey 2017 – 19

Deer stalkers and deer managers across the uplands and lowlands are being encouraged to take part in the Scottish Deer Health Survey, possibly the largest research programme ever of this type in the UK, to establish the prevalence or otherwise of a number of health risks across all of Scotland’s wild deer species.

The research project, which runs over two years and is funded by Food Standards Scotland and the Scottish Government, is being undertaken by the Moredun Research Institute and Edinburgh University, and is supported by Scotland’s wild deer sector, the Association of Deer Management Groups, the Lowland Deer Network Scotland and the Scottish Venison Partnership.

The initiative was launched at the ADMG meeting at Glenfinnan in August with a follow-up session for low ground land managers at the LDNS meeting later in the month. Its objective is to assess the prevalence of E. coli O157, Cryptosporidium and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the Scottish wild deer population, all species, upland and lowland.

Alerted to the risk of E. coli O157 in processed wild venison products in an outbreak in 2015, scientists suspect that its actual prevalence may be very low in Scottish wild deer.  However, the Scottish venison industry, which is helping to meet a healthy and ever increasing demand for venison products in the UK, would benefit from having this verified, along with information on which stages of the venison production process carry higher risks of potential contamination from E. coli.

It is intended that this research once concluded can help to inform current Best Practice guidelines for processing of carcasses and reduce any risk to human health, and is considered a vital part of the knowledge bank if the industry is to continue to grow and develop.

The research project will also involve screening faecal samples for the parasite Cryptosporidium and rectal tissue samples for CWD, both of which are currently seen as risks to deer health and welfare.  CWD is especially prevalent in certain states in the USA and has been reported in Scandinavia where it was diagnosed in moose, and in March 2016 in wild reindeer from the Nordfjella mountain area in Norway resulting in a Government order to cull the herd and a quarantining of the ground.

For the research project, sample collection is a simple process that can be done at the time of the gralloch or in the larder. It is hoped that more than 1000 faecal and tissue samples will be collected from all deer habitat across Scotland including the islands in order to provide the broadest picture of where risk from such issues may be highest.

Further detail about the research project and the sampling protocol is available here:
Scottish Deer Health Survey
Sampling protocol

For more information contact Tom McNeilly (Tom.McNeilly@moredun.ac.uk) or Beth Wells (beth.wells@moredun.ac.uk) tel. 0131 445 6157.

The ongoing Assynt deer situation

ADMG does not in principle oppose the use by SNH of its statutory powers as a last resort where a DMG is unable to bring all of its members into collaborative management conforming to an agreed Deer Management Plan.

SNH was criticised by some during the recent deer sector review for not using all of its 1996 Deer (Scotland) Act powers, mainly Section 8 Control Schemes, in circumstances where such a course of action might have been justified.

SNH has now determined to take a more assertive approach and is clearly seeking candidate landholdings associated with designated sites in unfavourable condition where it can test its full array of statutory powers.  ADMG reiterates that any such actions must be based on clear and undisputed evidence both of failure to take effective remedial measures on habitats in unfavourable condition, and of evidence of underperformance by the landholdings concerned.

In the case of Assynt there is a general recognition of a longstanding failure of collaborative management in addressing the condition of a protected site.  However, over the last year the Assynt Peninsula DMG has developed a draft Deer Management Plan and we understand that there are early signs of progress, not least in the recovery of the birch woods.  We would be concerned if the testing of Section 8 of the 1996 Act in Assynt were to undermine a recovering DMG.

Further context and comment on the Assynt situation is available here:

Deer Management on the Assynt Peninsula SNH Board Paper, 30 June 2017
The Assynt deer argument – what is it all about?
A report by Victor Clements, July 2017

Note: ADMG welcomes contributed articles and opinions. In that respect, views expressed on the ADMG website, and in links, may not necessarily reflect the views of ADMG.

ADMG at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair 2017

Eric Starke with Mia
Eric Starke with Mia, Glen Prosen Estate

ADMG had a really good three days at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair from 30 June to 2 July with a busy stand, shared with LDNS, which this year focused on Deer Management Planning and Habitat Impact Assessments. There was a good level of interest from both members and the general public and some useful conversations with Agencies and others including a visit from the new Chair of SNH Mike Cantlay.  The first day of the event fell the day after Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, had given her direction to what happens next for deer management (see previous news post) and the SNH Board had agreed its future approach.

One undoubted highlight at Scone was the Fred Taylor Memorial Trophy for Working Hill Ponies, staged on Fair Sunday.  This was won this year by Eric Starke with Mia in a fantastic entry of 19 ponies. The event was sponsored by Rigby, who presented a Highland Stalker .275 rifle with Leica Visus scope to the winner.  Eric also received a prestigious Bronze Medal from the Highland Pony Society. All entrants received a bottle of Rigby 18 year Old Single Malt.

Line up of the working ponies in the main ring
Line up of the ponies in the main ring

Great credit must go to all the estates, ghillies and ponies that took part, many of whom had travelled a considerable distance, and who all contributed to a terrific spectacle when the sun came out and the clouds gave way to blue sky to add that extra special touch.

 

ADMG responds to Cabinet Secretary’s announcement on improvements to the way wild deer are managed

Today, 29 June, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, made her announcement about what happens next for deer management in Scotland. This followed the Deer Review, which comprised the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) 2016 Assessments of Deer Management Groups and subsequent Report, the review by the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee and a debate in the Scottish Parliament.

The Board of SNH also met today to discuss its next steps.

Following the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement, Richard Cooke, Chairman, the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG), said:

“The upland deer sector is committed to progressive change and will work with other interests in developing and implementing new approaches to deer management which plays an important role in the rural economy and rural employment in the remoter parts of Scotland. Thus we welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s decision to set up an independent group to support the deer sector as it moves forward.

“We are pleased to note the Cabinet Secretary’s recognition in her statement of the progress made by the deer sector over the last two years, particularly as this was somewhat understated in the 2016 SNH Report. Deer Management Groups, having adopted new deer management plans which take account of all relevant aspects of the public interest, are now turning their attention and efforts to setting up systematic habitat monitoring across the upland deer range. Hopefully this will result in a more informed debate on the habitat impact of deer along with other herbivores, especially sheep, rather than focusing on deer numbers and densities alone, as has mostly been the case in the recent review process.

“We agree with the Cabinet Secretary that more legislative action is not necessary at this time and support her direction to SNH to use existing statutory powers as a back stop for the voluntary approach in situations where deer management is falling short. We have no difficulty with a more assertive approach by SNH but will expect any such last resort action to be justified on the basis of firm evidence.”

The Cabinet Secretary’s statement can be seen here .
The SNH Board papers including a paper An Enhanced Approach to Deer Management and another on Deer Management of the Assynt Peninsula can be seen here.

Rum National Nature Reserve – Sporting Lease Opportunity

To let by Scottish Natural Heritage – a unique opportunity to manage the annual cull of around 60 stags for 5 years, over approximately 9,000 hectares on Rum National Nature Reserve.

To be let from 2018 to 2022.

Interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest in writing to the Project Manager, Lizzie Richards via email: Lizzie.richards@snh.gov.uk or post to SNH, Dingwall Business Park, Fodderty Way, Dingwall, IV15 9XB, by 31 May 2017.

Please include a main contact name, address, email address and phone number. If you are responding on behalf of a syndicate or consortium, please provide similar details for all other syndicate/consortium members.

Full tender documents will be issued to interested parties by 9 June 2017.

 

 

 

Briefing note for MSPs – Debate on deer management – 2 May 2017

The following observations by ADMG relate to the April 2017 Report to the Cabinet Secretary by the ECCLR Committee and are presented in the context of the debate on deer management in the Scottish Parliament on 2 May 2017.

The ECCLR Committee report recognised that:

  • Notable progress has been made by most upland deer management groups (DMGs) since the 2013 RACCE Committee review.
  • Deer management across Scotland – four species, many different environments and land uses – is varied and complex.
  • Deer impacts are more important than numbers, and should be considered in a local context.
  • All herbivore impacts should be considered – deer, sheep, etc
  • Incentives as well as penalties are necessary to promote effective deer management in the public interest.

1. Deer Management Planning
ADMG acknowledges that more work is required to achieve improvements to some habitats, as well as other aspects of the public interest. ADMG coordinates and supports the deer management sector in this regard.

With regard to the status of deer management plans:

  • 42 out of 44 DMGs now have plans that take into account the public as well as the private interest.
  • 37 plans are publicly available online at www.deer-management.co.uk
  • Next steps should be directed towards delivery of deer management plans. This work is already underway.
  • New DMGs in new areas will require support through the deer management planning phase.

2. Section 7 Areas
The ECCLR Committee, we think wrongly, took a negative view in respect of S7 Control Agreements and native woodlands affected by herbivore impacts. For example the Mar Lodge S7 Agreement was concluded last week, 3 years early, having achieved its habitat objectives.  Other than on designated sites, the countryside is a working environment and deer management makes an important contribution to Scotland’s rural economy.

3. Protected sites/native woodland
While there is room for further progress, ADMG regards this as a positive area (1606 natural features are affected by herbivores; 75 per cent are in favourable, or recovering condition), and in the case of native woodlands two thirds. Time is a crucial factor and any measurable habitat response to management will take several growing seasons at exposed upland locations.

4. Deer sector progress
The Committee concluded in respect of DMGs “it would be reasonable to have expected a greater rate of progress in terms of implementation and delivery of outcomes.” ADMG disagrees. Why? Principally the timeframe for delivery.

No detailed definition of ‘the public interest’ was provided by SNH until August 2014, and the baseline DMG assessments not done until November 2014. Funding support for DMGs to create/revise Plans to take account of the public interest was not available until January 2015.  The Plans were reassessed for the Review less than 18 months later. While it was reasonable to assess progress on the planning process in June 2016, assessing DMGs on delivery and implementation, was simply not possible within that timeframe.  The implementation stage has now commenced and can reasonably be assessed in 2019.

5. ADMG immediate priorities
ADMG has a forward work programme including:

  • Developing Habitat Impact Assessment (HIA) frameworks across all DMGs, supported by a training video.
  • Re-launch of Wild Deer Best Practice
  • Taking forward the SWARD project – finalisation of software to assist DMGs in processing and analysing deer population and habitat data.
  • Supporting the formation of new DMGs.

6. Economic impact of deer management
The SNH report to the Committee overlooked the secondary economic impacts of deer management in its use of figures for deer related economic activity. The overall contribution of deer management to the economy, including downstream activity, was estimated by PACEC in 2016 as £141m/annum and 2520 FT equivalent jobs.

Further substantial reductions in deer numbers could make many stalking businesses unviable and lead to loss of jobs. It would will also mean a short-term glut in the venison supply chain followed by reduced supply to an expanding UK market, a particular Scottish food sector success story.

7. Lowland deer management
It is noted that the Committee is disappointed that there has been “so little progress” in this area, as well as lack of information on numbers and impacts.

However, it is wrong to assume that where there is no deer group then no deer management is taking place. There are over 6000 DSC 1 qualified deer managers in Scotland.  A reasonable assumption would be that over half of these vocational deer managers are active, or available, in the lowlands.

LDNS, set up in 2011, is playing an active role in promoting voluntary collaborative management and encouraging engagement from farming and land owning sectors and from local authorities.

8. Statutory powers
ADMG agrees that SNH should use its untested statutory powers where necessary but asserts that there is no requirement for more powers until those existing have been tried and shown to be inadequate.

9. ECCLR Committee proposals
The Committee has suggested that the voluntary basis for deer management is maintained alongside a more regulated approach.  This would involve SNH determining annual culls for all landholdings (reported to number 55,000); mandatory cull returns; 5 yearly compulsory counts by DMGs; also a statutory Duty to manage deer sustainably.

In upland areas, working with all the individual DMGs, SNH is already involved in population modeling and cull setting through the deer management planning process.

Such a regulated system could no longer be described as voluntary.

10. Working group
ADMG supports the establishment of a working group but would wish this to focus, at least in part, on the future development programme.

11. Additional resources
There are significant cost implications to the ECCLR Committee’s recommendations, and, as suggested by the Committee, a full public cost assessment should be a priority. SNH is under-resourced and would require a significant increase in funding if the Committee proposals (9 above) were implemented. In particular additional funding and support would be required for significant change to be made in lowland and near urban areas.

12. Policy context
ADMG supports the Committee’s desire to identify “societal objectives … for our different landscapes”. A better understanding of what the nation wants will allow deer managers to better contribute, while maintaining the environmental, economic, social and cultural values of wild deer.

13. Next steps
ADMG considers that:

  • The voluntary basis of deer management should be maintained, subject to the Deer Code, and the existing statutory framework.
  • SNH, where circumstances demand, should use its statutory powers.
  • The deer management plan process should continue and be reviewed on a 3 yearly basis as provided in the land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.
  • The ADMG development programme (5. above) should be supported by all relevant interests.

 

Association of Deer Management Groups
April 2017