Deer velvet: where it comes from and what to expect
26 October, 2026Short answer: Deer velvet is the soft, growing antler of a deer, taken before it hardens. Our Deer Velvet is made from A to B grade velvet from licensed South Island deer farms. It has a long history of traditional use, but clinical research in people is limited, and the trials that exist have not shown a benefit for arthritis.
What deer velvet is
Antlers grow every year. While they are growing they are covered in soft skin called velvet, which is why the young antler is sold as deer velvet. Deer velvet naturally contains collagen, amino acids, lipids and glycosaminoglycans, and it is traditionally used to support vitality, recovery and joint health.
Where ours comes from
NZ Pure Health Deer Velvet is made from A to B grade deer antler sourced from licensed South Island deer farms in New Zealand. The velvet is laboratory tested during processing, and the nutrient rich velvet tips are included in the finished powder.
Each capsule contains 166.7mg of Deer Velvet powder at a 3:1 concentration, equal to 500mg of fresh velvet, plus the capsule materials. There are no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.
Animal welfare
Antlers regrow each year, so removing velvet does not kill the animal. It is still a painful procedure. The Ministry for Primary Industries says the Code of Welfare for deer does not cover velvet antler removal. That is covered by a separate code, the Code of Welfare for Painful Husbandry Practices.
MPI describes the rules for velvetting as requiring a veterinarian or an authorised person, with pain relief. The industry body Deer Industry New Zealand and the National Velvetting Standards Body run an authorisation programme for people who remove velvet. The SPCA opposes routine velvet removal and argues that it should be phased out, or at least that pain relief should be provided after the procedure. We think customers should know about both views.
What the research says
Arthritis UK reports that two randomised trials tested antler velvet in people with rheumatoid arthritis, and neither found a benefit over placebo. It describes no major side effects in studies lasting up to six months, but says there is no evidence on the best dose and that interactions with other medicines are poorly studied.
Animal studies have noted male hormone type effects. In theory, deer velvet could interact with hormonal medicines. If you take hormonal medicine, speak to your doctor before using it.
In short, there is not enough good human research to say that deer velvet works for any health purpose. We describe it as a traditional supplement that supports vitality, recovery and joint health, and we ask you to judge it as such.
Who should talk to a healthcare professional first
- Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Anyone taking prescription medicine, especially hormonal medicine.
- Anyone managing a health condition.
How to take it
Take one or two capsules daily as a dietary supplement, or as professionally advised.
Common questions
Is deer velvet renewable?
Yes. Deer antlers regrow each year. Velvet removal is carried out by trained operators under New Zealand animal welfare requirements.
Where is it sourced?
From licensed farms in New Zealand's South Island.
How long until I notice anything?
There are no trials to tell us. Individual results vary, and some people notice nothing.
Sources
- Arthritis UK. Antler velvet. arthritis-uk.org
- Ministry for Primary Industries. Code of Welfare: Deer (2025). mpi.govt.nz
- SPCA New Zealand. The animal welfare problem with velvet antler removal. spca.nz
Written by Liz Lawton. Last updated 26 October 2026. This article is general information and is not medical advice.
