Chances are that apart from an occasional nature programme showing the humble creature performing the Herculean task of rolling a mound of dung substantially bigger than itself, there hasn’t been much reason to. And yet to our MD, Corius Visser, dung beetles are massively important.
He gets super excited when he sees them, because they are very clear bio-indicators of soil health. And he has been seeing a lot more of them lately, thanks to the impact of the farm’s agro-ecological, regenerative farming programme focused on building life and balance in the soil. Healthy soil is the starting point for all our agricultural endeavours, from the vineyards to the feeding environment for our cattle, sheep, ducks, and other animals.
"Dung beetles are extremely sensitive to habitat changes. In many parts of the world, populations are under threat because of the impact of climate change and the widespread use of artificial, chemical inputs. But when you have a diverse and active dung beetle population, as we do here at Vergenoegd Löw, it tells us that our soils are in good condition."
Dung beetles are often indicators that a particular habitat is being successfully restored. Where vegetation has been restored to support animal life, dung beetles will come. And, naturally, restoration that attracts dung beetles is great for the wider ecosystem.
Corius likes to call these beetles heroes or eco-engineers. "Dung beetles are crucial to soil health, recycling nutrients and improving soil structure," he says. "They dig tunnels to bury their dung, which is rich in nutrients. Their activity improves soil structure and water-holding capacity and promotes aeration to create a good flow of oxygen to plant roots and microorganisms. Their digging combats soil compaction. That’s a godsend for root systems that can penetrate deeper into the soil to find the nutrients they need..."
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