Tomato pulp baled silage for feeding game

The aim of the study was to determine the nutrient content, fermentation quality and microbial status of wet tomato pulp silage after applying different treatments in two consecutive years. In the first year, dried whole seed wheat (20% based FM) was applied in order to reduce the hazard of effluent production and undesirable fermentation processes and to increase energy content of tomato pulp. Ensiling was carried out in metal barrels/treatment with a capacity of 150-180 kg/barrel. In the second year, dried ground corn (20%) was applied for the same reasons as before and to increase nutritive value of the by-product. In the first year, the applied dried whole seed wheat (used at 20%) increased the net energy content for maintenance of tomato pulp, which has an important role in game feeding during the winter (roe deer and red deer, wild boar). The calculated lactation net energy content was similar to a maize silage harvested with approx. 25-30% starch content. Mixing of 20% dried whole seed wheat reduced significantly the acetic acid (P≤0.05), the volatile fatty acid (P≤0.05) concentration, while increased the lactic: acetic acid ratio in the core of the silages as compared to T2 (T2: 1.72±0.07 vs T3: 3.25±0.09). A lower fermentation intensity was found in combination with a better organic acid profile, presumably due to a higher DM content in 20% wheat treatment as compared to tomato pulp. However, it is not recommended to add whole seed to the wet by-product due to the negative effect on the top 1-20 cm layer. In the second year, low fermentation intensity was found in the control tomato pulp (20% corn) baled silage, as well as an undesirable fermentation process was found in the case of 0,5% salt treatment in the mixed tomato pulp baled silage. Therefore, application of salt is not recommended. Inoculation effectively inhibited the production of butyric acid and reduced the protein loss by 6 % as compared to the control, therefore it is highly recommended to apply as silage inoculant during the ensilage of the wet by-product. In summary, it was confirmed that the new baling system was able to form well-shaped and stable bales. High density, quick wrapping (within 120 sec after bale-forming), had a beneficial effect on fermentation quality. The study showed that wet tomato pulp had a limited fermentation capacity, but under anaerobic conditions it was possible to store for long term (100 days) with a good microbial status. It is recommended to use dried ground cereal as an additive (20%) to increase dry matter and energy content, moreover to improve volatile fatty acid composition of the wet tomato pulp silage

Analysis of factors of effects on venison as food raw material (a pleriminary study)

In Hungary, approximately 200-250 thousand big game animals are hunted annually. Animals are not only hunted for valuable trophies, but also for thousands of tons of venison for consumption. A major part of this is sold abroad, bypassing the Hungarian market. It can be said in general that venison is low in fat and carbohydrate and rich in protein, micro- and macro elements, as well as vitamins. Currently in Hungary, venison is produced in free ranging areas, game preserves and game farms. There are significant differences between them in terms of environmental conditions and the employed keeping and feeding technologies. Impacts of these factors on the meat quality are well-known in domestic animals, but they are only partially understood in game species. The quality of red deer venison, the influential factors and risks have been examined in the current project. Red deer venison has been acquired from free ranging areas, game preserves and game farms. Changes in the volume of venison in Hungary and its distribution between game species were estimated, as well as the tendency in the number of game preserves and game farms was shown in this study. In Hungary, the quantity of hunted game species was approximately 10.000 tons in 2010, from which wild boar and red deer were the most abundant. We expect it to be the same in the future

A gímszarvas táplálékának összehasonlítása egy vadaskertben és környékén.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a widespread game species in Hungary. The intensive rate of population growth can result a strong degradation of the natural vegetation. In the forested areas serious damage can occur when the main food sources of deer, the available browse species, are lacking or scarce. In the preserves the density of deer can be quite high occasionally, ensuring hunting possibilities and venison production. Since the regeneration of the browse species is restricted by deer, the role of supplementary feeding (hay-silage, grain, special supplements etc.) could be particularly important. Knowledge of red deer diet is mainly based on data of free-ranging deer. However, information on food habits of fenced populations is also important for wildlife management purposes. So far, few specific studies have compared the diet composition of deer living in fenced and unfenced areas. We aimed to compare the diet composition of free living populations with fenced ones during the vegetation period to promote the wildlife management in such a special environment. We collected faeces samples in a preserve and in the neighbouring similar unfenced habitat in spring, summer and autumn (n=20 for each area and period). Analyses were made by microhistological identification of plant epidermis fragments found in the individual faeces. Browse species dominated the deer diet (40-82%) both in the fenced and unfenced areas throughout the vegetation period. Grasses and forbs did not exceed 10% in most cases. Deer consumed mainly oak and acorn, or oak and supplemental corn in the preserve while 4 to 6 species made up the great mass of the diet outside the fences. Only a few individuals consumed the supplementary forage items other than corn in great amount, but most of deer did not eat any of the supplements.The summer diet was more diverse and even in the unfenced area, and more forage items were consumed than in the fenced area. We conclude that the preserves could be unfavourable for red deer. When the natural food resources are largely absent, deer could be forced to feed on litter, or supplementary feed should meet their requirements

Tomato pulp baled silage for feeding game

The aim of the study was to determine the nutrient content, fermentation quality and microbial status of wet tomato pulp silage after applying different treatments in two consecutive years. In the first year, dried whole seed wheat (20% based FM) was applied in order to reduce the hazard of effluent production and undesirable fermentation processes and to increase energy content of tomato pulp. Ensiling was carried out in metal barrels/treatment with a capacity of 150-180 kg/barrel. In the second year, dried ground corn (20%) was applied for the same reasons as before and to increase nutritive value of the by-product. In the first year, the applied dried whole seed wheat (used at 20%) increased the net energy content for maintenance of tomato pulp, which has an important role in game feeding during the winter (roe deer and red deer, wild boar). The calculated lactation net energy content was similar to a maize silage harvested with approx. 25-30% starch content. Mixing of 20% dried whole seed wheat reduced significantly the acetic acid (P≤0.05), the volatile fatty acid (P≤0.05) concentration, while increased the lactic: acetic acid ratio in the core of the silages as compared to T2 (T2: 1.72±0.07 vs T3: 3.25±0.09). A lower fermentation intensity was found in combination with a better organic acid profile, presumably due to a higher DM content in 20% wheat treatment as compared to tomato pulp. However, it is not recommended to add whole seed to the wet by-product due to the negative effect on the top 1-20 cm layer. In the second year, low fermentation intensity was found in the control tomato pulp (20% corn) baled silage, as well as an undesirable fermentation process was found in the case of 0,5% salt treatment in the mixed tomato pulp baled silage. Therefore, application of salt is not recommended. Inoculation effectively inhibited the production of butyric acid and reduced the protein loss by 6 % as compared to the control, therefore it is highly recommended to apply as silage inoculant during the ensilage of the wet by-product. In summary, it was confirmed that the new baling system was able to form well-shaped and stable bales. High density, quick wrapping (within 120 sec after bale-forming), had a beneficial effect on fermentation quality. The study showed that wet tomato pulp had a limited fermentation capacity, but under anaerobic conditions it was possible to store for long term (100 days) with a good microbial status. It is recommended to use dried ground cereal as an additive (20%) to increase dry matter and energy content, moreover to improve volatile fatty acid composition of the wet tomato pulp silage

Is seasonal diet composition of red deer (Cervus elaphus) is affected by game preservation?

In Europe, approx. 280,000 deer, predominantly red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) were kept in game preserves in 2012. Information on foraging habits of fenced populations is important for wildlife management purposes. However, actual knowledge of diet composition of red deer is mainly based on studies of free-ranging deer. Until this time, few specific studies have compared the diet composition of deer living in fenced and unfenced areas. Hence, we aimed to compare how diet composition differs inside and outside a game preserve during the vegetation period. Botanical composition of red deer diet was studied in fenced and unfenced areas of a forested region in Gyarmatpuszta, Hungary. We collected faeces samples in spring, summer and autumn (n=20 for each area and period). Analyses were made by microhistological identification of plant epidermis fragments found in the faeces. Browse species dominated the diet of red deer (40-82%) both, in the fenced and unfenced areas throughout the vegetation period. Oak species (Quercus spp.), the common tree of the areas, were always the dominant browse species in the diet (11-53%). The consumption of different shrub species was much lower in the fenced than in unfenced area. Ash (Fraxinus spp.), bramble (Rubus spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) or rose (Rosa spp.) were highly selected by some individuals (15-86%). In turn, supplementary food appeared in a higher proportion in red deer diet in the game preserve than outside. This consumption was dominated by corn in fenced area in summer (21±33%) and autumn (35±14,8%). Grasses and forbs did not exceed 10% of the diet in the most cases. Differences in the diet composition can influence the quality of the individuals (body mass, trophy and venison quality) determining the management success in game preserves. Ongoing and later nutritional analyses of consumed plant materials and venison can reveal such differences

Analysis of factors of effects on venison as food raw material (a pleriminary study)

In Hungary, approximately 200-250 thousand big game animals are hunted annually. Animals are not only hunted for valuable trophies, but also for thousands of tons of venison for consumption. A major part of this is sold abroad, bypassing the Hungarian market. It can be said in general that venison is low in fat and carbohydrate and rich in protein, micro- and macro elements, as well as vitamins. Currently in Hungary, venison is produced in free ranging areas, game preserves and game farms. There are significant differences between them in terms of environmental conditions and the employed keeping and feeding technologies. Impacts of these factors on the meat quality are well-known in domestic animals, but they are only partially understood in game species. The quality of red deer venison, the influential factors and risks have been examined in the current project. Red deer venison has been acquired from free ranging areas, game preserves and game farms. Changes in the volume of venison in Hungary and its distribution between game species were estimated, as well as the tendency in the number of game preserves and game farms was shown in this study. In Hungary, the quantity of hunted game species was approximately 10.000 tons in 2010, from which wild boar and red deer were the most abundant. We expect it to be the same in the future