Science & Technology at Miles Bio
Antler Deer Farming — The Scientific Foundation of Our Products
Antler deer farming is one of the most profitable agricultural sectors in the Russian Federation. This livestock industry breeds marals and sika deer, producing three types of products — velvet antlers, meat, and by-products (blood, tendons, tails, reproductive organs, embryos), which have been used in Eastern medicine for over 4,000 years.
Three subspecies of antler deer are found in Russia: the maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus), the Manchurian wapiti (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus), and the sika deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum).
History of Maral Farming
In the Russian Empire, Siberian peasants began catching and taming marals in the late 18th century. By 1879, there were 12 farms in Altai with a total of 235 animals; 20 years later, approximately 200 farms held 3,180 animals.
Today, Russia has approximately 165 maral farming operations with 85,000 marals and 10,000 sika deer, with 95% of the herd located in Altai.
China was the first country to breed deer for medicinal purposes — as early as 1,100 BCE. The earliest record of deer-derived medicine was found in a Han dynasty tomb in Hunan province (168 BCE). Today, antler deer products are used in at least 80 product types across Southeast Asia.
Veterinary Control & Ecological Purity
Maral farms in Russia are closed-cycle enterprises, with all stages of design, construction, and operation under strict oversight by state veterinary and medical authorities. All animals undergo diagnostic and preventive measures. Farm workers are required to pass regular medical examinations. All products undergo veterinary inspection.
Marals graze freely on natural pastures in the alpine and subalpine zones from April to December. During the remaining months, they are fed natural diets including hay, silage, haylage, and oats.
Biochemistry of Maral Velvet Antlers
Velvet antlers are non-ossified antlers harvested during their peak growth phase, containing a high concentration of bioactive substances. They have a complex biochemical composition comprising approximately 40 chemical elements and around 400 complex compounds:
- 18 amino acids out of 22 known protein-building amino acids
- Hormones: testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone, erythropoietin, luteotropin
- Growth factors (11): IGF-1, IGF-2, EGF, TGF-α, TGF-β, NGF, NGF-3, BMP-4, interleukin-2, interleukin-6
- Glycosaminoglycans: glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid
- Lipids: phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, prostaglandins
- 12 vitamins: A, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D, P, PP, F
- Fatty acids: at least 20
- Trace elements: selenium, iodine, sulfur, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese
- Macroelements: iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, calcium
Antlers also contain monoamine oxidase inhibitors involved in the metabolism of key neurotransmitters.
Maral Blood
Blood — the body’s internal medium consisting of plasma and blood cells. Due to their habitat, Altai maral blood contains a high concentration of bioactive substances: 19 amino acids, 12 vitamins, 25 minerals, 5 hormones, 11 growth factors.
Blood is collected only from clinically healthy donor stags in volumes that do not affect their health or productivity. It is immediately frozen at −35 to −40°C and delivered for processing.
Additional Raw Materials
- Maral meat — a source of complete protein (78% protein, 5% fat), 871–1,234 kcal/kg
- Tendons — used as a tonic and a source of collagen
- Male reproductive organs — used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for sexual function
- Maral embryos — used in fertility treatments
- Tails — used for anemia, exhaustion, spinal and kidney conditions
Tendons, reproductive organs, embryos, and tails are harvested only from animals culled for meat.
Key Health Benefits of Maral-Based Products
- Enhanced mental and physical performance; recovery after illness and surgery
- Slowing the aging process
- Improvement in atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, age-related changes in muscles, bones, and joints
- Activation of energy metabolism
- Accelerated wound healing and bone/connective tissue repair
- Improved sexual function and fertility
- Reduced cholesterol levels
- Increased overall physiological tone
Enzymatic Hydrolysis Technology
Miles Bio’s key technology is enzymatic hydrolysis of antler raw materials. Unlike traditional alcohol extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis breaks proteins into peptides, achieving 90–100% bioavailability. This technology preserves the native structure of growth factors and enzymes while enabling standardization of active components.
Quality Control
Every batch of raw material undergoes incoming inspection across 12+ parameters: total protein content, free amino acids, glycosaminoglycans, mineral composition, microbiology, heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics. Finished products are tested in an accredited laboratory for compliance with technical specifications.
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