METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF VELVET ANTLER

摘要

The invention provides a method and apparatus using infrared thermography fo r predicting an unknown value of an internal composition characteristic of velvet antler in vivo, in vitro, and/or during cooling or warming. The metho d involves generating a predictive model using a sample population of antlers to determine a relationship between a known input variable and a known value fo r the composition characteristic; and using the predictive model to predict th e unknown value of the same composition characteristic in an antler not select ed from the sample population. Using this value, a map can be made to identify sites and levels of the composition characteristic within the antler. The invention provides a method for predicting an internal composition characteristic of a velvet antler by obtaining an infrared thermographic ima ge of the antler and visually ranking the image by comparison to a correspondin g image of an antler with the desired composition characteristic. A method to predict maturity by comparing temperature differences between the antler's t ip and base is provided.