Winter inappetance in farmed deer affects the growth and development of carcass tissues and dictates the time of year when stock can be finished to standards of carcass weight and fleshing desired by the meat industry. Artificial winter daylight may be a means of overcoming some of these restrictions, allowing fresh venison to be supplied throughout the year. The objectives of this study, carried out over two consecutive years, were to compare the effects of artificially extended winter daylength with those of normal light on carcass composition and the quality of meat from red deer stags.