Velvet antler farming involves removing growing antlers from deer while still vascularised - this practice raises significant welfare concerns about pain during removal and its regulation.
Velvet antler farming welfare is an under-researched area with significant welfare concerns. The removal of vascularised, innervated growing antler tissue is inherently painful and requires appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia to meet welfare standards. Regulatory requirements vary internationally, with some countries permitting removal without anaesthesia. The growing antler is not equivalent to a nail or hair - it contains nerve endings and blood vessels and shows stress-related growth responses. Consumer demand for velvet antler products drives an industry with genuine welfare concerns. The scientific evidence base for welfare standards needs strengthening to underpin better regulation globally.