ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Using Dung to Maintain a Healthy Pasture Ecosystem

UNP-0137

Introduction called dwellers because they live in the waste. An ecosystem is a biological system that includes all living Dung beetles are particularly organisms within a physical active during warm seasons. In environment that work togeth- addition to consuming, bury- er in harmony to sustain the ing, and breaking down ma- system. Therefore, an ecosys- nure, these beetles lay their tem includes plants, , eggs in the ground. The larvae microorganisms, soil, rocks, hatch and eat gastrointestinal minerals, water, and the atmo- parasites found in the dung, sphere interacting with one and their tunneling action aer- another. ates the soil. These processes interrupt the life-cycle of these farmers tend to parasites. Entomologist Dr. Tru- be well-diversified manag- man Fincher once stated that ers of ecosystems. They well-established populations of are aware of the importance dung beetles can break down of maintaining a quality and small piles of manure (4-6 healthy pasture for their inches) in three days (Griffith, animals that consists of soil, 2012), while interrupting the Photo courtesy Wikipedia vegetation, moisture, , life-cycle of parasites. Farm- infected with parasites such and nutrients. Within that sys- ers and ranchers may spend as roundworms, hookworms, tem there is a particular hundreds of millions of dollar and whipworms. An anthel- worth its weight in gold. This each year to control internal mintic is designed to control valuable creature is the dung parasites while the dung internal and internal para- or beetle whose pur- destroys parasites at no charge. site infestations. While some pose in life is to break down anthelmentics have proven to manure and move the Additional Parasite kill gastrointestinal parasites basic nutrients and organic Control in ruminants and horses, they matter into the subsoil. While may also exterminate insects it might not sound like a glam- Whether a farmer has horses, that are beneficial to the envi- orous job, it is important in cows, goats, or sheep, there ronment such as the dung or maintaining a healthy pasture may be times when the use of scarab beetle. By using specific ecosystem. chemicals may be necessary to wormers that do not terminate help reduce infestation of gas- Role of the Dung ARCHIVEBeetle trointestinal and external para- sites in their animals. Rumi- Dung beetles thrive throughout nants and equine are relatively the world. Like honey bees, easy to care for and have been dung beetle have spe- maintained by humans for cific roles. Some roll manure centuries as livestock, utility, into round bales for easy move- and recreational animals. Yet ment, while other beetles tun- when confined for long periods nel and bury dung where they of time with limited access to find it. Other species are forage, animals may become Photo courtesy [email protected]

www.aces.edu/urban Table 1 Dung beetle facts

Name Description Life Cycle Status Scientific Name: ½ to 1-inch long; me- Working in pairs, Dung beetles are Dung beetles play Phanaeus vindex tallic blue-green and adult males and rarely encoun- an important role MacLachlan; On- copper in color. Golden females dig burrows tered unless an in nature by reduc- thophagus gazella bronze flat frontal head. underneath animal effort is made to ing fecal material in Male has a long, curved excrement where examine fresh po- nature and thereby Fabricius Order: horn extending from the they bury portions tential larval habi- reducing the habitat Coleoptera front of the head (clyp- of the droppings. tats. The beetles for filth-breeding eus) while the slightly Eggs, deposited can be washed to . They are con- larger female has a in the excrement, remove debris. sidered beneficial tubercle. The front legs hatch and the larvae and medically harm- are modified for digging. feed on the dung. less.

Table Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beneficial insects and temporarily confining livestock receiving treatment, these beneficial insects can remain readily visible and functional in pasture environments.

According to Veresdale Equine Veterinary Services, mectin wormers such as ivermectin, abamectin or moxidectin are toxic to dung beetles. However, wormers such as Morantel, Pyrantel, or Benzimidozole appear to have no effect on dung Beetles.

Farmers must also be cautious when administering these chemicals to sick animals; their resistance is already weakened due to their illness. And, the use of chemical wormers is contrary and counter- productive to holistic health care. As the estimated toxic effects of the aforementioned “mectins” to dung beetles is approximately 30 days, housing of animals receiving treatments should be limited to a specific area for that time frame. After 30 days has passed, the animas can be released and al- lowed to graze or browse in any area of the farmers’ choice without any negative consequences to the dung beetle.

So what does all this mean to a farmer? The application and utilization of fertilizer to insure soil fertility in pastures can be costly, which makes it an expensive and inefficient input. The dung beetle converts manure to fertilizer in their natural environment. Based on several sets of information, were it not for the actions of the dung beetle, some of the nutrients in livestock manure would evaporate as they break down, as opposed to being worked into the soil by dung beetles.

Conclusion

For some time soil scientists have been encouraging farmers to minimize tilling of soil, and instead use no till methods that facilitate the build-up of organic matter in our fields. This allows the dung beetle to break down manure piles into soil nutrients and organic matter. By tunneling they move the nutrients and matter into the subsoil that acts as a free fertilizer. Beneficial organic matter improves the quality of forages where animals graze, and they help to reduce the impact of external and inter- nal parasites when their larva ingests these pests.

So, on your next walk through grazing areas, you may want to stop and look for evidence of a dung beetle, then reflectARCHIVE upon its important role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. Robert Spencer, Urban Regional Extension Specialist, Alabama A&M University

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer. March 2012; UNP-0137 © 2012 by Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved. UNP-0137