The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: fifixx on May 25, 2013, 07:29:57 am
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Just read this article http://farmwars.info/?p=10602 (http://farmwars.info/?p=10602)
Does anyone have any views on using Diatomaceous earth in feed? I've always thought about using it (bit like many things...) and never got round to it, but goats do have massive worm problems if you let them, so it may be worth a go
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That was very interesting although I would disagree with using hay nets. They can get hooves caught in them. I never worm my goats as they aren't on pasture so have no opinion, in answer to your question.
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I can't help feeling that if it's sharp enough to cut worms and kill them, it's sharp enough to mash up the sensitive villi cells in the gut.
I do use diatomaceous earth under perches in the chicken houses against red mites.
I agree with Lesley about haynets too - too much potential for disaster, racks a a better bet.
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I agree with Jaykay about the DE - it can damage your lungs if you inhale it so surely it must damage the gut. If you need a natural approach to worming Pat Coleby's suggestions of Sulphur and Copper make more sense but I don't think that most of us can do without conventional wormers as we don't have the extensive land a goat really needs to keep themselves worm free.
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When I purchased my last batch of DE, I was asked if I wanted 'food-grade' or 'pest-grade', so maybe it's a question of quality or purity?
I suffer from osteoporosis and read a lot about people taking DE as a calcium supplement in some of the newsletters I get, so it's certainly safe for human consumption but I think my main concern would be that it might effect the whole rumination process.