Detailed Explanation of the Processing Techniques and Methods for Deer Fetus

Deer fetus refers to the fetus taken from the belly of a doe (including aborted fetuses) and fawns within 3 days of birth. The best quality deer fetus is one that is plump and complete, not rotten, hairless, and with an unbroken fetal membrane.

(1) Extracting the fetus

Extracting the fetus means taking the fetus out of the mother's belly. There are two situations: ① For a fetus that has not grown hair, after opening the abdomen and cutting through the uterine wall, do not damage the placenta; take out the placenta, fetus, and amniotic fluid together; ② For a fetus that has already grown hair, cut open the uterus and placenta, then take out the fetus.

(2) Processing methods for deer fetus

1. Soaking in liquor: Wash a deer fetus that has grown hair with clean water, air-dry the hair, then put it into 60-proof white liquor and soak for 2~3 days, for the purpose of preventing spoilage during processing.

2. Shaping: Take out the liquor-soaked deer fetus and air-dry it for 2~3 hours, adjust the fetus posture to the state of a newborn fawn lying asleep, with the limbs folded back and pressed under the belly, the head bent backward, and the mouth inserted under the left arm, then secure it well with fine hemp rope.

3. Baking: Put the shaped deer fetus into a drying oven to dry. The initial temperature is between 90~100°C. After baking for about 2 hours, when the fetus's abdominal circumference swells, promptly use a thin bamboo skewer to pierce holes between the ribs or on the side of the abdomen to release gas, and pause baking when it is nearly fully cooked. At this time, it must not be moved or touched, to prevent damaging the skin and causing hair loss. After it cools, take it out and place it in a well-ventilated area to air-dry. Thereafter, alternate air-drying and baking until it is completely dry. After drying, store it properly to prevent moisture and mold. For a deer fetus that has not grown hair, there is no need for liquor soaking or shaping; it can be baked directly. Baked deer fetus is required to have a complete, unbroken fetal shape, obvious water hooves, hide and hair in dark yellow or brown, be purely dry, not scorched, not smelly, and have a fishy-aromatic odor.