THE humble dung beetle could hold the key to combating buffalo flies and improving water quality in the Tablelands beef and dairy industries if innovative new trials underway prove successful.
The Dung beetle project is funded by Terrain NRM as part of the Australian Government’s Reef Water Quality Grants programme aimed at reducing impacts from agricultural land on the Great Barrier Reef.
It is a partnership between Terrain NRM and the Malanda Beef Plan Group.
Malanda Beef Plan Group chair Bruce Carcary said the group had secured a $65,000 grant from Terrain to introduce new species of dung beetles to the Tablelands.
He said the trials would assess the viability of using dung beetles for fly control on stock and improving water quality.
Nineteen beef and dairy properties on the southern Tablelands – all members of the beef plan group – are participating in the trials which will run until the end of 2017. Property owners are collecting data to assess the viability of the beetles.
Three properties, at Tarzali, Wondecla and the Borgert family's Dirranvale property near Tarzali, are taking in-depth data on each of the species.
Gladys Borgert, who owns the 64 hectare Dirranvale with her brother Jack and his wife Eleanor, said the project aligned with the family’s natural approach to farming.
Ms Borgert collects data in relation to the percentage of activity in the dung beetle, the duration of time that the dung beetle stays in the cow pad and the duration of time it takes the beetle to start on the fresh cow pad, and also monitors weather and environmental conditions.
The beef group hopes to introduce four to five new species of dung beetles to each property. Landmark is distributing the beetles.
Tom Mugford, who manages the Landmark branches at Tolga and Mareeba, said buffalo flies cost the beef industry an enormous amount.
“Landmark has been sourcing the beetles and helping to educate group members on the right chemicals to use to make sure that the beetles survive and the population of beetles that already exists increases,” Mr Mugford said.
“We’ve always been a big supporter of the beef group which is a group of innovative farmers who want to maximise production and do it sustainably.
“From a financial perspective, reducing buffalo flies will result in increased weight gain in cattle. Dung beetles are also good at reducing nutrient run-off.”
Mr Carcary said producers were excited to be taking part in such an innovative project.
He said the species of dung beetles being introduced to the Tablelands had been trialled and tested by the CSIRO.
Early reports from the trials noted increased activity in beetles recycling dung pads, Mr Carcary said.
