The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) position on velveting is that it must be conducted humanely (with analgesia) and within the bounds of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Velveting is the amputation of live growing immature antlers from cervids (particularly farmed deer and elk) in the 55th-65th days of growth. Canadian resources support a similar position on humane removal and provide guidelines for xylazine analgesia. Velvet antlers are innervated and vascularized tissue. If you try to remove an antler without analgesia it is painful to the animal. Velvet peels off later in the season as the antler matures. Moose and elk have velvet antlers, which grow from small, immature stubs to full antlers. Most antler velvet is exported to Asia as a traditional medicine or dietary supplement, but it is also sold in North America. Therapeutic benefits are not well-documented. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) prions have been detected in elk velvet, which increases concern for human exposure. Animal welfare legislation in the U.K. and Ireland effectively bans farming of velvet antler, but it is a regulated industry in other countries (like New Zealand). Refs: The AVMA's Policy Resources, Angers RC, Seward TS, Napier D, et al,. Chronic wasting disease prions in elk antler velvet. Emerg Infec Dis 2009; 15(5):696-703. Image courtesy of the U.S. Natl. Parks Service, and Catti Maurizzio.