Beneficial Insects and Pests on Livestock

The project will provide science-based guidance for healthy pasture ecology as well as integrated tick and pasture pest management.  Dung beetles have been shown to reduce pest flies on livestock by as much as 95% in dairy and beef cattle operations. This project aims to assess dung beetle abundance and diversity across sheep pastures in the northeast. The project will also help assess tick risk on livestock pastures. Results will help in the development of a comprehensive Grazed Pasture Integrated Pest Management (GP-IPM) assessment tool.

Roles and responsibilities 

The student selected to this project will work on the following objectives:

• Objective 1: Conduct a survey on sheep or cattle farms to determine how parasiticide use influences dung-inhabiting beetle communities.
• Objective 2: Evaluate tick populations on cattle pastures by identifying species present, assessing associated animal and human health risks, and documenting the presence or absence of the invasive Asian Longhorned Tick. Sampling of each farm will occur biweekly to analyze relationships among tick abundance, climate, habitat, and grazing management practices.

Additionally, from late spring through summer, the student intern will conduct field sampling on cattle grazing farms in the Hudson Valley. Ticks will be collected using a cloth dragging method, vegetation and climate data will be recorded, and pasture height measured. Ticks will be identified in the laboratory. The intern will also help evaluate strategies to improve on-farm tick surveillance. The intern will also assist with ecological monitoring of dung beetles on sheep farms by collecting manure samples and documenting beetle activity and diversity. 
Intern may also assist in collecting livestock production data.
 

Qualifications and previous coursework

This opportunity is available to non-graduating students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

• While this project may be of special interest to students in animal sciences, entomology, agriculture, or considering vet school, it is open to any student interested in health issues and spending the summer outdoors and around cattle and livestock.
• A valid driver’s license is required 

Learning outcomes 

• The student will be exposed to the translation of a research proposal into the realities of field research
• The student will also gain:
  • Detailed knowledge of tick and dung beetle biology
  • Experience in field collection and identification of beneficial insects and pests
  • Better understanding of research design, data analysis, and statistics
  • An understanding of some challenges for livestock farmers
  • Improved communication skills with multiple groups, including farmers, farm workers, county and regional extension staff, and researchers.
  • Skills in data management and laboratory methods