How Dung Beetles Help Farmers with Claire Whittle

Nature Friendly Farming Network

A free workshop with Dr Claire Whittle, a farm vet on the role dung beetles play in livestock health and parasite control.

Penglaneinon Farm

In the UK, there are 60 species of dung beetle, which fall into the categories of ‘dwellers’, ‘stealers’ and ‘tunnellers’. Each beetle plays a vital part in breaking down dung, improving soil health, suppressing pests, and even reducing greenhouse gas emissions and flood risk.However, a recent study showed that many of our dung beetle species are in serious trouble, with almost 50% categorised as scarce or threatened nationally. A key cause of this? Agricultural practices that damage the fragile dung biome.At this workshop at Penglaneinon, which has been managed in-house by the Elan Valley Trust for about 20 years, we’ll be joined by Dr Claire Whittle, a farm vet, Nuffield scholar, and above all, a dung beetle enthusiast!Claire will explain the important role dung beetles play in livestock health and parasite control, crucial in a world of ever-increasing wormer resistance. She explains how dung beetles are vital to ecological health on farms and how farmers can help these critical critters. There will be an opportunity to see nature-friendly farming in action and observe the farm’s five species rich meadows (one of which is the Radnorshire County “Coronation Meadow”) that are traditionally managed with cattle and sheep. Parking is limited to 10 vehicles therefore we have 10 tickets available. However, if people share vehicles we can accommodate more. But it’s first come first served. Cyntaf i’r felin!Free to attend. Refreshments: Tea/coffee and sandwiches will be provided.Any questions please contact rhys.evans@nffn.org.uk

<blockquote>“Dung beetles have been, and continue to be, detrimentally affected by changes in land use and agricultural practices with nearly 50% of 60 species threatened or nationally scarce. Dung beetles need livestock to thrive, and changes in land usage and loss of permanent pasture has led to a decline in their populations. However, farmers and landowners can play a positive role in both protecting and enhancing populations of these ecosystem engineers.”
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</blockquote><blockquote>- Claire Whittle MRCVS – LLM Farm Vets, Dung Beetles for Farmers
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How Dung Beetles Help Farmers with Claire Whittle

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How Dung Beetles Help Farmers with Claire Whittle

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