Harvesting deer antler velvet is a delicate and time-sensitive process that requires careful planning and execution. The timing of the harvest depends on the age and type of antler, which can be classified into three main categories: primary velvet, two-leaf velvet, and three-leaf velvet. Primary velvet is harvested from male deer that are one year old, as it is their first set of antlers. Two-leaf velvet comes from deer aged two to three years, while three-leaf velvet is obtained from four-year-old males, though if the velvet is thin or small, only two leaves may be harvested. For deer over five years old, thick and full velvet should be collected, typically as three-leaf velvet.
Once the type of antler has been determined, daily monitoring is essential to decide the optimal harvesting time. Primary velvet is ready for collection when it reaches 15–20 cm in length. Two-leaf velvet should be harvested just after the second branch appears, when the tip begins to expand and split. This stage is considered the most valuable, though the velvet is still slightly moist and not fully mature. Three-leaf velvet is collected when the top of the antler starts to crack, usually around 70–75 days after the initial cut. The goal is to harvest without damaging the antler’s natural shape, ensuring that larger, well-developed antlers are taken with care, while weaker ones are harvested earlier to avoid loss.
Before harvesting, it's common practice to anesthetize the deer using a device such as a dart gun. A typical dose is 1–2 ml of anesthetic, which takes about 10 minutes to take effect, allowing the animal to fall within 10–15 minutes and remain sedated for 2–5 hours. To reverse the anesthesia, an antidote like Qingsongling is administered intravenously. The recommended dosage is 1.0–1.5 mg per kilogram of body weight, with a 5% solution used at 5–10 ml per deer. If the initial dose is insufficient, a 20–30% supplement can be given, but never more than one dose at a time to prevent overdose.
Once the deer is sedated, its head should be secured quickly to prevent damage to the velvet, and it should be placed in a shaded area. The deer should be positioned with the head slightly elevated and the hindquarters lower to reduce bleeding. It's important not to immediately cut the velvet after the deer falls; instead, the procedure should be done before the animal regains consciousness. After the operation, the wound should be treated promptly, and the deer monitored for any signs of infection or excessive bleeding. Providing clean water and proper nutrition is crucial during recovery.
For the actual cutting, a bamboo saw is preferred due to its sharpness and precision. The blade must be sterilized before use, and the cut should be made approximately 2 cm above the base of the antler. Applying even pressure helps avoid tearing the velvet. A tourniquet is placed at the base of the antler before cutting to minimize blood loss. Once the velvet is removed, styptic powder is applied to the wound, and the tourniquet is released after a short period to allow circulation to resume.
Proper technique, attention to detail, and timely action are key to successful and humane velvet harvesting, ensuring both the quality of the product and the welfare of the animals.
Polysaccharide
Polysaccharide is a polymeric carbohydrate composed of more than 10 monosaccharides and sugar chains bound by glycosidic bonds. Polysaccharides composed of the same monosaccharides are called homopolysaccharides, such as starch, cellulose and glycogen; Polysaccharides composed of different monosaccharides are called heteropolysaccharides. For example, gum Arabic is composed of pentose and galactose. Polysaccharide is not a pure chemical substance, but a mixture of substances with different degrees of polymerization. Polysaccharides are generally insoluble in water, have no sweetness, can not form crystals, and have no reducibility and rotation change. Polysaccharides are also glycosides, so they can be hydrolyzed. In the hydrolysis process, a series of intermediate products are often produced, and finally monosaccharides are obtained by complete hydrolysis.
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide is a secondary metabolite of the mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum, which exists in the mycelium and fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum.
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide has unique physiological activity and clinical effect, and is safe and non-toxic. It can be widely used in medicine, food and cosmetics industries. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide can improve the body's immunity. When the body's immunity of cancer patients is damaged by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it can be combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to cure the disease. In addition, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide can also inhibit the release of allergic reaction media, so as to block the occurrence of nonspecific reaction, so it can inhibit the recurrence and metastasis of cancer cells after operation. Ganoderma lucidum preparations that have been put into use include tablets, injections, granules, oral liquids, syrups and wines, all of which have achieved certain clinical effects. As a functional factor, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide can be made into health food, and can also be added into beverages, cakes and oral liquids as Food Additives, which greatly enrich the food market. Because Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide has the effect of anti free radical, it can be used in cosmetics to delay aging.
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