ABSTRACT
Evaluation of different methods of damage prevention produced by lagomorphs in tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus ssp. palmensis) plantations

Carlos Ovalle1, Felipe Ojeda2 y Oscar Skewes2
 

One of the main problems in the establishment of a tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus ssp. palmensis) plantation is damage produced by lagomorphs (hares and rabbits). The objective of this research was to evaluate simple, non-toxic methods of preventing damage to new plantations of tagasaste. The methods evaluated were physical and chemical. The former were two kinds of plastic mesh cylinders and an especially designed electric wire fence; the latter were two commercial repellents, Tetramethyl tiuram disulfur and Denatonium benzoate and timol, as well as bovine blood treated with anticoagulant. The results showed that the electric fence reduced the hare attacks by 100% and the thick hexagonal cylinder was of average effectiveness. The thin hexagonal cylinder, chemical repellent and blood were ineffective.

Keywords: hares, rabbits, vegetal protection, wild animals damage.
1 Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Centro Regional de Investigación Quilamapu, Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile. E-mail: covalle@inia.cl
2 Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Casilla 537, Chillán, Chile.