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Mark & Keeva Huisman

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What is velvet and  the velvet industry?

INTRODUCTION

The Velvet Grading Committee met to discuss submissions on the Grading Review in late August and made a final recommendation to the Game Industry Board (NZGIB).

PRINCIPLES

The Grading Guidelines are intended to put like velvet with like velvet based on market requirements.

The main change is the separation of well and late cut velvet through a new grade (LT) for late cut velvet.  This takes late cut, longer style velvet out of the old `Long' grade where it was mixed with well cut longer style velvet.

1996/97 GUIDELINES

The NZGIB approved the Grading guidelines as proposed by the grading Review Committee for the 1996/97 velvet season including the following amendments.

1.``Outgrown" Renamed

The proposed ``O" (for Outgrown) grade has been renamed LT (Long Top).  Each major grade is divided into S (``Short"), M (``Medium") and LT (``Long Top") grades.

2.SA Top Length

The proposed maximum top length for SA of  18 cm was dropped in favour of a moving scale to allow maximum SA top lengths to increase proportionally with circumference (e.g. a 20cm SA stick's maximum top length would be 20cm).  However, please note that a SA stick may be graded SALT if calcified, regardless of top length.
cutie

3.Preferred Top Lengths

``Preferred Top Lengths" have been added to the Guidelines.  These have been set at the top-lengths used in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons and indicate buyer preferences.

4.Circumference Point of Measurement

The point of measurement of circumference for all grades has been returned to the lesser measurement of : 
1. above the trez  or
2. clear mid beam between bez and trez tynes as under the original guidelines.

POINTS TO NOTE

Changes to the Grading Guidelines from the 1995/96 season are set out on the back page of this document.  Where there has been no change, the specifications used during the 1995/96 season still apply.

The NZGIB exphasises that the measurements set out are guidelines only, aimed at achieving separation between late and correctly cut velvet.  The overall style of a stick (proportions, roundness and thickness of bottom tynes, degree of calcification) might affect its grade regardless of its top length.

The NZGIB recognises the impracticality of expecting farmers to judge time of cutting based on precise grading measurements of circumference and top length.  The decision on when to cut should be driven by the stick's overall style.

Instead of producing a poster illustrating the different grades, it was decided that this Update, which clarifies the poi        that farmers should be looking for in deciding when to cut, would be more useful.

The choice of when to cut will always be the farmer's, who should be guided by market signals.

Grading tapes should be ready for distribution in late October.

The sticks shown in the following illustrations have been drawn to emphasise the grading principles and in some cases have been deliberately exaggerated to illustrate a point.
1

Last updated: 28/11/2000

This stick has been cut early.  The top and bottom tynes are very rounded and the trez tyne is not yet fully developed. This stick will grade S or M depending on overall length.

This shows a stick which has been well cut.  Its top and bottom tynes are well rounded and it will grade into S or M depending on overall length.

The stick above has been cut oo late.  Its top is no longer rounded but has started to flatten.  Its bottom tynes have fined down and are beginning to point and kink.  This stick will be graded LT.
2

This illustration shows how the top of a stick changes as it is left to grow out.  Well cut sticks will be soft and rounded and will be graded Short or Medium (S/M) depending on overall length.  As sticks are left to grow the top flattens out.  This indicates that a stick has been left too long before cutting and is likely to be graded Long Top (LT).  The next stage is indentation and the development of royals.  From the time of indentation, until the royals begin to point, velvet will be graded Overgrown (OG).  Once royals begin to point, the velvet will be graded Hard Horn(HH).

This illustration shows how the bottom tynes change as the stick is left to grow.  Well cut sticks will have soft and rounded bottom tynes and will be graded Short or Medium (S/M) depending on overall length.  As sticks are left to grow, the bottom tynes will begin to fine down and point and may also kink.  This indicates that the stick has been left too late before cutting and will be graded LT, OG or HH depending on how late.
3

This is clearly Overgrown.  The bottom tynes are pointing and kinking and the top has started to indent indicating that the stick has been left too long before cutting

The guidelines will be applied with some flexibility to separate late and well cut velvet.  Because of its top length, the stick on the left fits into an LT grade.  However, looking at its top, which is still rounded, and its bottom tynes, which are well rounded and not fining down or kinking, the stick should not be graded with late cut velvet.  Its overall style indicates that it has been cut well for that particular stick.

On the other hand the stick on the right comes within the maximum top length,  but its style indicates that it has been cut too late for that stick.  Its top has flattened out and its bottom tynes are pointing and kinked. As it is cut late, it should be graded LT with other late cut sticks.

Important Notes to Grading Guidelines

 These specifications (especially those relating to top lengths) are guidelines only.  The overall style to which a stick has been cut must be taken into consideration in applying these guidelines.  For example:

If bottom tynes are fining down and coming to a point and there is cacification apparent on the cut end of the stick this would indicate that a stick should be graded LT even where the maximum top lenght specified is not exceeded.

Similarly if bottom tynes are not fining down but remain rounded and heavy calcification is not apparent on the cut end of the stick, this would indicate that the stick should not be graded LT even though the specified top length may be exceeded.

1.Circumference is taken as the lesser measurement of the circumference measured

-on the clear beam above the trez tyne.

-at clear mid-beam below the trez tyne.

2.Overall length is measured from the top end of the cut.

3.Maximum top length for SA velvet is equivalent to circumference.

4.OG1 contains SA and A grade velvet which is grown out past maximum top lengths and SALT and ALT grade velvet which is indented.  SA, AS and AM grade velvet which begins

 to indent within the maximum top length may not be graded OG.

5.OG2 contains B and C grade velvet which is grown out past maximum lengths or is indented.

6.OG3 contains D and E grade velvet which is grown out past maximum top lengths or is indented.

7.Depth of indentation from top of royals to bottom of the fork must not exceed 10cm.

8.No indentation or royal development is permitted for EWIS.

9.Depth of indentation from top of royals to bottom of the fork must not exceed 2cm.

10.Recommended minimum weight.

11.Depth of indentation from top of royals to bottom of the fork must not exceed 5cm.

12.E/WOG contains E/W grade velvet which exceeds permitted indentation or maximum top lengths.  This grade may be divided when offered for sale to account for different styles of E/WOG velvet within the grade.

Velvet Grading Guidelines
VELVET GRADING

Taken from New Zealand Game Industry Board, September 1996

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Mark & Keeva Huisman

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