Velvet antler is harvested from farmed deer for traditional medicine markets. The welfare of the procedure depends entirely on whether appropriate anesthesia is used, which varies significantly by country.
Velvet antler harvest is one of the clearest examples where a welfare outcome depends entirely on regulatory requirements and their enforcement. In New Zealand, where anesthesia is mandatory and routinely used, the procedure is performed under appropriate sedation with analgesic support, and welfare is managed. In countries with no equivalent requirement, the procedure may be performed on conscious animals, causing acute pain from the removal of tissue with active blood supply and nerve innervation. The disparity in welfare standards between jurisdictions creates a competitive disadvantage for responsible producers and an incentive for buyers to source from lower-cost, lower-welfare origins. Extending mandatory anesthesia requirements to all velvet-producing countries is the most important welfare reform needed in this sector.