RESULTS OF SIMULATION STUDIES FOR OPTIMUM MEAT PRODUCTION FROM THE SWEDISH MOOSE POPULATION

Abstract

Several alternative forms of hunting policy for moose in Sweden have been evaluated in a simulation study. Three populations native to different geographical and climatic regions were studied. These populations differed mainly with regard to their rate of reproduction and carcass weight. The determining factors which were varied were the proportions an categories (cows with and without singleton or twin calves) of cows harvested and their proportion between yearlings and calves harvested. The winter population was restricted to a constant size. Altogether 60 alternatives were simulated. The results were expressed as: meat yield from a winter population of equal carcass weight, rate of population increase, percentage of calves harvested, and percentage of calves in winter population. These factors are of importance in the formulation of an optimal hunting policy for different parts of Sweden.

Maximum meat production was obtained when the calves represented a 15-25 per cent share of the harvest, the lower figure corresponding to the population with the lowest rate of reproduction. Greatest rate of population increase was observed in the alternatives which had the highest percentage of calves harvested.