Investigation of nutrient content and fermentation of different foliage silages

The aim of the research was to investigate ensilage, nutrient content and fermentation characteristics of elder (Sambucus nigra), black locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia), blackberry (Rubus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) shoots. Early summer shoots were collected, wilted (4-6 h), chopped, mixed with 20% dried corn (Zea mais) and then ensiled (n=5), with the same packing density of 600 kg/m3 (200kg/m3 DM). The fresh, the wilted pre-ensiled material were sampled immediately and the silages were sampled after 70 days of fermentation. Dry matter-, crude protein-, crude fibre- and NDF- content were determined in each sample, pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and ethanol were measured in silages (n=5). CP/CF and CP/NDF rate were calculated (MÁTRAI ET AL., 2002). The dry matter content of elder- and blackberry silages was optimal for fermentation (no significant difference P>0.05). Relatively high DM was found in the case of black locust- and hawthorn- silages (P≤0.05). Crude protein results of elder- and black locust were higher and differed significantly from the other two (P≤0.05). Similar and low crude fibre contents were found in elder-, black locust- and hawthorn silages (P>0.05), blackberry had a higher CF content (P≤0.05). NDF content of black locust and blackberry were similar (P>0.05), with elder silage lower, and hawthorn higher NDF values were found (P≤0.05). All four silages differed significantly in CP/CF and CP/NDF ratios (P≤0.05). It is recommended to use NDF-content and CP/NDF ratio of the shoot silages in further investigations, as NDF analyses give more adequate data for fibre content. The pH values were relatively high and the total amount of fermentation products was low in the silages. The fermentation intensity was low in all cases. Fermentation quality was optimal in elder- and blackberry silages. In the case of black locust and hawthorn silages presence of unfavourable fermentation products was found. To improve fermentation quality, DM must be kept between the optimal 30-40% values. In conclusion elder and black locust young shoots mixed with dried cracked corn seemed to be the best raw materials for shoot silage making and can be effectively preserved by fermentation providing good rules for ensiling are followed. These foliage mixed silages could provide high quality and nutritious feedstuffs for wild ruminants

Results Hungarian woodcock monitoring

Hunting woodcock in spring is a centuries-old tradition in Hungary. However the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) prohibits hunting during the migration to breeding areas. In order to regularly derogate the EU Birds Directive it was essential to start and maintain a country-wide monitoring system, and to estimate the size and the mortality of woodcock population migrating across Hungary. As there were no similar studies earlier we had a) to develop and test the workability of a long term monitoring programme of Woodcock migration in Hungary in spring and in autumn; b) to describe the dynamics of the migration; c) to detect and evaluate differences among years; d) to estimate the size of migrating population in spring and in autumn; e) to calculate the mortality as the difference of autumn and spring population. The monitoring programme started successftilly, and it is running on a national scale for five years now. We have chosen synchronous observation of flying birds from fixed points during the whole migration period. The observations were performed by local hunters weekly, they observers recorded data on standardized forms. We calculated the mean densities of contacts (woodcocks seen/hectare/hour) for each observation date in each county. Their distribution represents the temporal dynamics and intensity of migration. We estimated the migrating population size in two different ways. First, the densities at the peaks of migration were used for the estimation of a minimal population size. Second, the total population size was estimated using the densities calculated in the whole season. In both cases, the estimation relied on the densities multiplied by the total size of the forested areas in the country. We detected high variability of contacts in space and time, which fits to the former experience of woodcock hunters. It reflects the highly flexible migratory behavior of woodcocks. Observations in autumn can provide information about migration, but the simple comparison with spring data is problematic because of the behavioral differences. We were constrained to use literature data for the calculation of minimum and total number. According to our results, the hunting bag in Spring in Hungary may be far under the 1 % limit that was determined in the Guidance document of Birds Directive. We suppose that such a quantity does not threat the woodcock population

Aggressive and submissive behavioural elements of captive wild boars in feeding situation

Nowadays the interest for wild boar hunting especially achieving big and safe hunting bag is growing. It is the reason why many wild boar preserves or hunting gardens were established in the last decades. The density is determined by the interest of the maximum economic profit in most of the gardens regardless of what is optimal for the animals. The high density may cause a social stress, indicated e.g. by the fights, which may cause not only serious negative welfare consequences but decrease in productivity and less economic result consequently. The behaviour of wild boars in hunting gardens is poorly studied. The aim of our study was to describe and determine of the most important aggressive and submissive behavioural elements which may sign the stress level of the animals. The observations were taken in intensive wild boar gardens on feeding places at feeding times. We recorded with a video camera the animals and analyzed their behaviour with Solomon Coder. We described four aggressive (running toward somebody, hit, chasing, bite) and four submissive (head lift, retreat, avoidance, escape) behavioural elements. These elements can be ranked depending on time length and physical contact and show relation with the hierarchy order. We think that based on these elements, we can work out a guide to describe the stress level in wild boar gardens

Comparison of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, L.) monitoring methods

Eurasian woodcock is a popular migrating game species in Hungary and in several European countries. For its wise management it is essential to collect reliable information of the breeding, wintering and also migrating populations. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the differences among the monitoring methods used in different countries, and to give advices to improve the methods of data collection and evaluation of the monitoring system running in Hungary. Our study is based on the comparison of monitoring programs run in France, Russia, Belarus and in the Archipelago Azores. The key factor of all such surveys is the display behaviour of male birds, which is called roding. However there are some differences between them. We evaluated the different monitoring methods on the basis of scientific literature considering the place, time and duration of survey sessions, the collected data and the methods of their analysis. The main cause of differences is the different aim of the different studies. Hungary cannot obviously be taken as a breeding or wintering area, it rather plays an important role in migration. The aim of the monitoring in Hungary is to follow and characterize the flow of migration, and to estimate the minimal number of birds crossing our countries borders. The evaluation of data in Hungary is also different. However the methods of observations and the quantity of collected data allow us to evaluate our data in a similar way. It would be essential if we would like to compare our results to the results of other monitoring programs in Europe

Investigation of nutrient content and fermentation of different foliage silages

The aim of the research was to investigate ensilage, nutrient content and fermentation characteristics of elder (Sambucus nigra), black locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia), blackberry (Rubus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) shoots. Early summer shoots were collected, wilted (4-6 h), chopped, mixed with 20% dried corn (Zea mais) and then ensiled (n=5), with the same packing density of 600 kg/m3 (200kg/m3 DM). The fresh, the wilted pre-ensiled material were sampled immediately and the silages were sampled after 70 days of fermentation. Dry matter-, crude protein-, crude fibre- and NDF- content were determined in each sample, pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and ethanol were measured in silages (n=5). CP/CF and CP/NDF rate were calculated (MÁTRAI ET AL., 2002). The dry matter content of elder- and blackberry silages was optimal for fermentation (no significant difference P>0.05). Relatively high DM was found in the case of black locust- and hawthorn- silages (P≤0.05). Crude protein results of elder- and black locust were higher and differed significantly from the other two (P≤0.05). Similar and low crude fibre contents were found in elder-, black locust- and hawthorn silages (P>0.05), blackberry had a higher CF content (P≤0.05). NDF content of black locust and blackberry were similar (P>0.05), with elder silage lower, and hawthorn higher NDF values were found (P≤0.05). All four silages differed significantly in CP/CF and CP/NDF ratios (P≤0.05). It is recommended to use NDF-content and CP/NDF ratio of the shoot silages in further investigations, as NDF analyses give more adequate data for fibre content. The pH values were relatively high and the total amount of fermentation products was low in the silages. The fermentation intensity was low in all cases. Fermentation quality was optimal in elder- and blackberry silages. In the case of black locust and hawthorn silages presence of unfavourable fermentation products was found. To improve fermentation quality, DM must be kept between the optimal 30-40% values. In conclusion elder and black locust young shoots mixed with dried cracked corn seemed to be the best raw materials for shoot silage making and can be effectively preserved by fermentation providing good rules for ensiling are followed. These foliage mixed silages could provide high quality and nutritious feedstuffs for wild ruminants

Vadföldek használata és a vadföldi növényzet fogyasztása Valkón.

Cultivation of game plots is a common traditional practice in Hungarian game management. However, it has significant costs. Efficiency of this measure therefore, should be controlled. In our study we investigated the utilisation of four game plots and food plot forage (rye, Secale cereale) in Valkó throughout an entire year from April 2007 to March 2008. Our study aim was to determine the intensity of area use by deer on food plots and estimate the biomass of the food plot forage consumed. We conducted faeces counts in every 2 or 4 week. We also measured the difference between the total biomass of grazed and ungrazed plant individuals and that of enclosed (untouched) and control (grazed) sampling areas. We found that red deer appear in food plots in every season, although there were clear differences in the deer dropping density between different periods. The highest values of the intensity of area use in game plots were revealed in autumn (October-November). However, in the first half of the year there was no significant difference in the deer faces density between the game plots and control forest areas. Similarly, significantly more plant biomass was consumed (has disappeared) from the food plot forage during the September-October period (30-90 kg/ha/day) than in the other parts of the year (0-10 kg/ha/day). We suggest that food plot forage – or at least rye – has no fundamental dietary significance for red deer. Since the utilisation of game plots and food plot forage became the highest in the roaring period in autumn, importance of social factors in visiting game plots can be more fundamental than that of dietary ones. We think that it is hard to prove the clear dietary benefits of food plot forage for red deer at a population level. However, increasing effectiveness of trophy hunting during the roaring season could be an achievable and more easily measurable goal of game plot management

Feeding of tomato pulp baled silage in game preserves

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

Paradicsomtörköly bálaszilázs takarmány etetési hasznosulása vadaskerti körülmények között.

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 game species 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 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 amples 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