EDITORIAL: PHEASANT & VENISON, THE ISSUES

This subject was hastily and not very deeply researched due to time constraints.  It expresses the blogger's personal view.

The two main issues relating to pheasant and venison relate to farmed game and animal welfare.  Is 'farmed' game as healthy as wild?  Does shooting a bird or deer invalidate its value as a protein rich food?

Wild v farmed 

'Farmed' here does not mean factory farmed but partially raised in restricted areas.  This can mean anything from a pen for hatchlings to enclosed acres of land for deer.

PHEASANT 
As far as pheasant is concerned, apparently 80% are farmed before being released into the woods, in order to meet demand.  A new Code of Practice relating to the Welfare of Gamebirds came into effect in 2011 governing all elements of pheasant rearing.  Pheasant farms are recommended to register with a vet to monitor pheasant welfare.

Many partridge 'farmers' raise their birds on grass in the open air, with a roof to keep off the elements.  The birds are released into the woods at 8 weeks.  Farmed pheasant come under health regulations for poultry; antibiotics can be administered under certain circumstances.  Early in 2017 during an outbreak of bird flu at some poultry farms, two pheasant farms were infected.   

Whether wild or farmed, pheasant offers a healthy amount of protein, B vitamins and lots of mood-lifting selenium.  It's lower in calories, fat and sodium than chicken, though higher in cholesterol.  It's good value now and right up to Christmas at £4.50 - £6 a bird* - enough for 4. 

VENISON 
70% of venison on sale is wild and the result of natural deer culling.  Wild or farmed, venison is very lean and lower in fat than beef (though slightly higher in cholesterol.)  Some complain venison has a strong game-y taste but treated right will be wonderfully tender and tasty


The biggest problem with the wild vs farm debate is that there is no way of knowing whether you are getting 'wild'  or farmed meat.  You have to hunt down a butcher or market stall specialising specifically in wild game.  There is a case for transparency in labelling and that's something that could be taken up with your MP.  But the general consensus seems to be that both wild and farmed game is better for you than factory farmed animals. 

If you can't find a butcher or market stall specialising in wild game, ask the questions.  For pheasant in particular, it's important to know whether antibiotics have been used and good to know how the birds are reared.  


Animal welfare 

It will not have escaped your notice that both pheasant and venison are the by-product of hunting.  And the anti-almost-everything brigade would rather hunting  be banned or sharply curtailed, even if it means the loss of an inexpensive source of good protein for all levels of society.  

Bang on time, just a month ago, the usual expose of the 'horrors' of a pheasant farm filmed - illegally and not very clearly - by the Hunt Saboteurs Association hit the media.  This is not to say that rogue pheasant farms don't exist but so far there's has been no news of the company 'exposed' being charged with offences against the Animal Welfare Acct.

We all would like to be kind to animals and for improvements to be made to animal welfare.  If it is still true that many birds are merely wounded, not killed, and left in the grass to die unpleasantly then estate owners need their wrists slapped, sharply.  

Deer need to be culled.  Bird shoots are a vital part of the English countryside, contributing millions to the economy.  'Hunting 'n shooting' are an integral part of English life going back centuries.  Most societies engage in hunting. 

Cricket legend Ian Botham (also known as the scourge of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) seems to have the right idea.  He's donating 10,000 game birds, pheasant and partridges off his estates, per year, to those most in need.  He's just one of many wealthy landowners and shooting enthusiasts to provide half a million free game bird meals each year through the Country Food Trust.

Time to be open minded and practical; give pheasant and venison a try.  



DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.