The Effects of Mixed-feed Varieties on Deer Velvet Antler Production

Abstract

Deer velvet antler is the main product of deer farming business. Each year, the harvest of deer velvet antler occurs once a year. Velvet antler is soft and covered with velvet-like peel. After being soft for 150 days, the velvet antler becomes harder and sheds. After the stage of no antler for 15 days, the soft antlers gradually come out. The properties of deer velvet antler which generate healthy condition are long-time acceptance both in traditional Chinese medicine and western society. Deer velvet antlers with high quality are the ones which are big, heavy and beautiful. This study was to search for the mixed-feed varieties which enhanced the quality of deer velvet antler. It showed that after feeding both sika and rusa deer with more varieties of mixed-feed especially with corn for a year, the velvet antlers which were harvested next year after the treatment had better shape, bigger and more nutritional value than the velvet antlers of deer which were fed with fewer varieties of mixed-feed and no corn in the mixed-feed. It is empirical conclusion that food types and varieties of mixed-feed are the principal factors which affect deer antler production.