Irish Game Meat - A Sustainable Option
Historically hunting game and wild meat was a status symbol often reserved for the social elite but its slowly shaking off its 'posh' reputation and is seeing a growing interest as a more sustainable alternative to meat produced through intensive farming. After the chicken and horsemeat scandals across Ireland and Europe and the increased awareness around the heavy use of antibiotics in industrial farming, people are much more concerned with knowing what's happened to the animal every step along the journey to their dinner plates, so its no surprise wild meat is gaining popularity as a more natural way of consuming meat. Also, by sourcing game meat locally, transport emissions are much lower than industrially produced meats, making them a more environmentally-friendly alternative.
Wild venison, rabbit and wood pigeon are animals that are over-populated in Ireland and the UK and need to be responsibly culled to maintain sustainable populations and protect the surrounding eco-system. Rabbits in particular, although not originally native to Ireland as they were introduced by the Normans in the 12th century for their meat and fur, have quickly established themselves in the wild breeding to unsustainable levels. They are generally seen as pests causing major damage to Irish crops and newly planted forests.
