"Antlers of male deer should be removed annually, preferably before the
development of "hard antler" to protect handlers, other deer and the
farming facilities. Deer in "hard antler" in most species should not be
yarded with other deer and should be penned singly in facilities which
limit movement or space".
(The Standing Committee on Agriculture
Technical Report Series Number 30. "Model Code of Practice for the
Welfare of Animals - The Farming of Deer")
Hard antler in all species of deer is a weapon used by the male to defend his territory and harem. Their function is to threaten, maim or kill. Never have a stag that is in hard antler on your farm. Either remove the antler or the stag. The Jekyll and Hyde character of all entire males, specifically in the rut, must never be underestimated. Why grow hard antler when "deer horn" or "velvet" is a highly marketable product?
Deer horn/velvet is basically half grown hard antler. Known as velvet because of its external appearance, it is actually the internal section of the velvet that contains the goodness. Deer horn/velvet is fundamental to the practice of oriental medicine. The cosmic forces of Yin and Yang are believed to control all natural phenomena and the life processes. Ideally there should be a balance and a harmony between the two forces. If an imbalance occurs between Yin and Yang, sickness results. Oriental medicine aims to keep Yin and Yang in balance. The interdependence of Yin and Yang is briefly summarised in that the blood, which is governed by Yin, carries nourishment throughout the body which produces energy or "qui" which is controlled by Yang. "Qui" is the force which carries the blood throughout the body. Velvet is the main medicine which raises blood volume, its components and its flow. This, in turn, generates more energy and thus better health.
The Chinese have been using velvet, and many other tonics, to maintain the Yin and Yang balance for over 2,000 years. It is important for us, as growers, to produce a product that they can use. Each stick of velvet is divided into four sections based on the composition of each section. After processing, the two top sections are used with children as a preventative medicine and tonic. Its primary function is to promote growth. The middle section is used in the treatment of arthritis and osteomyelitis. The lower section is used where there is a calcium deficiency, especially in older people.
It can be assumed, that while Yin and Yang are central to medical and consumer thinking, velvet will always play a vital role in oriental medicine. We would neglect this philosophy at our peril. However, our product must be quality-assured in order to access the potential markets.
Quality assurance is of prime concern to the future of the velvet industry in Australia. This fact has been recognised by the Western Australian deer farmers who established a Velvet Accreditation Course. This course was upgraded by the Victorian Deer Farmers' Association for their own use and then made into a national course.
"This Velvet Accreditation Course is important to our industry not only
because of the Animal Welfare issues involved but also for the Quality
Control that it introduces. Quality Control is the long term key to
improvement in the quality of product that the industry supplies.
Farmers who have passed the Accreditation Course will have a greater
awareness of the need for and the methods of attaining a higher quality
velvet harvest".
(Course Notes - V.D.F.A Velvet Accreditation Course).
It should be realised that many different organisations were consulted and satisfied before accredited farmers were allowed to harvest velvet while under the supervision of their Veterinary Surgeons. These organisations include: The Australian Veterinary Association; the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare; the Victorian Department of Agriculture and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Velvet harvesting is influenced by three Acts of Parliament. These three Acts are: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986; Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substance Act, 1981 and the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1968. Velvet harvesting is a specialised skill and must be done correctly.
There are many important decisions to make throughout the year if you intend to become involved in the velvet side of deer farming. The first step is to become an Accredited Operator. Once you understand the anatomy and physiology of the antler, you can make a decision on how you wish to harvest the velvet and manage your operation.
To maximise the velvet producing potential of any particular animal, there is no substitute for good feeding. Ideally, the animals need good feed all year round. If an animal's condition is let slip, especially in larger mobs, it will take a long time to recover.
Males naturally lose condition in the rut, so the autumn and winter feeding programs are crucial. Once the buttons are cast, and the velvet is growing, it is really too late to pump them full of "high performance" feeds. Most of the elements and minerals needed to produce velvet should be stored in their system before this time.
Once again, the management of your velvet herd will be unique. It will depend on your herd, your farm layout, yard design and harvesting method. It is important to note when the first button is "pushed off" by the growth of the new season's antler. This observation gives you a warning. All your velveting facilities should be ready to use within 50 days or even less - depending on the market to which you are aiming to sell. You should also start sorting your velvet herd into smaller mobs according to their antler casting dates.
Helpful Hints.
Spend some time with other deer farmers velveting their animals before
committing too much. Although there are Velvet Charts indicating the
best time for harvesting, experience and knowledge of individual animals
is needed to do the job correctly.
Velvet is a food and must be treated as such in the cutting, freezing and storage processes.
Velvet can either be sold through the Australian Velvet Pools, other pools or at the farm gate. The Australian Velvet Pools sell about 80% of the velvet produced in Australia. At the moment, the Pools are located in Melbourne. The grading weekends are well worth a visit if you need to improve your knowledge of velvet generally. You can discuss your velvet with the Grader as he/she grades it.
Our industry is aiming to sell velvet that has been cut by an Accredited Operator for a premium.
Page courtesy of VicDeer
Go back to the top of this page.