A5 Q2 Torch Summer Magazine 2024 - Flipbook - Page 8
TORCH SUSTAINABILITY UDATE...
By Emily Linton BVSC Cert AVP (Ca琀琀le)
The Dung Beetle Conference
Save the dung beetle, save the world! The dung beetle popula琀椀on is a really
good indicator for the health of the whole ecosystem. With a healthy ecosystem we really can produce healthy livestock with greatly reduced use of
anthelmin琀椀cs and pes琀椀cides. (further informa琀椀on about the bene昀椀ts of dung beetles
can be found on page 22)
Torch was delighted to be able to a琀琀end the inaugural Dung Beetle Conference held at Yeo Valley's Holt Farm in Somerset on 11th and 12th June. It was
a fascina琀椀ng day where the incredible ecosystem services provided by these
insects was shouted from the roo昀琀ops. It is es琀椀mated they save the UK
ca琀琀le industry £367million per year through providing the services and related bene昀椀ts shown in the table. There are around 60 species of dung beetle
in the UK and they need the appropriate habitat, dung and a reduc琀椀on in our
reliance on anthelmin琀椀cs and pes琀椀cides to survive and thrive.
Recent research has shown that rota琀椀onal grazing strategies can be an e昀昀ec琀椀ve way to control internal parasites of ca琀琀le (graph). This can also be helped
by plan琀椀ng bio ac琀椀ve plants such as Birdsfoot Trefoil or Sainfoin, which have
a 's琀椀cky' nature that helps to remove internal parasites as they pass through.
When trying to reduce chemical use on farms, the above techniques should
always be coupled with regular FEC (every 2-3 weeks), close observa琀椀on of
stock and, ideally, weighing of animals. So what are you wai琀椀ng for? Grab
a pair of gloves and go and have a look at what's living in the dung on your
farm. For more informa琀椀on please contact your local branch.
BASIS SUCCESS
Earlier this year, Emily Linton completed
and passed her examines on Greenhouse
Gases, Carbon, and Climate Mi琀椀ga琀椀on
o昀昀ered by the Farm Carbon Toolkit. This
experience has provided her with new
knowledge, skills, and tools that extend
beyond animal health.
Emily and the sustainability team are able
to support farms on the most appropriate
and sustainable solu琀椀ons to mi琀椀gate the
e昀昀ects of climate change, thereby helping
to secure the future of your farm business.
Speak to our team about how we can help
you promote farm management prac琀椀ces
that posi琀椀vely impact the reduc琀椀on of
greenhouse gas emissions whilst producing
healthy e昀케cient sustainable milk and meat.
