Example estate management dissertation topic 9:

Optimal ways of feeding pheasants – A review of present practices.

Game birds are an important part of a diversified country estate, and the production of game birds such as pheasants should be maximised to reap the benefits for the estate. Food supply can be a limiting factor in breeding, particularly as cereal crops may not be in neighbouring fields. This dissertation explores a study of three trials of pheasant feeding on a large estate in the north of England. The three areas are each comprised of mixed woodland with fields and shelterbelts, separated by at least 500 metres. The three different methods of feeding are: hand feeding (ground); clusters of small hoppers feeding with the use of a spiral feeder; and large wooden tapered feeders.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Game Conservancy Trust (2003). Woodland conservation and pheasants. Fordingbridge: The Game Conservancy Trust Ltd.
• Robertson, P.A. and Dowell, S. (1990). ‘The effects of hand-rearing on wild gamebird populations’. In, Lumeij, J.T. and Hoogeveen, Y.R., (eds) The future of wild Galliformes in the Netherlands. Amersfoort: Organisatiecommissie Nederlandse Wilde Hoenders, pp. 158-171.
• Wise, D.R. (1994). ‘Weight, carcase composition and reproductive performance of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) fed restricted or unrestricted diets’. Research in Veterinary Science, vol. 57, pp. 119-124.