Feeding of tomato pulp baled silage in game preserves
Main Article Content
Abstract
The supplementary winter feeding is a widespread practice in Europe and parts of North America. The role of
feeding is maintenance of high game population density, maintenance of body condition or reduction of
winter mortality. Feeding may also be carried out to reduce the environmental damage caused by games
during winter. The secondary products from the food industry can provide potential winter extra-food for
game species due to their relatively low price and valuable nutrient content. To know whether these
secondary products can be utilisable food for game we collected information about the diet composition of
game species. Actually, we investigated the proportion of tomato pulp silage in the diet of different large
game species in those intensively managed game preserves during winter
The study was carried out in two game preserves (Bodony and Bárna). The study was conducted in Bodony
from November 2009 to March 2010. In this period 23 bales of tomato pulp silage (each was one ton) were
placed on three different feeding plots in the game preserve. In Bárna investigations were carried out between
December 2010 and May 2011. In this game preserve 44 bales of tomato pulp silage were placed on six
feeders. We collected faecal droppings of different large game species around feeders and along transects
between them. The diet composition of game species was determined by microhistological faeces analysis.
In both areas all samples investigated contained of tomato. In approx. 60% of samples was dominated by
tomato pulp silage. The red deer consumed the tomato pulp in the highest, while mouflon in the lowest
proportion. Nevertheless, the proportion of tomato in the samples ranged between 36-89%.
Our results suggest that supplementary winter feeding could be very important for large game species in
intensively managed game preserves with dense game populations. The secondary products from the food
industry could provide suitable quality supplementary food for large game species. However, we emphasise
the fundamental importance of the natural food resources of the habitat.
feeding is maintenance of high game population density, maintenance of body condition or reduction of
winter mortality. Feeding may also be carried out to reduce the environmental damage caused by games
during winter. The secondary products from the food industry can provide potential winter extra-food for
game species due to their relatively low price and valuable nutrient content. To know whether these
secondary products can be utilisable food for game we collected information about the diet composition of
game species. Actually, we investigated the proportion of tomato pulp silage in the diet of different large
game species in those intensively managed game preserves during winter
The study was carried out in two game preserves (Bodony and Bárna). The study was conducted in Bodony
from November 2009 to March 2010. In this period 23 bales of tomato pulp silage (each was one ton) were
placed on three different feeding plots in the game preserve. In Bárna investigations were carried out between
December 2010 and May 2011. In this game preserve 44 bales of tomato pulp silage were placed on six
feeders. We collected faecal droppings of different large game species around feeders and along transects
between them. The diet composition of game species was determined by microhistological faeces analysis.
In both areas all samples investigated contained of tomato. In approx. 60% of samples was dominated by
tomato pulp silage. The red deer consumed the tomato pulp in the highest, while mouflon in the lowest
proportion. Nevertheless, the proportion of tomato in the samples ranged between 36-89%.
Our results suggest that supplementary winter feeding could be very important for large game species in
intensively managed game preserves with dense game populations. The secondary products from the food
industry could provide suitable quality supplementary food for large game species. However, we emphasise
the fundamental importance of the natural food resources of the habitat.
Article Details
How to Cite
Fernye, Csaba, Krisztián Katona, and László Szemethy. 2012. “Feeding of Tomato Pulp Baled Silage in Game Preserves”. Review on Agriculture and Rural Development 1 (1. suppl.):211-15. https://ojs.bibl.u-szeged.hu/index.php/rard/article/view/13207.
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