• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.251-254
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the blood contents of velvet antler and femoral venous blood in farmed elk (Cervus canadensis). Blood samples were collected from 12 young adult elk (3.5-4.5 years old) with a mixture of fentanyl-azaperone-xylazine (Fentazine$^{(R)}$). Values for hematological and clinicochemical components of the clinical healthy elk were determined. The results were grouped for comparison according to velvet antler and femoral venous blood. Lower mean platelet counts and fibrinogen values were found in the velvet antler than femoral venous blood (p<0.01). White blood cell count of velvet antler was significantly higher than that of femoral venous blood 0<0.05). The clinicochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferasei blood urea nitrogens calciums magnesium and phosphonls) obtained in this study far farmed elk are consistent with the values between velvet antler and femoral venous blood.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1737-1741
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to provide basic information to allow improved nutritional management for velvet production by investigating the effects of dietary protein levels on dry matter intake and production and chemical composition of velvet antler in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Twenty-four spotted deer stags were assigned to 4 unreplicated groups, Control (15% CP in diet, higher dry matter), CP10 (10% CP), CP15 (15% CP) and CP20 (20% CP). The velvet antlers were harvested from each stag on the 55th day after casting of the buttons from the previous set, measured for their size and weight, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in three sections (top, middle, and base). Dry matter (DMI) and crude protein (CPI) intake were highest (p<0.05) for the Control and increased progressively (p<0.05) with increasing dietary protein level. Although not significant, mean length and girth of the main antler beam tended to be larger in either left or right beam with increasing protein level in the diet, longest in CP20 and shortest in CP10. Velvet antler production was lowest in CP10 and highest in CP20, which differed significantly (p<0.05). Only negligible differences were found between groups in chemical composition. It is concluded that dietary protein clearly influenced dry matter intake and velvet antler production, whereas there was comparatively little effect of dietary protein on chemical composition of antler in spotted deer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.429-438
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding CLA and coumarin on the changes of biochemical composition of velvet antler and blood serum in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). There were no significant differences between treatments in crude protein, crude fiber, and crude ash contents of velvet antler. The content of fatty acid did not differ between treatments, although there were significant differences (P<0.05) in C16:0 and C20:0. The content of collagen was significantly higher (P<0.05) in control than those in CLA and coumarin treatments. There were no significant differences between treatments in the contents of amino acids. Some constituents of blood showed much differences in comparison of pre and post-experiment for all treatments. Feeding of CLA and coumarin was not influential on the chemical composition of velvet antler and blood serum.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.899-904
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• 2005

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of physical stimulus on casting day of antler, velvet antler yield, length of velvet antler in Sika deer(Cervus nippon). Eigthen(18) stags were assigned into the treatment with six(6) stags for treatment. Results revealed that at the start of the velvet antler growth, compulsorily casting both pedicles group was 15 days later at first cycle but 11-14 days earlier at the second cycle than control group(P<0.05). The yields of velvet antler in control group, casting only left pedicle group and the both pedicle group were 775g, 835g and 757g at the first cycle and 1,004g, 1,194g and 998g at the second cycle, respectively. The average length of antler in control group, casting only left pedicle group and both pedicle group were 25.8cm, 27.4cm and 31.5cm, respectively. The average length of antler of the casting only left pedicle group and that of the both pedicle group showed 1.6cm and 5.7cm in first cycle and 2.7cm and 2.4cm in second cycle longer than that of control group(P<0.05). Results of the study suggest the possibility of controlling velvet antler producing point through compulsory casting method.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1303-1313
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• 2011

This study was conducted to provide the basic information to allow improved scientific assessment of velvet antler's quality by investigating the change of chemical composition during different antler growth stages in elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis). Twenty four antlers were harvested from elk stags (aged 4-5 years) on 65 days (VA65), 80 days (VA80) and 95 days (VA95) after button casting, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in five sections (top, upper, middle, base, and bottom). Crude protein and ether extract content was the highest in the top section, whereas ash content was the highest in the bottom section in all groups (p<0.05). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was higher in the VA65 group than in the VA95 group in the upper section of antler (p<0.05). The collagen content was higher in the VA65 group compared to the VA95 group in the middle and bottom sections (p<0.05), and increased downward from the top to the bottom section. The proportions of certain amino acids, including aspartic acid, glutamic acid and isoleucine were higher (p<0.05), whereas proline and glycine were lower in the top section of antler compared to all other sections (p<0.05). The proportion of linoleic acid, 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid, total ${\omega}$-3 and ${\omega}$-6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for all sections in the VA65 group was higher than in the VA95 group (p<0.05). These results suggested that the quality of velvet antler is strongly influenced by antler development stage.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.263-268
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the change of blood constituents during the growth of antlers in Korean spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty five deer (3 to 6 year-old males) were taken in 10 days interval from casting to cutting of antler and were analyzed the blood parameters. Total-protein concentration in blood serum showed significantly differences during growth period of velvet antler (p<0.01), and it had similar tendency for total protein and albumin concentration, but albumin concentration was about 40-45% of total protein concentration. Urea and creatinine concentration was tended to inverse proportion, and it was almost 30:1 for ratio of urea and creatinine concentration. The concentration of total protein, creatinine, and uric acid concentration in blood during growth period of velvet antler was similarly increased and decreased but urea concentration was opposed. The concentration of total-bilirubin and direct-bilirubin at casting was higher than those at other period(P<0.05).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 1983

In the present study, in attempt was made to observe the effect of lipid components in pantocrin and antler velvet and sponge layers extracts on the aldolase activity in the rat spinal nerves. The antler chloroform-methanol (2:1) extracts are known to be composed of neutral lipids, cholesterol, cerebrosides, spingomyelin, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine and gangliosides. The antler extracts were studied on the aldolase activity in the rat spinal nerves. The aldolase activity was measured by the method of Lehninger. To investigate the components of tile extracts which affect the enzyme activity, the chloroform-methanol (2:1) extracts of antler were fractionated into petroleum ether soluble and insoluble fractions and their effects on the enzyme activity were compared. It was found that the chloroform-methanol (2:1) extracts of the antler sponge and velvet layers as well as those petroleum ether soluble fractions obtained from the chloroform-methanol (2:1) extracts, decrease the aldolase activity by 18-23%. However, pantocrin showed increasing effect on the aldolase activity by 42.6%. The petroleum ether insoluble fraction of the chloroform-methanol (2:1) -extract showed no significant increasing activity (about 13%) on the spinal nerves aldolase. The components of pantocrin ind the petroleum ether insoluble fractions were attempted to analysize by thin layer (silica gel) and gas liquid chromatography.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 2011

Russian deer velvet antlers were divided into three parts and subjected to a extraction process using hot water at 100, 110, and $120^{\circ}C$ or an extraction with 70% ethanol. Each extract was analyzed for its biochemical components, including uronic acid, sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sulfated-GAGs), and sialic acid, and the antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities were investigated. Different levels of uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs were observed in the extracts according to the water temperature used for the extraction, and contents decreased with increasing extraction temperature. The upper layer of each extract showed high amounts of uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs, followed by the middle and base layers. Ethanol extraction was more effective for recovering uronic acid than sulfated-GAGs. Sialic acid content was the highest in the $110^{\circ}C$ extracts but was not observed in the ethanol extracts. Velvet antler extracts showed strong antioxidant activities against DPPH and hydrogen peroxide as well as strong reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antioxidant activities were different in each layer and according to the extraction method. Additionally, velvet antler extracts exhibited inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that velvet antler extracts are useful as a functional food ingredient and/or a pharmaceutical.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1546-1550
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• 2007

This study aimed to provide basic information as the foundation for further studies on the assessment of velvet antler quality by investigating the changes in fatty acid, vitamin A and E, minerals and GAGs contents by development stage of antler in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Twelve stags (aged 4 to 5 years) were divided into two groups and velvet antler harvested 40 days (FDG) and 60 days (SDG) after casting of the buttons from the previous set. Total saturated fatty acid was lower in FDG than SDG (p<0.05). Total monounsaturated fatty acid, conjugated linoleic acid (p<0.05), polyunsaturated fatty acid and ${\omega}$3 fatty acid were higher in FDG than SDG. The vitamin A content of FDG was higher than that of SDG, but the vitamin E content of FDG was lower than that of SDG (p<0.05). SDG had significantly higher calcium and phosphate content than FDG (p<0.05). The magnesium content showed a similar trend to the contents of calcium and phosphate, but there was no significant difference between SDG and FDG. Uronic acid content was higher in FDG than SDG but there was no significant difference. The contents of GAGs and sialic acid were significantly higher (p<0.05) in FDG than SDG. These results indicated that the longer stage of antler development had lower content of activating components and this lead to a decrease of antler quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.749-758
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• 2003

The velvet antler of Korean sika deer has been used to the important resources for human health care with ginseng in Korea and Chinese. For studying on biological function of deer velvet being recorded in many ancient literatures, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of powdered velvet antler on growth, feed intake, feed efficiency and intestinal organ development in growing and adult Sprague-Dawley Rats. Experiments were designed by adding amount of powdered velvet antler such as control (non- supplementation), powdered velvet antler I (PVA I, recommended dose) and powdered velvet antler II (PVA II, thrice recommended dose). The recommended dose of powdered velvet in this experiment was calculated with metabolic body weight of rats, which based on the recommended amounts for 70 kg of human. The growths of growing and adult rats generally appeared advantage in PVA supplementation. The final body weight of control, PVA I and II were respectively 470${\pm}$39.00g, 478${\pm}$30.33g and 475${\pm}$22.72g in growing rats, and 485${\pm}$38.50g, 521${\pm}$38.67g and 508${\pm}$34.44g in adult rats. The average daily feed intake were not significantly influenced but the feed efficiency ratios (feed/gain) were improved by PVA supplementation. The feed/gain ratios of control, PVA I and II were respectively 5.99, 5.47 and 5.54 in growing rats, and 9.04, 7.73 and 8.18 in adult rats. In case of developments of liver, heart, kidney and stomach, we obtained favorable results in both PAC I and II, but their results were not significantly different according to amount of PVA supplementation. Because liver and heart are important organs in the circulation of blood, their favorable effects suggest that velvet antler may have factors contributing hematopoiesis. Conclusively, supplementation of powdered velvet antler resulted in an improved growth, feed efficiency and development of some intestinal organs in growing and adult rat. Even if further investigation of dose in human health care are should be performed, this experiment appeared the best desirable results in PVA I, recommended dose of powdered velvet antler.