THE HORRORS BEHIND DEER ANTLER EXTRACT
- by: mary thomas
- recipient: RAW FOOD GURUS
http://youtu.be/2mf73Soww-I
Deer antlers are amputated with a saw during the early stage of development when they produce velvet, at this stage the antlers which are covered in velvet, are hot to the touch and have blood flow going through them. They are extremely sensitive to the touch, so much so, the deer will not rub them on trees or fight with them at this stage. It is only later when testosterone levels rise that the antlers calcify and turn into bone.
........This process, often referred to as "velveting" because the removal is done in the velvet stage of antler growth, is defined by default in most legislated Veterinary Acts as surgery. It is therefore technically illegal for anyone except a veterinarian to de-antler an animal.
The timing of antler removal is paramount to the market value of antler. The antler needs prompt removal when maximum growth before the onset of calcification has occurred. A delay of one or two days may result in downgrading of the antler quality. Since this is a matter of economic urgency but is not a medical emergency, veterinary help is not always available at the appropriate time. Moreover, in a large herd velveting is often carried out over a period of weeks with one or two animals being done daily as they become ready for harvesting. What veterinarian has time to be driving around the countryside, doing one or two animals on each property for a few weeks at a time? What producer can afford to pay the mileage charges for veterinary help on this basis?
........ There is great potential for harm to the animal and to the producer if these aspects of the process are poorly performed. There are animal welfare concerns such as inappropriate and harmful physical and chemical restraint, and inadequate local anaesthesia resulting in a painful amputation. There are safety concerns over accidental human exposure to anaesthetic drugs, and drug residues in animal products derived from treated animals.
... There is nothing new here. There are many game farmers who will never be convinced that veterinary control of the distribution of prescription drugs used during antler harvesting such as xylazine, and most recently lidocaine, is anything other than an attempt at monopoly and a money grab.
Deer antlers are amputated with a saw during the early stage of development when they produce velvet, at this stage the antlers which are covered in velvet, are hot to the touch and have blood flow going through them. They are extremely sensitive to the touch, so much so, the deer will not rub them on trees or even brush against branches with them let alone fight with them . It is only later when testosterone levels rise that the antlers calcify and turn into bone.
Amputation is carried out during the velvet stage when the antlers are at their most sensitive and is considered a surgical procedure by veterinarians and should be carried out by a vet using a general anesthetic, but this is not always the case. Farmers cannot afford to call a vet every couple of days if they have a herd. You can imagine what happens, the Deer are held down in the most barbaric manner and amputations are performed without adequate anesthesia or pain relief leaving a bloody, painful wound. One can only imagine the agony and terror endured. The amputated antler is then processed to make various tinctures and elixirs which are then sold on the market by unscrupulous marketeers.
Please refer to the video above.
Analgesia
........This process, often referred to as "velveting" because the removal is done in the velvet stage of antler growth, is defined by default in most legislated Veterinary Acts as surgery. It is therefore technically illegal for anyone except a veterinarian to de-antler an animal.
The timing of antler removal is paramount to the market value of antler. The antler needs prompt removal when maximum growth before the onset of calcification has occurred. A delay of one or two days may result in downgrading of the antler quality. Since this is a matter of economic urgency but is not a medical emergency, veterinary help is not always available at the appropriate time. Moreover, in a large herd velveting is often carried out over a period of weeks with one or two animals being done daily as they become ready for harvesting. What veterinarian has time to be driving around the countryside, doing one or two animals on each property for a few weeks at a time? What producer can afford to pay the mileage charges for veterinary help on this basis?
....... There is great potential for harm to the animal and to the producer if these aspects of the process are poorly performed. There are animal welfare concerns such as inappropriate and harmful physical and chemical restraint, and inadequate local anaesthesia resulting in a painful amputation. There are safety concerns over accidental human exposure to anaesthetic drugs, and drug residues in animal products derived from treated animals.
... There is nothing new here. There are many game farmers who will never be convinced that veterinary control of the distribution of prescription drugs used during antler harvesting such as xylazine, and most recently lidocaine, is anything other than an attempt at monopoly and a money grab.
http://youtu.be/2mf73Soww-I
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