The pasture growth and environmental benefits of dung beetles to the sou thern Australian cattle industry southern Australian cattle industry

Summary

This project provided field evidence to allow quantification of the production and environmental benefits of dung beetle activity. The project assessed the pasture growth and environmental benefits of dung beetles to the southern Australian cattle industry using Bubas bison as one of four deep-tunnelling dung beetle species (including Geotrupes spiniger, Onitis caffer, Copris hispanis) introduced to Australia by CSIRO. These deep-tunnelling species are well suited to southern Australia but are currently established over only a small portion of their potential ranges. The environmental and agricultural benefits of such species had not been previously assessed and so the project was commissioned to examine B. bison in field trials.The impact of the dung burial by B. bison on pasture production and key soil characteristics has been documented in two locations on the Fleurieu Peninsula over three seasons. The results are presented above. Clear effects of dung beetle activity on soil health and pasture production were demonstrated.