Reprinted here with permission of the North American Elk Breeders Association

The first NAEBA-sponsored velvet competition was held in 1994. Since then, velvet antler competitions have become the most interesting, exciting, and financially rewarding aspect of the elk industry. They have become great marketing tools. Winning any class at a velvet competition can immediately add thousands of dollars of value to your bull, cows, and calves.

Genetic upgrading by way of semen sales, and intense on-farm management, together with meticulous record keeping, has brought both values and genetics to new levels. We have seen cows selling for $30,000 to $40,000, bulls for $250,000, and straws of semen for as high as $6,000. With this kind of value involved, there is obviously a lot of pressure on judging.

In 1997 a group of industry leaders developed a system for accurately judging velvet antler called the "Certified Weight Index" or CWI. The system emphasizes velvet weight, but it also compares antlers with those in their class and other classes. I like to refer to this as "a leveling of the playing field." This index was designed to formulate a numeric score which includes both objective and subjective judging. Our most significant agenda, now that the CWI has been created, is to inform our industry in simple terms how to quickly understand our measuring system

First of all, our judging is recorded on a score sheet, which is a three-part form that includes weight, style, and quality. Weight is scored by simply multiplying the weight of both antlers by 2. For example, a set that weighs 35 pounds would score 70 points for weight. (This is objective judging.)

Style and quality can earn a maximum of 30 points each. For a quick reference to evaluate a bull's value, add the maximum or "perfect" points for style and quality to the bull's weight points. For example, the bull with 70 weight points would have scored 130 CWI if he received perfect style and quality points. If the bull you are assessing earned 120 CWI, he lost 10 points in style and quality.

STYLE:

Beam Circumference: Measurement is made at the narrowest part of both beams above the trez. A centimeter tape is used, and the total is multiplied by 0.2 to arrive at a point score. For example, a measurement of 16 centimeters multiplied by 0.2 would earn the bull 3.2 points for beam circumference. (This is objective judging.)

Uniformity: This refers to how well the conformation of the antler fits the pattern of a right-angle triangle. This characteristic is worth 5 points. (This is subjective judging.)

Symmetry: This judges whether each antler in the set is a mirror image of the other. Antlers are placed back to back and subjectively judged. If each antler mirrors the image of the other, the set earns 5 points. Any irregularities are deducted, based on the judges' training and experience.

Balance: Because a heavy or wide top is preferred by velvet buyers, balance is subjectively judged based on heavy tops. The value of the upper half can be ten times more than the bottom half. A beam circumference that continuously increases from the base to the top, ending with a webbed top, will help to attain a total score of 10 points.

QUALITY:

Calcification: This is the most difficult category to judge. This subjective judging is the most important assessment the judges make. This single characteristic is awarded 25 points, and it can determine which antlers win the class. Following are the points which the judges consider in determining the extent of calcification:

1. The brow tines must be rounded. How far have they turned upward? How do they compare to the bez and trez tines? If these are beginning to point significantly, point reduction will be assessed.
2. How do the tops appear? Are the bulbing, webbing, and tine development too advanced, just right, or underdeveloped?
3. The appearance of the base is evaluated. How close the antler was cut to the base can have a significant effect on appearance. The density of the base, whether it is very dense or highly porous, also affects appearance. The color of the cut end is part of appearance; the middle should be red and the outer ring should preferably be 1/8", but should not be in excess of 3/16".
4. Beam circumference has a significant role in determining the extent of outgrowth. Typically, the larger the beam, the further the allowable outgrowth can be extended.
5. Beam ribbing is a consideration of calcification - the more ribbing, the more calcification.
6. A non-webbed beam must be allowed any outgrowth if the royal tine and beam extension are smaller than a closed fist or 9" to 10" in circumference. A webbed beam is allowed outgrowth providing the thickness of the web is 2-1/2" to 3". Anything less must be cut early.

Damage: The other component of "quality" is "damage." Damage is more detrimental at the top, where the velvet is more valuable. One type of damage is "bulbing," a negative quality caused by turning the antler upside down immediately after cutting. "Smell" is another type, caused by bacteria growth from sun exposure or from not freezing the velvet soon enough.

All of these characteristics must be considered by the NAEBA certified judges to properly evaluate velvet antlers. The total of weight, style, and quality points becomes the CWI.

Reprinted here with permission of the North American Elk Breeders Association

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