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Starling damage and its prevention at an openfronted calf yard

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. J. Feare  and
K. P. Swannack
C. J. Feare
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Pest Infestation Control Laboratory, Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Surrey
K. P. Swannack
Affiliation:
Bridgets Experimental Husbandry Farm, Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire
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Abstract

Starlings had free access to cattle food placed in open troughs in a calf yard. During the winters 1974/75, 1975/76 and 1976/77 birds took 1·49, 1·70 and 1·991 of calf food respectively, this ranging from 6·4 to 12·4% of the food given to the calves. These losses were eliminated using enclosures made of Terylene netting or PVC strips. Both enclosures kept starlings out of the yard: the latter was more manageable to farm staff, and calves within grew significantly faster than controls, probably due to a combination of the absence of bird competition for food and the elevated temperature within the enclosed area.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , June 1978 , pp. 259 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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References

REFERENCES

Feare, C. J. 1975. Cost of starling damage at an intensive animal husbandry unit. Proc. 8th Br. Insecticide Fungicide Conf. 1: 253–360.Google Scholar
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