Health and well-being for New Zealanders
For optimal health, nutritionists generally recommend a diet that includes the intake of moderate amounts of lean meat. Venison is not only a lean meat, but it is also packed full of protein, iron and other trace minerals.
Low fat
Venison is low in fat, making it an ideal food to include in a healthy diet. In fact, a 100g portion of cooked venison leg steak contains just 1.7g fat. Venison is also very low in saturated fatty acids, with a 100g portion of cooked leg steak containing just 0.7g saturated fatty acids.
Iron
Iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency, particularly among infants and young children, adolescent girls, and women of child-bearing age. Iron deficiency can lead to fatigue, an impaired immune system, and delayed development in children.
Venison is one of the best dietary sources of iron, with the iron present in the haem form, which is much more easily absorbed by the body than the non-haem iron found in cereals and vegetables.
Not all meats are created equal
Venison is higher in iron than beef and lamb and lower in fat than skinless chicken. It provides a higher proportion of energy from body building protein and less from fat. The total saturated fat component of venison is less a third of that in beef and lamb.
The following table shows how nutritionally superior venison is compared to other common protein options.
Nutrient comparison of common proteins
| Protein | Total fat | Iron | Zinc | Saturated fat | |
| g | g | mg | mg | g | |
| Skinless chicken breast | 22.3 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Pork loin steak (trimmed) | 20.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| Beef scotch fillet (trimmed) | 22.5 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 3.0 |
| Lamb loin chop (trimmed) | 20.7 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Venison leg medallion | 23.5 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 0.6 |
Values based on 100g raw sample. Data from the New Zealand Food Composition Database, New Zealand Crop and Food.
Farm-raised venison is one of New Zealand's premium foods and comes with the assurance that the deer are grass-fed and free of growth-promoting hormones and antibiotics. In addition, farm-raised venison is processed in accordance with international standards for hygiene, traceability and food safety.