Is harvesting elk velvet antler harmful to the host animal?
In North America, only domesticated elk is used. The collection of velvet is performed without endangering the animal – much like shearing sheep – under supervision of a vet. Velvet antler is the soft tip that grows in the Spring – YES, elk drop their antlers and produce a new one every year. Each spring, elk farmers tranquilize the animals and remove the soft tips that contain the naturally occurring chemicals — glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Because these nutrients are still in their natural state, they are considered more preferable over their synthetic counterparts.
