https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9990-3933
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ABSTRACT
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.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Zemljič family from Stari Breg, the Senekovič family from Kačji Potok and the Kerneža family from Novi Lazi for giving us access to the land they use for the preparation of bulky fodder for livestock and for the production of iron cages, which we used in the research. Jaka Rupnik and Boštjan Medved Karničar are acknowledged for their technical assistance.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Availability of data
The datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Author contributions
ST and MV conceptualised the study, carried out field data collection, wrote the first draft of the manuscript and wrote the final version of the manuscript, ŽL and TS contributed to field data collection, BJS, GTK and AU assisted with data analysis, and TB assisted with data analysis and interpretation of the results.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Stanislav Trdan
Stanislav Trdan is a full professor–researcher in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), where he has worked since 1997. His research interests are focused on environmentally acceptable plant protection, especially in the field of agricultural entomology and zoology. He has published more than 120 refereed articles.
Žiga Laznik
Žiga Laznik has been a researcher in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), since 2007. His main research area is biological control, with special emphasis on interactions between plant pests, their plant hosts and biological control agents.
Tomaž Sinkovič
Tomaž Sinkovič is a retired researcher. Until 2021, he worked in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). His main research area was botany.
Breda Jakovac Strajn
Breda Jakovac Strajn is an associate professor–researcher at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Her main research area is animal feed quality and hygiene.
Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher
Gabrijela Tavčar Kalcher is a researcher at the Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Her main research interests include animal nutritional feed and analytical chemistry.
Andrej Udovč
Andrej Udovč is a full professor–researcher in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). His main research area is agricultural economics.
Tanja Bohinc
Tanja Bohinc has been a researcher in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), since 2012. Her research is oriented towards environmentally acceptable plant protection and interactions among plant pests/diseases and the chemical structure of their hosts.
Matej Vidrih
Matej Vidrih is an assistant professor–researcher in the Department of Agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), where he has worked since 1999. His research is oriented towards grassland management and field crop production.