Dung beetles

[Sally-Ann Spence]

I will be running my usual dung beetle safaris at Groundswell again this year. Will also be speaking at 3pm in the discussion tent about them & their ecosystem functions benefiting your soils, pasture, livestock & wider biodiversity. Will also be focusing on sustainable parasite management. I’m there both days, if you have questions, would like to know more, want a survey or keen to organise a group workshop/training day (or just share a beer) please come & find me

 

[steveR]

Not coming this time Sally-Ann, but a question that wandered through my mind earlier this morning....

Like most cattle farmers, I do use Ivermectin products sparingly*, and like many, I try to minimise the impact on the soil ecosystem from it, as it goes through the animal.

I do this by trying to only use it in Autumn at housing, or if buying in store youngstock (which I am doing once again) by treating the animal if required, and then quarantine housing for about 3-4 days.

How long do you consider it actually needs for the animal to excrete and clear it's system largely of ivermectin?







*Never used it all when running Suckler cows and youngstock, but they wouldn't pay the bills!