Male deer undergo an annual cycle of growing and shedding antlers. During their growth phase, antlers are covered by a specialized skin known as velvet. This covering facilitates rapid antler development. Generally, deer do not consume their velvet directly from their antlers. Instead, the velvet is shed as part of a natural physiological process, after which its fate varies in the environment.
Understanding Antler Velvet
Antler velvet is a living tissue that encases growing antlers, nourishing and protecting them. This covering is rich in blood vessels, nerves, and cartilage, which collectively support the exceptionally fast growth of antlers. Antlers are among the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom, with some species growing up to an inch per day during peak periods. The velvet provides the necessary proteins, minerals, and growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), that enable this rapid development.
Deer antler velvet is composed of approximately 53% proteins, 34% minerals, 3% lipids, and 10% water. It contains a variety of bioactive compounds like amino acids, glycosaminoglycans (such as chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate), and numerous trace elements. This structure ensures robust bone formation. The presence of nerves makes the velvet a sensitive tissue during the growth phase.
The Process of Velvet Shedding
Velvet shedding begins when antlers reach their full size and harden, signaling the breeding season, or rut. Hormonal changes, specifically increased testosterone, trigger this process, which causes the blood supply to the velvet to constrict and eventually cease. As the blood flow diminishes, the velvet tissue dies and dries out, becoming an irritating layer.
To remove the irritating velvet, deer will rub their antlers vigorously against trees, shrubs, and the ground. This rubbing peels off the decaying velvet, often leaving a bloody appearance from severed blood vessels. The shedding process can occur rapidly, sometimes within a day or two, though it may take longer for some individuals. Once the velvet is completely removed, the antlers are exposed as hardened, calcified bone, ready for sparring and display during the rut.
The Fate of Shed Antler Velvet
Discarded velvet can be found on the ground or clinging to vegetation. While deer themselves do not typically consume the velvet directly from their own antlers as they rub it off, there are exceptions, and some observations suggest they may lick or ingest pieces that come off their antlers.
Other animals, such as rodents, squirrels, and sometimes other deer, may consume the shed velvet. Its rich nutritional content, including proteins, minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and other compounds beneficial for growth and health, drives this consumption. If not consumed by wildlife, the remaining velvet will naturally decompose, returning its organic matter and minerals to the ecosystem.