Question: I would like to know if anyone has any research or if there is any science to bucks (whitetail or mule deer) eating their shed velvet in the fall?

Answer:
Regarding the "carnivory" in deer, I can
confirm that a substantial percentage of white-tailed deer are eating some of their dead velvet upon the shedding. I can not confirm, if they eat velvet of other deer as well, as most of my bucks were kept in individual pens.
This is not the only case of deer eating "an animal product". For a number of years I had a buck who was eating mice which I killed (usually with a shovel) around the feeding box. The deer just chewed a little bit on the body, but basically it swallowed the whole mouse at once. The buck, named ³BOY², was already waiting for me at the box to get his ³dessert².
Another case of carnivory is found in does, who eat their placenta after giving birth.

Why some deer are carnivorous is difficult to speculate.
In case of does it was hypothesized that:

1) They are trying to hide the traces of their delivery from predators. This does not make sense to me as there is always some blood, vaginal secretion, amniotic fluid, etc. at the place of delivery.
2) Does use the hormones present in the placenta to stimulate lactation. This is a more probable explanation, as placenta is a rich source of reproductive hormones. Human placentas are collected in hospitals to produce gonadothropic hormones.

In bucks eating the dry velvet:
1) It can be speculated that some deer need more proteins. Not probable, as the deer food I used on my farm had around 15% protein, which should have been sufficient for the proper nutrition.

2) The dry velvet may contain some chemicals which may stimulate the deposition of minerals into the hard antlers. A research study of Sempere and co-workers reported a production of vitamin D in growing antlers. As vit. D is supporting bone mineralization, eating dry velvet might have some supportive effect on antler hardening.

George A. Bubenik, M.D.
Department of Zoology
University of Guelph

Editorıs side note:
(http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/agec/publications/Eva%20Electronic.pdf )²A Review of Scientific Literature on the Health Benefits of Velvet Antler² by Ann Cooney states that the Chinese believe the following are some of the health benefits (for humans) to be had from velvet antler:

1) It is considered to add ³fire² or energy to the body. Often, it is used by the ³elderly² who lack the vital energy

2) The Chinese use it for strength as they believe that strength comes from deer blood (It is becoming popular amongst athletes).

3) They believe it is useful in promoting pus drainage and is used in the treatment of protracted skin and external diseases.


Other research topics included are as follows:
Anti-aging Properties, Anti-fungal Activity, Anti-inflammatory Activity, Anti-narcotic Addiction Activity,Anti-ulcer Activity, Cardiovascular Effects, Protective Effects, Growth Factors Found in Velvet Antler, Immune System, Sexual Dysfunction, Toxic Effects, Weight Gain, Diabetes, Physical Stress, Blood and Iron, Anti-tumor Activity, Analgesic Effect, Sedative Enhancing Effect, Bones and Cartilage, Liver, Spinal Nerves and Whiplash, Endocrine Functions...

Perhaps some of these same benefits transfer to deer in the velvet eating circumstances?
-Editor