Velvet antler

Velvet antler refers to the whole cartilaginous antler in a precalcified stage, rather than the velvety "skin" on growing antlers. It is an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.

Moose, elk and deer produce new antlers yearly (primarily males, except in caribou/reindeer). In some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, deer are subject to local anesthesia and restrained during antler removal, and the procedure is supervised by licensed veterinarians. Typically, the antler is cut off near the base after it is about two-thirds of its potential full size, between 55 to 65 days of growth, before any significant calcification occurs. The procedure is generally done around June in the Northern Hemisphere and December in the Southern Hemisphere.

Exceptionally large elk antlers can weigh 50 lb (22.6 kg) for a pair. These grow rapidly from about March or April until July (again, Northern Hemisphere).

Most of the world's supply of velvet antler comes from red deer and elk or wapiti, including a large deer farming industry in New Zealand. New Zealand is the world’s largest producer of deer velvet antler, producing 450-500 tons of deer velvet antler annually. China produces 400 tons annually. Russia produces 80 tons annually. United States and Canada each produce 20 tons annually.

Due to the size and quality of Canadian and American elk antlers, they have been a preferred source of velvet for Canada and the United States (the other countries primarily produce deer velvet antler from deer).

Traditionally, in Asia, the antler is dried and sold as slices. These slices are then boiled in water, usually with other herbs and ingredients, and consumed as tea. In the West, antler is dried and powdered, and consumed in capsule form as a dietary supplement. In the traditional commercial trade of Korea and China whole stick antler velvet is divided into three sections known as the wax piece, the blood piece and the bone piece. Within the modern deer antler velvet industry there are three sections used to identify the composition of velvet antler. The tips, also known as the uppers, are generally from the end to the first fork and are found as any additional tines. The next section is the middles and goes from top fork to the next fork down the main shaft and is also found in the same range on advancer branches. Lastly is the bottoms which includes a flattened center section known as the trunk.

The product has been at the center of multiple controversies with famous athletes allegedly using it for performance enhancement purposes. In September, 2013, the headquarters of SWATS, an infamous distributor of deer antler velvet spray and other controversial products, was raided and ordered to shut down by Alabama's attorney general citing "numerous serious and willful violations of Alabama’s deceptive trade practices act".