Velvet antler is harvested from farmed deer for use in traditional medicine and supplements. The practice raises significant welfare concerns about pain management and confinement.
Velvet antler removal is a painful procedure when performed without adequate anesthesia. The growing antler is richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves, and surgical removal without pain relief causes acute and potentially prolonged suffering. In New Zealand, local anesthesia is required by law for velvet removal, but enforcement varies and international standards differ widely. Beyond the removal procedure itself, farmed deer face welfare challenges from confinement, human handling stress, and isolation from natural behavioral repertoires. The limited evidence supporting velvet antler health claims makes the welfare cost difficult to justify.