Farm Animals

Farmed Deer Antler Velvet

Antler velvet removal from farmed deer for traditional medicine markets causes pain and stress, raising significant welfare concerns across the global deer farming industry.

Key Facts

Velvet antler is used in traditional medicine, particularly in East Asia
Removal is performed while antlers are growing and supplied with blood and nerves
Velvet removal without adequate anaesthesia causes pain responses including vocalisation
New Zealand is the largest exporter of velvet antler and has codified anaesthesia requirements

Welfare Considerations

Growing antlers are richly innervated and vascularised. Cutting them without anaesthesia causes acute pain equivalent to cutting a finger. Even with anaesthesia, regrowth and annual removal represent repeated welfare events. Farmed deer also experience chronic stress from confinement, as semi-wild animals have large natural home ranges.

What You Can Do

Avoid traditional medicine products containing deer velvet
Support animal welfare organisations working to improve deer farming standards
Advocate for mandatory anaesthesia in all velvet-producing countries
Choose verified synthetic or plant-based alternatives to velvet in supplements