Yamal reindeer herders procured twice as much venison in 2023

Reindeer MEAT production in the Yamal District has almost doubled, to 350 tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of the region. Prior to this, the record figure in the region was 130 tons of venison, but the state support program launched in 2020 stimulated reindeer herders to develop herds, the report said.

Six specialized complexes were engaged in slaughtering deer in the winter of 2023, the department announced. The leader among them was the Taz deer LLC enterprise, which prepared 140 tons of venison. Enterprises received most of the reindeer for slaughter from private reindeer breeders - according to the Ministry of Agriculture, in total they supplied 8,000 reindeer to enterprises.

The growth in deer production is associated with the introduction of a state support program in 2020, the department explained. For example, the government set price requirements for purchasing reindeer meat from producers - at least 450 rubles/kg for meat that is suitable for free sale, and at least 150 rubles/kg for meat going for technical processing.

The winter stage of processing will end in the third decade of February, the ministry said. The next one will start in the fall.