Secretion and gland harvesting systems involve the extraction of biologically produced substances from animals for use in fragrance, medicine, cosmetics, and other commercial applications. These systems target specific glands or secretory processes, with animals confined, restrained, or repeatedly accessed to obtain compounds such as musk, bile, venom, or other excreted materials.

While methods vary by species and substance, the underlying structure remains consistent: animals are selected or captured for their ability to produce valuable secretions, then managed within controlled conditions to enable repeated extraction. Productivity is defined by yield and frequency of collection, with animals functioning as biological sources of specialised compounds within material and chemical supply chains.

See it by species

This index includes species from which secretions or gland-derived substances are extracted within organised harvesting systems, regardless of geography or scale.