Professional paper

Velvet antlers as medicinal preparation and nutritional supplement

Dean Konjević orcid.org/0000-0002-8584-9825 ; Katedra za biologiju, patologiju i uzgoj divljači, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb
Zdravko Janicki ; Katedra za biologiju, patologiju i uzgoj divljači, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb
George A. Bubenik ; Zavod za biologiju Sveučilišta u Guelphu, Ontario, Kanada

Abstract

Deer farming is characterized by production of quality venison and velvet antlers. It may also serve as a base for reintroducing threatened deer species into their natural habitats. Velvet antlers are growing, premineralized tissues that are covered by special type of skin, called the velvet. Velvet antler removal is a complex surgical procedure that demands the application of one of the available methods of anaesthesia. After the procedure, velvet antlers have to be treated, mainly through dehydration procedure, water extraction procedure or as alcohol solution. The composition of the velvet antlers reveals various dietetic components and a presence of large number of different biologically active molecules. This is the reason why velvet antlers are traditionally used as a part of Oriental traditional medicine. Despite these facts their use on the western market is still minor, mainly due to some prejudices and the lack of rigorous scientific proofs of effectiveness. Finally, in order to protect the quality of the final product and to satisfy all aspects of animal welfare, additional measures such as veterinary monitoring of velvet antler production should be taken.

Keywords

deer farming; deer venison; velvet antlers; production; traditional medicine

Hrčak ID:

21359

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/21359

Publication date:

15.4.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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