Bisoniana XLIX. Food preferences and requirements of the European bison

Abstract

These studies were carried out in summer and winter in the breeding reserve of the Białowieża National Park, 8 European bison varying in age from 8 months to 5.5 years being used in 12 experiments. Fresh plants were fed in summer, and in winter plants gathered in autumn and air-dried. It was found that a very large number of plants are very readily eaten by European bison in relation to the number of plant species fed to the animals. The average amount of fresh food eaten per day in summer is 8.4 kg for a young bull 8 months old, 19.4—28.5 kg for animals 2—3 years old, 22.7 kg for a 4-year old cow and 32.2 kg for a 5-year old bull. In winter average daily consumption is distinctly lower, from 4.03 to 5.9 kg 2—3 year old animals and 7.19 kg in a bull 5.5. years old. The amount of dry mass of fodder eaten by European bison per 1 kg of body weight per day does not differ greatly over the course of one season, but differences between the two seasons examined may be as much as 50%. The maximum food intake (in calories) per 1 kg of body weight was found in a 2-year old bull in summer and 3-year old heifer in winter. After ascertaining the European bison's food requirements it was calculated that a free-living European bison head, 80°/o of which was concentrated in an area of 17,608 ha of the Białowieża Primeval Forest, consumed 0.21 kg per day of fresh plant mass from 1 ha in 1970. This figure included 0.069 kg of food consisting of shoots and 0.141 kg of herbs and grasses per hectare.