Slovenia to close last pheasant and partridge breeding facility

Slovenia Forest Service will wind down pheasant and partridge breeding operations in Beltinci in the northeast by 1 May, marking the shutdown of the last such breeding facility in the country, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The service says that the Fazan Beltinci special-purpose hunting ground will remain, but hunting activities in the area will be redirected from commercial pheasant and partridge hunting toward general public hunting purposes.

The breeding centre was established as part of the Fazan Beltinci Game Breeding Institute in late 1960 and was incorporated into the Forest Service in early 2005 under the Wildlife and Hunting Act.

For 64 years, the facility bred pheasants, mallard ducks, and partridges. In its heyday it produced 80,000 pheasants, 8,000 partridges, and 9,000 mallards annually.

In recent years, the Fazan Beltinci special-purpose hunting ground raised approximately 18,000 pheasants and 3,500 partridges per year, though production had been steadily declining.

Last year, around 2,200 pheasants and 50 partridges were sold to various buyers, while the remainder were released into the hunting grounds, according to the Forest Service.

The primary reason for the closure of the facility is financial difficulties, largely due to volatile conditions, including high costs of feed, energy, and labour, which have increased the price of game birds and reduced demand.

Additionally, the breeding facilities are outdated and in need of extensive renovation and modernisation, but the necessary funds are not available, the Forest Service explained.

Until 1 May, when the facility closes, there will be no breeding of new offspring and the parent flock will be released into the wild.