Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1966 Incidence of disease antibodies in pheasants and pheasant management on game farms and shooting preserves in Iowa David John Roslien Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Agriculture Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Roslien, David John, "Incidence of disease antibodies in pheasants and pheasant management on game farms and shooting preserves in Iowa " (1966). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 5333. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/5333 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been microfUmed exactly as received 67-2091 ROSLIEN, David John, 1937- mCIDENCE OF DISEASE ANTIBODIES IN PHEASANTS AND PHEASANT MANAGEMENT ON GAME FARMS AND SHOOTING PRESERVES IN IOWA. Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ph.D., 1966 Agriculture, forestry and wildlife University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan INCIDENCE OF DISEASE ANTIBODIES IN PHEASANTS AND PHEASANT MANAGEMENT ON GAME FARMS AND SHOOTING PRESERVES IN IOWA by David John Roslien A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major Subject: Wildlife Biology Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major WorJ Signature was redacted for privacy. Head of Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. Iowa State University Of Science and Technology Ames, Iowa 1966 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. HISTORY OF PHEASANT FARMS AND PRESERVES 5 III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 16 IV. PROCEDURE OF INVESTIGATION 45 V. EVALUATION OF PHEASANT FARMS 84 VI. RESULTS OF SEROLOGICAL TESTS OF PEN-REARED PHEASANTS 113 VII. RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES 137 VIII. RESULTS OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES ON PRIVATE GAME FARMS AND HUNTING PRESERVES 141 IX. DISCUSSION 157 X. RECOMMENDATIONS 183 XI. SUMMARY 194 XII. LITERATURE CITED 197 XIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 214 1 I. INTRODUCTION Wild ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus Linneaus) occupy an important position in the sporting economy of the United States. The pheasant is important in Iowa because it is sought by more hunters and is shot in larger numbers than any other game bird. In recent years lowans have killed one to two million ring-necks annually. The importance of the ring-necked pheasant as a harves- table resource in Iowa has provided impetus for several re­ search projects on the bird. Lyon (1965), Klonglan (1962), and Bolstad (1962) completed ecological studies on pheasants during recent years. Vohs (1964) and Harris (1965) studied pheasant genetics and physiology respectively. Fore (1959) and Andrews (1960) investigated blood parasitism and infec­ tious diseases of wild pheasants. These recent studies fol­ lowed up "leads" obtained during earlier investigations (Green 1937, Basket 1942, and Klonglan 1953, 1955) at the Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. A great deal is known about the ecology of wild pheasants in Iowa. Less information is available in an area of more re­ cent interest in Iowa, namely, the ecology of pen-reared pheasants. In 1957 the state legislature legalized game breeding and shooting preserves in Iowa. When preserves were established 2 increased attention was directed to pen-reared pheasants which have been hunted during a major part of each year since then. The present study was the first intensive research on game farms and game breeding and shooting preserves in Iowa. Andrews (1960) visited seven game farms in 1959 and collected blood samples from pen-reared pheasants to supplement his work on wild birds. Little else has been done with penned birds in Iowa, The purpose of the study was to obtain information on various aspects of pheasant breeding on pheasant farms and preserves in Iowa with four principal objectives: (1) to make a serological check of game farm pheasants for specific anti­ bodies against the infectious agents for pullorum, fowl ty­ phoid, fowl paratyphoid, paracolon, and Newcastle disease virus, (2) to locate all pheasant farms and preserves in the state and to study their distribution, size, annual production, and number of years of operation, (3) to determine and to evaluate management practices on game farms in Iowa and, (4) to collect survey data to determine what other parasites and diseases occur in pen-reared pheasants, and to evaluate the incidence, prevalence and distribution of these infections and their relative importance. The role of diseases in wild pheasant populations is not well known; however, references in the literature suggest 3 diseases may have an effect on wild populations of pheasants, although in many cases direct evidence for such statements does not exist. In Iowa interactions between wild and pen- reared pheasant populations occur when wild birds enter farm yards and when penned pheasants escape. Wild pheasants are often called farm game because they occur on farms and are common visitors to farm groves and yards during some times of the year. Information from conservation officers and other conservation commission personnel indicate game breeders re­ lease pen-reared pheasants into the wild to mingle with wild populations. A proper evaluation of disease problems in pheasants must include information from both wild and pen- reared populations. Wild pheasants are an important resource in Iowa and it is important to investigate factors which might influence this resource. The condition of game farm pheasants and the number released into the wild are two such factors under investigation in this study. The Iowa Conservation Commission licenses and regulates game farms and game breeding and shooting preserves. The formulation of sound regulatory policy is not possible without adequate information on all aspects of pheasant breeding and shooting in Iowa. Pheasant breeders also need information on management, diagnostic services, and techniques of successful game farm operation. The conservation commission has generally not made this information available to game breeders, many of 4 which are not able to get enough information to operate efficiently. This study was conducted to obtain information needed by game breeders, shooting preserve operators, and the Iowa Con­ servation Commission. 5 II. HISTORY OF PHEASANT FARMS AND PRESERVES A. General History in Iowa A general history of game farms and game breeding and shooting preserves in Iowa is presented as a basic ground work to the present study. Such information has not previously been assembled in a single paper. The Summary presented here is based on such literature as could be located. Success and/ or failure of game breeding establishments throughout past years provides an indication of what problems may have existed and how these problems may have been solved. The relationship of these problems, past and present, to game breeding is of major interest at the present time. A published history on the number of game farms in Iowa since 1932 can be found in the biennial reports of the Iowa Fish and Game Commission (1932-1963). This source refers to private pheasant farms in Iowa as early as 1930. The history of game breeding and shooting preserves in the state is well defined from the time of enactment of the Iowa game breeding and shooting preserve law in 1957. B. History of State Game Farm In recent times all game farms in Iowa, with the excep­ tion of the Iowa State Game Farm at Boone, Iowa, have been privately owned. Conservation Commission game farms at Lan­ sing and Clive, Iowa, have not operated since the 1930's. 6 The Iowa Wildlife Research and Exhibit Station (formerly called Iowa State Game Farm) has been the largest game farm in the state during the past 30 years. Records of pheasant production at this farm have been published biennially since 1938 and a summary of this information is presented (Table 1). In 1940, 45,000 pheasant chicks were hatched at the State Game Farm but production decreased gradually to 3,500 birds in 1961. No pheasants were hatched or reared by the Conservation Commission Station in 1962 and the ring-neck pheasant production program has operated on a limited basis since then. In 1932 the biennial report states that game farms oper­ ated at Clive and Lansing curtailed operations because a recently conducted game survey indicated better results were obtained if birds and eggs were purchased from commercial game breeders. From 1932-1938 private game breeders supplied parent stock whenever needed for release. Commission game bird stocking programs during the period were limited to introduc­ ing parent stock into areas where pheasants previously existed, but where they had subsequently been reduced to low levels. This supposed need for parent stock was limited to local 4-H club pheasant egg projects until about 1935 when a series of unfavorable drought years coupled with the severe winter of 1935-36 reduced wild pheasant populations in Iowa. The hunting season was closed in 1936-37. Even so, poor production the Table 1. Sununary of