What is Velvet?

 Velvet is the growing antler of the male deer. Before antlers harden and calcify, they are soft tissue covered in a fine hair, hence the name, velvet.

 Male deer grow antlers every year. If not removed at an early stage, these antlers harden and are used as weapons, causing damage to other deer. If not removed, the hardened antlers are ‘cast’ in late Winter or early Spring to make way for the next year’s set of antlers.

Velvet removal is carried out by veterinarians or specially trained farmers using analgesic techniques to ensure stags feel no pain under the co-ordination of the National Velveting Standards Body programme. For more information on removal, click here.

For more comprehensive detail on velvet and it's attributes, click here.