Every part of the sika deer is valuable, and breeding them in rural Northeast China has high economic value
When it comes to deer antler velvet, one of the Three Treasures of Northeast China, I believe many friends know about it. The deer antler velvet mentioned here is the antler velvet of the sika deer, and it is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal material. At present, there are fewer than 1,000 wild sika deer left in China, and the deer antler velvet sold on the market now all comes from farmed sika deer. In a small mountain village in Jilin, Northeast China, there is a history of sika deer breeding spanning several decades, and most of the villagers' income comes from breeding sika deer and farming. In fact, it is not only the antler velvet of the sika deer that is valuable; every part of it is a treasure, and its economic value is very high, bringing huge economic benefits to breeders.
Sika deer are very timid and easily startled. I remember that every time I went to my dad's friend's deer farm, I would never speak loudly for fear of startling them, because being startled has a big impact on them, especially when a doe is giving birth, as it can cause dystocia. In summer in Northeast China, breeders often go up the mountains to pick fresh oak leaves to feed them. There are many oaks growing naturally on the mountains in Northeast China, which is also a natural advantage for breeders.
Do you see the antlers growing on these deer heads? This is deer antler velvet, and to breeders this is money! The harvest time for deer antler velvet is from May to June every year. At that time the antler velvet is relatively tender and has not yet hardened, which is when its quality is the best. The price of deer antler velvet varies, mainly depending on its quality. I heard that the two-branch type is more expensive, while another type, the three-fork type, is cheaper. When harvesting the deer antler velvet, deer antler blood can also be collected, and then used with strong Northeast grain liquor to make deer antler blood wine, which can strengthen the muscles and bones and dispel rheumatism. It is a very precious tonic. The scene of cutting deer antler velvet is too bloody, so I will not post photos for everyone today.
Do you know what this is? It is the deer antler cap formed at the wound after the deer antler velvet is harvested; in fact, it is bone. Do not underestimate it, because it is also a traditional Chinese medicinal material. Its effects are recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica. It can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and it has a good therapeutic effect on breast swelling and poor milk flow. It can be said that it is also a treasure on the sika deer, and it likewise has economic value.
The picture above shows the skin of a sika deer. Its unique plum-blossom-shaped pattern is very eye-catching. The skin of the sika deer can have many uses. It can be made into seat cushions and even some handicrafts, and it has great collectible value. It is also a traditional Chinese medicinal material and can be used as medicine. In addition, it can be made into leather clothing, because it is very light. I heard that the leather jackets worn by pilots are made from deerskin. Although there are quite a lot of farmed deer now, not every breeder is willing to kill a deer for its skin, unless under special circumstances, when its life has to be ended.
In addition to the above, sika deer meat, deer penis, deer fetus (deer fetus paste), deer sinew, and so on all have economic value. It really can be said that every part of the sika deer is a treasure, with high economic value, bringing very good economic returns to many sika deer breeders. Although sika deer are extremely economically valuable, breeding sika deer is indeed a field of knowledge, and not all places can breed them. This requires a complete set of breeding techniques, and only through in-depth study and scientific breeding can maximized economic returns be created.