Suckler cow husbandry blog
Shit happens!

05. May 2023

And makes a major contribution to biodiversity.

Over 100 different species of insects live in a cowpat. Daily pasture grazing represents a major contribution to biodiversity. Added value for humans, animals and nature with Natura-Veal and Natura-Beef.

Four-leaf clover in a cowpat — Shit happens – fortunately, as the cowpats that the suckler cows and their calves leave on the meadow every day are a source of nutrition for up to 800 insects. If you like this picture, you can order it as a postcard free of charge from theWebshop of Suckler Cow Switzerland. | Photo : Franziska Schawalder

‘‘Shit happens!‘‘ is what hikers think when they step on a cowpat, the so-called alpine tart or alpine pizza. Cowpats on the pasture are part of the picture when Natura-Veal and Natura-Beef are outside every day with their mothers.

Cow dung consists of water, undecomposed plant fibres and microorganisms from the digestive tract of the ruminants. The first to land on a fresh cowpat are flies, for example dung flies, blowflies and houseflies. There are insects which live directly off cowpats, such as the larvae of the yellow dung fly. Then there are others, like the short-winged beetle, which preys on these larvae or insects.

From below come woodlice, mites, earthworms, springtails and centipedes. And mushrooms and microorganisms also contribute to the decomposition of plant residue. For example, when the surface of the cowpat has already dried, the dung beetle bores its way inside. This creates cavities which aerate and oxygenate the cowpat, which is very important for the decomposition process. Furthermore, these passages are the only way for many insects to reach fresh and soft dung.

White wagtail feeds two young birds — The wagtail primarily looks for food on the ground. Cowpats with sufficient insects are a good source of nutrition. | Source : www.swr.de

A cow produces about one ton of cow dung per month. What creeps and crawls inside is unimaginable! Some twenty kilos of insects live off it. Numerous vertebrates such as birds, lizards, hedgehogs and bats feast on the insects in turn. For example, the twenty kilos of insects can feed three storks or 120 starlings.

Daily pasture grazing for suckler cows and calves not only does the animals themselves good but also makes a significant contribution to biodiversity and the preservation of the natural food chain.

Sources : www.guenztal.fdi-works.de; www.news.uzh.ch