Durban
We brought the taste and knowledge of Karoo venison to Durban’s autumn show season.
Our team set up a hands-on venison and deer-farming stand for coastal buyers. We connected with visitors keen on farm-to-table food and responsible stocking.
In late autumn, the Durban agricultural show draws a lively mix of coastal farmers, food buyers and families. The grounds are green but busy, with warm sea air carrying scent from paddocks and food stalls. For our team, it’s a chance to listen and learn from local needs, where deep summer humidity, smaller holdings and new interest in venison bring a different set of questions than our usual Highveld or Karoo visits.
We built our stand around practical handling and eating: a chilled display fridge on backup power for the venison, photo panels of the permitted species (no live deer), and maps showing how our Karoo Edge herd rotates through veld camps for forage and water. Fallow Grove Herd records travelled with us so we could discuss genetics, animal movement law and permit steps on the spot. The Farm Table Venison tastings sparked plenty of interest. Our team answered questions about the partner abattoir, chef supply, and why every piece sold is named by lot and provenance. For coastal clients with limited space, we showed how smaller, well-fenced camps can support a starter herd on the right permit.
Several buyers followed up with visits to Karoo Edge, keen to bring fallow or red deer onto their properties. We walked through each property’s veld, checked perimeter fencing and shade, and helped with permit paperwork. For both the deer and the buyers, we put animal health first: quarantine before movement, state veterinarian sign-off, and a reminder of the new FMD control measures for live animals. Many local chefs started ordering small, named cuts from Farm Table Venison, sharing feedback that helped us tune supply and portioning for coastal kitchens. It was a busy season, and having our team on hand meant every tag was double-checked.
Next time, we would bring more practical show-and-tell for smallholder setups, including water trough options and a portable shade structure. The strong coastal wind caught us by surprise and we had to secure the stand more than once. We also learned to plan for extra ice and bigger cold storage, given Durban’s humidity and showground distance from our main cold room. Coastal buyers mostly asked about small camps and humidity, so we now prepare notes on both before each coastal show.
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