Deer antler velvet harvesting — both from wild and farmed deer — raises significant welfare questions. Understanding the pain associated with the process guides regulatory and consumer decisions.
Velvet antler harvesting without pain relief causes genuine acute suffering. Velvet contains an extensive network of blood vessels and nerves — cutting through it without analgesia is equivalent to cutting through well-supplied soft tissue. New Zealand's regulatory requirement for analgesia represents the welfare standard; countries and producers who do not require pain relief for velvet harvesting are causing avoidable suffering for a product whose health benefits are not supported by robust clinical evidence. Consumer demand for velvet supplements sustains the industry, and informed consumers choosing not to purchase these products reduces the welfare harm.