Applications

General Much of the production of diatomaceous earth is dedicated to the purposes of filtration. The inert silica structure with its numerous micropores offers remarkable properties when built up into a filter cake for the filtration of liquids. Beer, wine, sugar syrups, fruit juices, antibiotics, industrial chemicals, dialysis of blood are examples of the number and variety of products that take advantage of the excellent filtering capability of diatomaceous earth.

The unique structure also displays other useful characteristics, making it often the only choice in the manufacture of some products such as metal polishes, matt paint formulations and match heads.

The production processes can be modified to make grades dedicated to particular applications. For example, for filter aids, the key parameter is the permeability or resistance to flow of the resulting filter cake-so the manufacturing process is controlled to ensure that this characteristic is carefully retained within specific limits. For the paint industry the key parameter is the size of the larger particles that protrude through the paint film.

It has a unique ability to absorb lipids and waxes unlike any other natural product, which is why it is efficient at controlling insects, whose coats are made of lipids and waxes. Insects rely on their waxy cuticles to retain water, so damage to the cuticle will result in dramatic loss of water, due to the large area of exoskeleton compared to body size It is electrostatically attracted to insect epicuticles especially if the diatoms are intact, not broken during milling.

 

Insect control

In its natural milled state, each species will have specific characteristics making it more or less efficient in its ability to be attracted to the waxy coats of insects or other parasites and to absorb the lipids and wax from them, causing the insect to lose moisture and die of dehydration This is why some DE works well in grain silos while other types don't.

Measurements of oil absorption on bulk powder are only an estimate of relative efficacy because it is the absorption characteristics of individual diatoms that directly control effectiveness

Only buy DE with a proven track record

For more details click here.

It is effective against Red mite in poultry houses and may be dusted within poultry sheds and left as a dust bath for birds. If rubbed into the coats of dogs, cats etc it will eventually kill the fleas. Horses sheep, goats and many other animals can be treated for lice in the same way. It must be more environmentally friendly than using harsh chemicals with unknown side effects.

 

NATURAL PARASITE CONTROL

Successful trial in UK

A particular type of Diatomaceous Earth we supply ,base species Cyclostephanos has been tested by ADAS, under Home Office Licence, at their Organic Hill Farm, Pwllpeirian, Nr Aberystwyth, as an aid to reducing internal parasites in ruminants. See more details.

The results in cattle and sheep have proved very favourable for recommending the regular feeding of this particular type of DE.

• The FEC (Faecal Egg count) of animals fed DE followed a similar pattern to that of animals given a chemical drench.
• Lambs reared by ewes given feed containing this DE had a significantly greater daily weight gain than lambs reared by ewes given a chemical drench, or those given no treatment with their feed. So lambs could come to market earlier
• The ewes were also heavier and appeared to be in better condition if fed DE in their diet.

Natural Feeds and Fertilisers is the only UK agent for this ADAS Trialled brand of DE for internal parasite control.

WHY USE CHEMICALS WHEN A NATURAL EARTH PRODUCT CAN HELP YOUR LIVESTOCK

ONLY BUY THIS SAFE TRIALLED BRAND OF DE FOR YOUR LIVESTOCK

This Diatomaceous Earth is at present classified as a binder in animal feeds.

It is the inertness of this product which makes it particularly suitable for use as a filtering agent for water, milk, the soft drinks and brewery industries. The ceramic D E filters remove many bacteria and protozoa.

Many farms in the USA have fed a particular type of DE to their stock over several years and have been able to rear animals free from internal parasites and with reduced veterinary bills for antibiotics, as the stock no longer suffer from scouring.

Links
www.pinnaclefarms.ca
www.starlakebeef.com

A halt to mastitis in dairy herds has also been reported once DE is introduced, as well as an increase in milk production and butter fat content of the milk. Vet bills significantly reduced.
For more details click here.

Poultry producers have reported a decrease in mortality rates, an increased production of eggs, and better feather condition Droppings are also drier, and presence of flies reduced.
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Positive results in horses have been reported such as increase in appetite and better feed conversion, scours stopped even in horses that had not responded to other medications, Reduction in manure odour, elimination of internal parasites, healthier appearance, with a definite sheen to their coats.
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Pigs have been fed DE with positive results- no parasites in the test group after 7 days of the DE ,hogs stopped rooting & destroying wooden feeders, odours reduced, and fly population decreased markedly

Zoo animals were studied at three zoos. Stool samples taken at all three zoos showed an absence of any internal parasites- adult or egg. Parasites in these animals were present prior to using the diatomaceous earth mixture.
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Clinical observations in dogs - within seven days all ova disappeared from stools. DE Controlled Ascarids (Toxacara canis), Hookworms (Anclyostoma caninum) and Whipworms (Trichuris vulipis).
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Are all types of DE the same?

The major constituent of diatomaceous earth is amorphous silicon dioxide SiO2, with minor amounts of other minerals (aluminium, iron oxide calcium hydroxide, magnesium and sodium).
No, not all types of DE are the same. The insecticidal properties can vary by 20 times, depending upon the geological origin of the DE (Korunic 1997, 1998) and species therein. Effective diatomaceous earths have: SiO2 content above 80%, a pH below 8.5,and a tapped density of below 300g.l-1. As insects move through the grain they pick up dust particles of DE on their cuticle (skin). The DE is thought to absorb the waxes from the cuticle of the insects and they die of dessication.

NB - Only tried and tested DE should be used for treating grain against insect attack. We supply such a grade, with greater proven efficacy in insect control, compared to other tested DE products.

The same can be said of its use in feed for controlling internal parasites. There have been conflicting reports on studies of DE for parasite control.

Only an ADAS UK Trialled DE is used by this company for controlling internal parasites

Beware of claims that all DE is the same, it isn’t

How it works within the gut of livestock is not yet understood, as not only does it help feed conversion it is also able to effect the destruction of younger and smaller intestinal parasites and thus reduce the worm burden in animals, giving them a chance to develop their own immunity. It may be something to do with the high dependency of nematode parasites on lipids in the gut of the infested host, as DE has an affinity for these lipids and may be removing them from the gut. It has also been reported to help prevent the development of parasite larvae in faecal droppings on the pasture. There has been much anecdotal evidence of its efficacy in many species. For more details click here.