overkillingn.
/ˌəʊvəˈkɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈˌoʊvərˈkɪlɪŋ/ The act or practice of killing more than is advisable or necessary; esp. the killing of too many of an animal used for food, etc., thus diminishing the supply.
ΚΠ
1927 Times 12 Oct. 11/2 It was folly to allow supplies of food to be diminished by overkilling at a period of year when birds ought not to be killed.
1964 Operations Res. 12 508 Fire is directed all during the battle at the original enemy positions, and much of it is wasted in ‘overkilling’.
1990 Green Mag. Nov. 18/1 Overkilling forced up the price of the traditional staple—whale oil.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1927