For deworming, all I've used for years is food grade diatomaceous earth (DE). I feed it to the house pets, poultry, large livestock. My large livestock free choice feed it. The feeder is kept in a weather protected area. If fed daily in the feed, cattle get 2% of the dry weight of the feed. Pounds of feed x .02 = amount of DE to feed.
Flies can't hatch eggs in the manure of a DE eating critter. It kills the larvae and helps to cut down the population. No withdrawal time for slaughter.
DE has 28 trace minerals. My stock quit using their trace mineral salt blocks years ago, on their own, when I started feeding DE.
A lot of cattlemen I know put DE in the fly rubs where the cattle have to go to feed/water.
Food grade DE says on the front of the bag 'Food Chemical Codex Grade.' If it doesn't, don't purchase.
I purchase at the feed stores.
FIELD REPORT - FEEDING CODEX FOOD-GRADE DIATOMACEOUS
EARTH (DE) TO DAIRY COWS
J. S. Bunker, Bunker Farms, Mesa, Arizona
After feeding 100 dairy cows on DE for approximately
one year, the following results were noted:
1. Warbles became non-existent.
2. Fly nuisance almost completely disappeared.
3. Odours were almost completely gone.
4. Cows have better hair and coat condition and have
no desire to lick soil as in the past.
5. Vet bills have been significantly reduced.
6. Butterfat content has risen from 503 lbs. per cow
to 513 lbs. per cow.
FIELD REPORT - FEEDING OF CODEX FOOD-GRADE
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH TO DAIRY COWS
Daniel M. Brandt, McFarland, Wisconsin
Results from feeding 5 to 6 ounces of food-grade
diatomaceous earth to dairy herd for a period of five
weeks:
1. Butterfat tests have shown an increase of 3.7 to
3.9.
2. Mastitis, which had been quite a severe problems,
came under control (no new cases).
3. Cows are brighter and healthier in appearance and
milk production has increased without an appreciable
increase in feed.
FIELD REPORT - FREE CHOICE FEEDING TO DAIRY CATTLE
Dairy Herd Association Improvement Program,
HusseyFarms, Litchfield Park, Arizona
Tests run on purebred Jersey dairy cows given free
choice access to codex food-grade diatomaceous earth
(DE).
Average intake was three ounces per cow per day.
After six months the following results were observed:
1. Milk production in the test group increased over
20% with butter-fat content remaining the same.
2. Warbles problems came to an abrupt halt.
3. Feed assimilation improved and fly problems were
brought under control.
ORGAN ANALYSIS OF DAIRY COWS
Michigan Department of Agriculture, Laboratory
Division, Lansing, Michigan
Upon pathological examination of the organs of dairy
cows having been given free-choice feeding of codex
food-grade diatomaceous earth for a period of
approximately five years, no visible organ
abnormalities were observed.
RESULTS OF CATTLE FEED LOT TESTS
Webster Feed Lots Inc., Webster, Colorado
by Dr. Jack Martin, Sterling Nutritional Services
Four groups of cattle of over 300 head each, test
steers, control steers, test heifers, control heifers.
All groups primarily hereford/angus crosses or "black
baldies" with remainder being hereford, angus, or
exotics. All groups nearly identical in breed
composition.
Test groups fed freshwater, food grade DE at the rate
of 3% of total daily ration. (Note: Midway through
the test, heifer ration was changed from 3% to 1.5% as
there had been a reduction in the daily feed
consumption with the test heifers. Normal feed
consumption resumed with the lower percentage of DE.)
Significant findings include:
Fewer deaths: DE fed calves had lower pen mortalities.
None of the test group deaths were caused by lactic
acidosis, a common result of switching calves from
pasture to feedlot.
Lower Feed Cost: Test animals experienced daily weight
gain similar to the control animals while consuming
less feed.
Greater Profit: Performance was better in the steer
group than the heifer group. The DE fed steers
yielded $9.10 per-head profit than the control steers.
The DE fed heifers produced $8.30 per head more
money.
rogo16@yahoo.com
