FARMING SYSTEMSWild ungulate farming-that of red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, moufflon, and wild boar-in Italy is carried out with two main purposes: animal restocking and meat production. The first generally includes game for the restocking of shooting preserves (faunistico-venatorie and agri-turistico-venatorie private lands), since captive-reared ungulates should not be extensively used for reintroduction into the wild or restocking natural populations. Shooting preserves often comprise large enclosures, used both for raising wild ungulates and hunting them during the harvest season. The main product are adult males with high trophy merit, the value of which largely surpasses that of the meat, which is considered as a side-product. Wild ungulate farming for meat production started in the last decades (Rambotti, 1985), as an answer to well known agro-zootechnical issues (Lucifero, 1995).Restocking game is usually reared in fenced park-type settings with minimal input. Wild boar is generally kept in mono-specific stock, while the other species can be reared in mixed herds. Boundary fences ensure captivity of the animals, as law imposes for conservation of the genetic integrity of indigenous populations. Elevated platform stands inside the enclosure allow animal monitoring, obtaining information on their health status and behaviour, and are suitable for individual harvesting with guns firing injecting devices or bullets. Supplemental feed is occasionally provided, to remedy seasonal shortfalls of the range diet. This extensive husbandry system is suitable for less favoured areas, where wild ungulates can exploit scarce and poor available resources more efficiently than domestic animals.The prevalent meat farming system is semi-extensive. In fact, even if deer and wild boar are adaptable and respond well to intensive management, because of the climate and pastures and the pressure for land use, the intensive systems are not common in Italy, apart from local exceptions regarding farmed wild boar. In comparison with extensive systems, meat-producing husbandry requires specific inputs (fencing and handling systems, supplemental feed) and management programs, intended to meet the welfare requirements of farmed animals, ensure handler safety and maximise reproductive rates and weight gains, along with the production of consistently high quality products, in order to offset the relatively high fixed costs and attain maximum enterprise profitability. Property layout, 65
