Christmas has already passed and many have brought a venison roast to the table. But the season isn’t over yet.
Even after Christmas, many people still eat wild game because the season is still going on.
Consumers buy their meat more consciously
In addition, game from local hunting is becoming more and more popular. That’s evident in the growing demand for domestic game, says a spokesperson for the state hunting association. A State Hunting Association spokesman says hunters cannot meet the high demand. However, no concrete figures are available.
Several studies have shown that younger consumers care about animal welfare. Wild stands for natural and local food. CDU Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk sees the demand for game specialties from the region as a boost for rural areas. This trend preserves the home and is more climate-friendly at the same time.
Increasing trend in game meat
In 2021 alone, Germans consumed nearly 30,000 tons of game meat. One reason could be the initiatives of the state hunting association, which are intended to raise awareness of good meat. Social media channels are now being used more and more for this purpose.
The demand for game is particularly high in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. This is where the hunters killed most of the deer. Wild boar meat, on the other hand, comes mainly from hunters in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Furthermore, Germany imports a considerable proportion of its game meat from New Zealand. There it mainly comes from the so-called gate maintenance. According to animal protection organizations such as PETA, this is not appropriate for the species and is similar to the principle of factory farming.
Native play is becoming more important
Butchers such as those of the Reinwald family from the Heilbronn district recognize the trend towards regional game and local products. They also predict that the demand for game from the region will continue to increase. The meat would be suitable not only as a Christmas roast, but also in everyday life. Taste and flavor give food something special.
