Reduced Pesticide Fly Control in Feedlots and Native Rangeland to Conserve Dung Beetles and Benefit Beef and Sheep Production

Nzi Fly Trap Instructions

APHIS Summary of Cattle Parasites on US Operations

Dung Arthropod Overview

beetlechecklist

This producer-managed project demonstrated the practicality of carefully reducing pesticide use while still practicing good and profitable animal husbandry.  Groups of cattle in a commercial beef herd were subjected to a reduced pesticide strategy using non-chemical controls, integrated pest management or IPM, grazing rotation and monitored with fecal sample analysis, horn fly counts, and short films. The role of the grassland ecosystem in livestock production was emphasized in the strategies and in the outreach.  Pesticide resistance and reduced pesticide parasite control were documented in the project ranch. Practical methods for producers to study their own pastures were refined and described for use in “A Dung Beetle’s Place on your Ranch” published on the SARE website.  A number of other information products were created and uploaded to this project website. The services provided by dung beetles were demonstrated in relation to parasite control in cattle, nutrient recycling and fly control.  The project included a trial of an actual Walk Through Horn Fly Trap built from plans from the University of Missouri. It was used for non-chemical control of horn flies on cattle and deployed successfully. Other non-chemical controls demonstrated were Nzi traps, which is a trap for flies, and grazing rotation. Fortunate timing of research on dung beetles by ARS/SDSU/Blue Dasher Farms supplied photos and scientific documentation of dung beetle species and populations at work within the project area and is reflected in media products published on this project’s SARE site. https://projects.sare.org/sare_project/fnc14-977/

Introduction:

Because a pasture depends on multiple species of plants and animals to produce forage from soil, air, sunlight and water, it can be viewed as an ecosystem.  The essential functions of the ecosystem for grazing animals must be preserved in order for livestock production to be efficient and profitable.  The sanitation of grazing areas and plant nutrient supply is enhanced by fast dung break down/ decomposition,  which is accomplished by a healthy population of dung beetles in northeastern South Dakota and the North Central Region along with many other organisms in pastureland.  Flies are a major economic drain and main pest of cattle in the North Central Region costing millions in lost beef production.  Parasites of cattle also reduce production by millions each year in spite of wide use of chemical pesticides targeted toward internal parasites.  Coccidea / Eimeria species of microscopic parasites are a major cause of lost production in pastured calves and chemical control is usually impractical and somewhat ineffective. The pastureland ecosystem provides the majority of pest control and forage production, making it the engine of grassland livestock production.

Finding ways to enhance and protect the functions of the ecosystem for livestock production was the focus of this project. Dung beetles were found to be a major player in two out of three of the project pastures.  Even with limited data the expected connections were seen.