Re: TRUE VELVET QUALITY

1999-2000 Discussion
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Re: TRUE VELVET QUALITY

From: antler333
Location: co
Date: 11/2/99

Comments

I agree good questions. here is where more research would help us out. NAEBA or the ERC could use this area as a focus point, like the NZer's do.

I think the missing ingredient here in our discussion in terms of velvet value is a recognition that velvet medicine evolved over generations and was based upon what was available to the practioners. Korean and northern Chinese had Maral, Altai & Tian-Shan (Siberian) elk. hence "big velvet" While the more southern climates used Sika, red deer, and other smaller deer species indigenous to their areas, hence a preference for "small sticks". both probably have similar effective ingredients, however logic would side with the larger velvet as a more useful product, as it has a greater ratio of effective internal goodies verses skin and boney sheath found in all antler.

On a side note ....Sherri, on the grading of velvet from the freezer ... would not velvet that has dried a bit in the freezer cause it to appear over grown , not better by the dry down weights??? For example, say I have a 25lb rack not in the freezer and it dries down to a final 35% or 8.75 pounds. Now, assume that same antler is in the freezer and loses 1 lb of moisture over a 90 day period, so it now weighs 24lbs. It will still dry down to the final 8.75lb, but now the ratio is 36.4%, higher and more indicative of calicification. Moral: dont allow your velvet to dry out or you will risk being penalized!