Dung Beetles for Healthy Cattle Pastures - Ask Extension
Greetings! I have 5 head of adult cattle on 4 acres from spring through fall each year. I pasture rotate, but we have a lot of flies on our cattle. I ...
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Dung Beetles for Healthy Cattle Pastures #874564
Asked June 25, 2024, 2:36 AM EDT
Greetings! I have 5 head of adult cattle on 4 acres from spring through fall each year. I pasture rotate, but we have a lot of flies on our cattle. I was reading up on the benefits of dung beetles. Do you know how or where I can get more dung beetles for my pastures? Also, will they live over winter here before cattle return in the spring?
Thank you,
Janice
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Janice,
Great question, those beetles do amazing work! The bad news is I do not know of any places that sell them, other countries have more than we do and I haven't come across any.
However, usually, the best thing people can do to encourage beneficial insects, and the tried and true way (many people buy insects, and then they fly off or get eaten!) is to build up a habitat and support the beetles and other beneficial insects you already have.
This can be done by creating beetle banks, planting hedgerows, reducing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, leaving small areas untilled, growing diverse crops in rotation, and allowing livestock to drop manure on pasture. I have a few helpful articles below from Oregon sources that might be helpful.
Article on Integrating Beetle Habitat on your farm
Webpage on building a beetle bank EMSWCD
Great question, those beetles do amazing work! The bad news is I do not know of any places that sell them, other countries have more than we do and I haven't come across any.
However, usually, the best thing people can do to encourage beneficial insects, and the tried and true way (many people buy insects, and then they fly off or get eaten!) is to build up a habitat and support the beetles and other beneficial insects you already have.
This can be done by creating beetle banks, planting hedgerows, reducing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, leaving small areas untilled, growing diverse crops in rotation, and allowing livestock to drop manure on pasture. I have a few helpful articles below from Oregon sources that might be helpful.
Article on Integrating Beetle Habitat on your farm
Webpage on building a beetle bank EMSWCD
Thank you for your response. I’ve done some reading & we do pasture rotate and never till. The flies are so bad on the cow’s sides & faces, which is not best care for them. Just want to do the best for my livestock, but not sure how.
Janice
Hi Janice,
Thank you for providing more information. Fly infestations stress and affect cattle and other livestock. I think building more habitat for your dung beetle population will help long-term, but in the short-term, I strongly recommend using other options to protect your animals.
Here is an article from OSU Extension that offers some suggestions. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/animals-livestock/beef/dealing-pesky-flies-cattle
Thank you for providing more information. Fly infestations stress and affect cattle and other livestock. I think building more habitat for your dung beetle population will help long-term, but in the short-term, I strongly recommend using other options to protect your animals.
Here is an article from OSU Extension that offers some suggestions. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/animals-livestock/beef/dealing-pesky-flies-cattle
