Deer are farmed in New Zealand, China, and other countries for velvet antler used in traditional medicine, with significant welfare concerns during harvesting.
Farmed deer experience welfare challenges as prey animals in confined farming systems. Their strong flight response means handling for veterinary procedures, antler harvesting, and routine management causes acute stress. Velvet antler removal even under anesthesia involves a painful recovery period. Farm environments that restrict natural ranging and flight behavior cause chronic stress. In countries without welfare standards requiring anesthesia, velvet harvesting from conscious deer causes significant acute pain.