Deer Antler Velvet Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Deer antler velvet harvesting is practiced globally for traditional medicine markets, causing significant welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Antler velvet is the tissue that covers growing deer antlers before mineralisation
It is harvested by cutting growing antlers, which are richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves
Harvesting without anaesthesia causes acute pain - the tissue has abundant pain receptors
New Zealand requires anaesthesia for velvet harvesting under the Velvet Antler Code of Welfare
Other countries including China, Russia and South Korea harvest without anaesthesia requirements
Scientific evidence that velvet provides human health benefits is limited and not well supported
Farmed deer may be kept in conditions that restrict natural behaviour to facilitate velvet harvesting

Welfare Considerations

Antler velvet harvesting is one of the clearest examples of inflicting significant animal pain for products with unproven human health benefits. The tissue is highly innervated and vascular - cutting without anaesthesia causes acute, serious pain. The demand-side solution is straightforward: avoiding velvet products removes the financial incentive for painful harvesting. Where harvesting continues, mandatory anaesthesia requirements as in New Zealand should be universal.

What You Can Do

Avoid traditional medicine products containing or advertised as containing deer antler velvet
Check supplement ingredients for velvet antler or deer antler extract
Support regulations requiring anaesthesia for velvet harvesting globally
Advocate for trade restrictions on velvet products from countries without welfare requirements