Velvet antler harvesting from farmed deer for traditional medicine raises welfare concerns about the painful removal procedure and confinement conditions in farming systems.
Velvet antler harvesting causes significant welfare harm when performed without adequate anaesthesia and analgesia. Deer are prey species with acute stress responses to restraint, and cutting vascularised, sensitive tissue causes pain that is inadequately controlled in many operations. New Zealand's regulatory requirements for anaesthesia and veterinary oversight represent a better welfare standard than many other producing countries. The welfare case for consuming velvet antler products sourced from unregulated operations is difficult to justify. Demand reduction and sourcing transparency would improve welfare for the tens of millions of deer in velvet antler production globally.