Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands

This paper addresses yield loss due to red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on permanent grasslands on three organic farms in SE Slovenia over two consecutive years. Deer graze on permanent grasslands throughout the year, but the resulting crop loss varies during the growing season. Accounting for thre...

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Main Authors: Stanislav Trdan, Žiga Laznik, Tomaž Sinkovič, Breda Jakovac Strajn, Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher, Andrej Udovč, Tanja Bohinc, Matej Vidrih
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2024.2321847
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author Stanislav Trdan
Žiga Laznik
Tomaž Sinkovič
Breda Jakovac Strajn
Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher
Andrej Udovč
Tanja Bohinc
Matej Vidrih
author_facet Stanislav Trdan
Žiga Laznik
Tomaž Sinkovič
Breda Jakovac Strajn
Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher
Andrej Udovč
Tanja Bohinc
Matej Vidrih
author_sort Stanislav Trdan
collection DOAJ
description This paper addresses yield loss due to red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on permanent grasslands on three organic farms in SE Slovenia over two consecutive years. Deer graze on permanent grasslands throughout the year, but the resulting crop loss varies during the growing season. Accounting for three mowings, the quantitative yield loss due to deer grazing totalled 48–52%, or 3.9–4.3 t/ha. Deer had the highest consumption capacity in the spring (first mowing: yield loss of 1.7–1.9 t of air-dried hay/ha), and towards the end of the growing season, consumption decreased (third mowing: loss of 0.9 t/ha). A floristic inventory indicated low species diversity and production in permanent grasslands in SE Slovenia. The crude protein content in unprotected plots was generally greater than that in protected plots, but due to a large quantitative yield loss, the yield of crude protein and net energy for lactation on heavily grazed land were much lower than those on protected land in all mowings. The average additional cost per unit of heavily grazed area ranged from 182 to 344 EUR/ha, and the differences are the result of the different intensities of game grazing in individual locations and grassland production capacities.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0906-4710
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-204c1ebffbe34668b9d5d9d68e8c01112024-12-04T13:44:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupActa Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science0906-47101651-19132024-12-0174110.1080/09064710.2024.2321847Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslandsStanislav Trdan0Žiga Laznik1Tomaž Sinkovič2Breda Jakovac Strajn3Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher4Andrej Udovč5Tanja Bohinc6Matej Vidrih7Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaVeterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Gerbičeva ulica 60, SI-1000 LjubljanaVeterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Gerbičeva ulica 60, SI-1000 LjubljanaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaThis paper addresses yield loss due to red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on permanent grasslands on three organic farms in SE Slovenia over two consecutive years. Deer graze on permanent grasslands throughout the year, but the resulting crop loss varies during the growing season. Accounting for three mowings, the quantitative yield loss due to deer grazing totalled 48–52%, or 3.9–4.3 t/ha. Deer had the highest consumption capacity in the spring (first mowing: yield loss of 1.7–1.9 t of air-dried hay/ha), and towards the end of the growing season, consumption decreased (third mowing: loss of 0.9 t/ha). A floristic inventory indicated low species diversity and production in permanent grasslands in SE Slovenia. The crude protein content in unprotected plots was generally greater than that in protected plots, but due to a large quantitative yield loss, the yield of crude protein and net energy for lactation on heavily grazed land were much lower than those on protected land in all mowings. The average additional cost per unit of heavily grazed area ranged from 182 to 344 EUR/ha, and the differences are the result of the different intensities of game grazing in individual locations and grassland production capacities.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2024.2321847GameYield lossChemical compositionFloristic compositionAnimal husbandry
spellingShingle Stanislav Trdan
Žiga Laznik
Tomaž Sinkovič
Breda Jakovac Strajn
Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher
Andrej Udovč
Tanja Bohinc
Matej Vidrih
Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
Game
Yield loss
Chemical composition
Floristic composition
Animal husbandry
title Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
title_full Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
title_fullStr Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
title_short Quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on permanent organic grasslands
title_sort quantitative and qualitative yield loss caused by red deer cervus elaphus l grazing on permanent organic grasslands
topic Game
Yield loss
Chemical composition
Floristic composition
Animal husbandry
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2024.2321847
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