Dung beetle resource

[holwellcourtfarm]

Has anyone worked with these guys before? https://www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk/

 

[Whitewalker]

Has anyone worked with these guys before? https://www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk/

Looks like that’s a no but interesting

 

[martian]

Has anyone worked with these guys before? https://www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk/

I've not worked with them as such, but Sally-Anne is a fountain of knowledge about beetles and we've got them talking at Groundswell this year. They will also be leading a dung-beetle safari on both days, which sounds so much more fun than trailing off to Kenya and looking at boring old lions and giraffes.

 

[JohnGalway]

Has anyone worked with these guys before? https://www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk/

I haven't, but Bruce Thompson, Sally-Ann Spence, and Claire Whittle are all on Twitter and seem sound. Bruce set up a Whatsapp group ages ago, I joined early but never got involved with other commitments. Sally-Ann was involved in a project before where she was shafted by others, I'd asked her about non chemical solutions to parasites and after our initial conversation she got back to me out of the blue a year later with more info. Claire Whittle I know the least, I believe she is involved in this event next week

How to use fly parasites as an effective fly control strategy

Food event in Whitchurch by LLM Farm Vets Lancashire and 2 others on Thursday, March 18 2021

www.facebook.com

I wouldn't hold any concerns if I were thinking of dealing with them, but that's not based on using that website, just on what I've seen of them online.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I put Click extra on the lambs this year for fly strike, after I applied it, I noticed on the container it said that it effects insects for quite a few weeks after, I asked the vet at Groundswell what her advice was, she said animal health has to come first, however, I was chatting to Peter Baber when he delivered a new Exlana ram and he said he had stopped using a pour on and didn't have any problems with fly strike, so will try not using a pour on next year and see how it goes. Certainly it will be better for the dung beetles.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I put Click extra on the lambs this year for fly strike, after I applied it, I noticed on the container it said that it effects insects for quite a few weeks after, I asked the vet at Groundswell what her advice was, she said animal health has to come first, however, I was chatting to Peter Baber when he delivered a new Exlana ram and he said he had stopped using a pour on and didn't have any problems with fly strike, so will try not using a pour on next year and see how it goes. Certainly it will be better for the dung beetles.

Being aware of the impact is half the battle. You can then decide whether it's worth the overall impact. I suspect most livestock farmers are still unaware of the full impact of wormers and other livestock insecticides.

 

[Old Tip]

We had Claire here a few weeks back, found loads of beetles, I try to worm as little as possible and the same re pour on’s.
The big thing I learned is that they need a cow pat to have height, same with sheep, horse poo is perfect . The splatter type dung is just no good

 

[Fenwick]

The big thing I learned is that they need a cow pat to have height, same with sheep, horse poo is perfect . The splatter type dung is just no good

Fascinaiting, thank you!

 

[Bowland Bob]

I now regularly look at cow pats and think we've got dung beatles. I'm loathed to use Clik but swore I would after last year. I've been researching tea tree oil mixes etc wondered about a spray/ mist each time the sheep leave the pens. Has anyone got some dung beetle friendly ideas of fly/ maggot control?

 

[steveR]

I've not worked with them as such, but Sally-Anne is a fountain of knowledge about beetles and we've got them talking at Groundswell this year. They will also be leading a dung-beetle safari on both days, which sounds so much more fun than trailing off to Kenya and looking at boring old lions and giraffes.

And the beer will be better in Herts too...

 

[steveR]

I put Click extra on the lambs this year for fly strike, after I applied it, I noticed on the container it said that it effects insects for quite a few weeks after, I asked the vet at Groundswell what her advice was, she said animal health has to come first, however, I was chatting to Peter Baber when he delivered a new Exlana ram and he said he had stopped using a pour on and didn't have any problems with fly strike, so will try not using a pour on next year and see how it goes. Certainly it will be better for the dung beetles.

I gave up using Ivomec and similiar wormers when the stock were on grass, years ago after seeing work on it's effect on beetles and other insects.

Clik is not needed, now the EC are here... but I will stay schtum on this aspect...