Всероссийский научно-исследовательский институт физиологии, биохимии и питания животных – филиал Федерального государственного бюджетного научного учреждения «Федеральный научный центр животноводства – ВИЖ имени академика Л.К. Эрнста»
ABSTRACT. The bison is an integral part of the biome of deciduous forests and forest-steppes, the restoration of its natural populations is one of the necessary conditions for the re-creation of natural full-component biocenoses of European forestlands. Currently, the European continent has lost a significant part of biological diversity, and now the prevention of further degradation and restoration of the initial state is a priority task for the states of this region. The greatest difficulties arise if one wishes to preserve and restore the natural populations of large animals, to which auroch (Bison bonasus L.) belongs – the largest wild animal of subfamily Bovinae in Europe, which has survived to the present day. For 200 years, only Russia preserved this species, and during this time, 40 individuals of auroch were brought alive to the zoo and parks in Europe, the descendants of which became the basis for the restoration of this species in our time. In 2015, the world population of purebred aurochs already accounted for 6083 individuals, of which 1,674 were kept in captivity, and the rest were free. The purpose of this work is to study the conditions of breeding groups of auroch and the family of the American steppe bison (Bison bison L.), to identify nutritional problems and the possibility of their elimination. The central auroch nursery was established on the territory of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve in 1948. Initially, there were two aurochs of the Belovezhskaya breeding line in the nursery, and two of the Caucasian-Belovezhskaya breeding line, later they were supplemented with animals from foreign nurseries, and hybrids with American bison and livestock. In 1985, in the nursery there were 6 tribal groups of auroch with a total number of about 30 individuals. The export of animals for the purpose of resettlement was started in 1951. By 2007, 383 thoroughbred bisons, a significant group of buffalo and 47 hybrids of various bloodiness were exported. Periodically, the total number of animals increased to 60-70 individuals, which was accompanied by a risk of a decrease in feed potential and an increase in the incidence of animals. The main volume of field observations and feeding conditions was performed for 48 aurochs (35 adult and 13 young animals) and 9 American bisons. In the diet of auroch and bison included tree branches, hay, concentrated and juicy feed, mineral top dressing as a salt-lick. When analyzing the state of natural forages of auroch, it is established that the stocks of herbaceous forages in the peninsula of the nursery are severely depleted, in the enclosures there was an accumulation of fern, sedge and other species of plants not eaten by bisons. In all pens there is practically no youth and undergrowth, the effective area of pens is much lower than recommended for new enclosures. Variants of increasing the potential of the natural feed reserve for enclosures intended for breeding aurochs are proposed, in the direction of increasing the norm of the area allocated to one breeding individual, or reducing the number of animals if the territory of enclosures is not increased.
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