Deer Velvet can be defined as 'deer antlers during their phase of rapid growth', and it gets the name ‘velvet‘ because of the velvet-like covering of hair on the growing antlers. The male Deer develop a pair of antlers every year from bony outgrowths called pedicles at the top of the skull.

Deer velvet is a unique structure, because it is the only organised mammalian tissue that regrows completely, and it does so every year. Furthermore, it grows extraordinarily rapidly, and the rapid growth is due to substances that are either unique to Deer Velvet or found in particularly high concentrations in Deer Velvet. In Asia, the unique nature of Deer Antler Velvet has no doubt contributed to its reputation as a powerful remedy.

What are the Active Ingredients in Deer Velvet?

A wide range of benefits are attributed to Deer Antler Velvet which contains active ingredients including a variety of peptides and proteins, lipids, nucleotides, polyamines and vitamins. Furthermore, recent studies carried out in New Zealand and in the United States have shown that Deer Velvet contains a wide variety of growth factors including IGF-1. These growth factors are essential biologically active molecules that are known to have a number of important functions in a wide range of body tissues. Deer Velvet is also an excellent source of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and collagen which are known to support good joint health and function.

How is the Deer Velvet Removed from the Antlers?

This procedure is called velvetting and Deer Velvet may only be removed from the Antlers by a Veterinarian or by a Certified Farmer who has successfully completed a veterinarian-supervised training programme. Deer Velvet is removed using a local anaesthetic so that the Deer feels no pain during the procedure. Careful measures are also taken to minimise any stress to the Deer during velvetting. In New Zealand, strict hygiene standards are required for all velvetting facilities and equipment.