General observations:

• Fresh cow pats supported the most insects. Dung emits a strong odour, which is irresistible to early colonising insects (such as dung beetles and dung flies). At a wooded site like Hatfield Forest this keen sense of smell is especially important in the colonisation of dung in enclosed areas such as the grazed coppice.
• Large cow pats support the most insects. Large herbivores are important in the conservation of the dung community because they are capable of producing many large pats.

Observations based upon the comparison between cow pats of improved (Woodside Green) and unimproved pasture (Hatfield Forest, proper):
• Cow pats sampled from unimproved pasture decomposed faster than their improved counterparts. For example, after 50 days, the unimproved pats had virtually disappeared, whereas the improved pats had lost little more than 20% of their original mass.
• Slower rates of dung loss from improved pats indicates that improved pastures provide a more sterile environment for dung insects, which play a vital role in the consumption and removal of dung from the cow pats.
• The colonisation and natural succession of invertebrates was retarded in improved pats. In unimproved pats, most dung-loving insects had completed their life-cycle and had departed within 40 days. However, in pats of the improved pasture, there was a distinct lag in the departure of adults and development of larvae.
• Fewer species were recorded from dung of improved pasture.
• Species recorded from the improved pasture were common species, typically associated with exposed conditions, whereas species recorded from the unimproved pasture were less common, favouring more shaded, enclosed conditions.

Observations based upon the unique variety of grazed habitat within Hatfield Forest proper: 

• Habitat variety is important in providing a range of conditions for a wider range of dung beetles and associated insect communities. Grazed coppice and wood pasture are particularly important for providing the conditions needed by dung beetles with specialist requirements.
• Well over 1,000 adult beetles were extracted from a single cow pat found in the grazed coppice! This comprised 5 species of dung beetle.

• Ecological continuity, in particular, prolonged periods of uninterrupted grazing by large herbivores, has shaped the dung community of Hatfield Forest.

• Mosaics of semi-natural habitats such as the ones prevalent at Hatfield Forest are essential in maintaining diverse and specialised dung communities.