EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MODALITIES OF GRAZING WITH FALLOW DEER ON BRAMBLE AND OLIVE SPROUTS IN CENTRAL ITALY.

In a central Italy fallow deer pastoral system, four utilization modalities (differing for length and season of grazing) were tested on woody species (bramble and olive sprouts) in order to detect the “strategic” role and the possibility of control of these resources, developed after abandoning. Fallow deer intake on bramble was low, even in most critical forage availability period. On the contrary, olive sprouts showed a very high level of palatability, also in gap periods, resulting in this way as a good strategic resource: even differing for cumulative utilization rate, as absolute value, both species showed similar trend, with higher animal intake when utilized for a longer time. The study showed the possibility of using these species as forage source, able to contribute to diet of wild animals in extensive systems also with herbaceous resources.