Developing a model to predict yield loss of winter wheat due to grazing by European wild rabbits

A three year enclosure trial was conducted to provide the data for development of a model to predict yield loss of winter wheat due to grazing by European wild rabbits using a range of rabbit densities (0-40 rabbits/ha). There was a 1% yield loss/rabbit/ha as a result of a reduction in the number of ears produced and the number of grains/ear. The height of grazed plants at harvest was little different from that of ungrazed plants. At our study site, the yield of grain from ungrazed enclosures was about 6.5 t/ha. Our model therefore predicts that at this site each rabbit caused a loss of 65 kg of grain which at current prices is equivalent to a loss of about pound 6.50. The implications of these results for farmers are discussed.