Oorsig/Review
a dewormer when added on a regular basis
in the amount of 2% of the ration. Scientific
tests on the subject are limited however and
opinions of farmers are contradictory. Moreover,
diatomaceous earth has no effect on lungworm
and is not very appetizing. It may also be a lung
irritant. Given that the level of dust is already quite
high in barns, diatomaceous earth does not seem
appropriate when the animals are fed indoors.
The main motivation for adding diatomaceous
earth to rations should not be to control internal
parasites
JB - Oct 29, 2007
Adrian, I have to agree with Tod. The stuff only
works for ants, the large ones that dig holes in
your front lawn, and it does so by clogging up
their spiracles, and it is also used in swimming
pool filters, 'the diatomaceous earth' that one
sometimes sees in the shops. Very much a scam
like the milk cultures in the 80's!
ML - Oct 30, 2007
Tod's comment on "organic" farming can be
added to. There is plenty of current research
in the human field that strongly indicates that
organically produced foods are very often
deficient in all sorts of things. Pay more for less!!
Australian research indicates that biologically
sustainable farming, which is vastly different
to organic farming, is reaping the best of both
worlds. They indicate the use of agricultural
chemicals with care and caution; which is surely
the only responsible way these products should
be used.
RM - 30 Oct 2007
I believe that (on another continent) some cattle
feeders decided to include the diatomaceous
earth into a ration possibly for the mineral content
and perhaps to help with worms, salmonellosis
and all other ailments. I am not sure of the details,
but I understand that the ground earth and some
ration ingredients reacted and resulted in a fire
hazard. As this is just hearsay please do not quote
me, but I wondered if the resulting flames would
suit Tod's perspective of the matter.
FM - 08 Nov 2007
I know of a controlled study where diatomite was
tested in a feedlot. There were two groups of lambs,
more than 10 lambs per group. They received a
fattening ration but in the one group diatomite
was added for the whole fattening period. The
lambs were infected with Haemonchus contortus
larvae at the time they went into the feedlot. Faecal
egg counts, haematocrits, FAMACHA and weights
were taken at regular intervals. At slaughtering
worm recoveries of each lamb was done. Results
22
will be published at a later stage. Summary: No
statistical differences in weight gain between
the 2 groups. 20% control of Haemonchus in the
diatomite group.
Just an afterthought: To get registration for a
dewormer to control worms (Act 36/1947) you
have to have more than 90% control and aid in
the control more than 60%
SM – 17 May 2010
The last discussion on this topic was in 2007.
Any news or developments? I ask as this product
has now hit the wildlife industry. I keep an open
mind, but I also like to see the experimental
trial evidence for myself. Game owners are
very impressed by Electron Microscope photos
of "shredded" helminths, but what about the
intestinal villi and possible septic emboli?
Would appreciate any updates on safety issues
and registration, as well as if any worthwhile
published articles exist? The information on the
internet is not convincing.
JM - May 18, 2010
We were asked (as independent UP researchers)
to investigate the potential of diatomite as a feed
additive. The anthelmintic effect is only one of the
focus areas. Several research projects (for MSc,
PhD degrees) were started (or are in the planning
stages) and work is progressing well. We hope to
submit the first manuscript for publication before
the end of this year.
GB - May 18, 2010
Faffa Malan and I have been badgering Jan van
Wyk to write up the results of a trial we did,
Stuart. The results were very modest - only a
20% reduction, not high enough to even consider
for registration. Put another way, if this was a
registered anthelmintic, we would conclude that
it had severe anthelmintic resistance and should
not be used on that farm. The internet claims are
mostly long on praise and short on proof, most
of them are just product endorsements like " it
worked great on my farm" or " I'd recommend this
to anyone". There is also a question of reliability
of these claims. We three visited a farm in the
eastern Free State where DE (Diatomaceous
Earth) was already in use with the intention of
running a trial of DE against internal parasites. At
one stage we were on our own, and we saw a farm
worker dusting the cattle with DE, apparently
for lice. We went across to have a look and take
photos. Every few animals the worker took out a
container with a liquid and put that on the badly
affected cattle. When we looked at what was being
applied, it turned out to be a registered product
for external parasites in cattle! No wonder the DE