Eliminating parasites in your cattle

Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

Many cattle producers swear that diatomaceous earth eliminates parasites and prevents scours in their cattle. However there is still some skepticism from scientists who’ve studied the product.
Diatomaceous earth contains shells from tiny one-celled plants called diatoms that lived in oceans and lakes millions of years ago. These plants removed minerals from the water and used them to construct protective shells. As they died, their shells settled to the bottom of the sea beds, laying down huge sedimentary deposits. As the sea and lakebeds dried up these deposits were exposed. Diatomaceous earth is now mined for various purposes.
Many beef producers have been feeding diatomaceous earth to their cattle for a number of years. Some say that it prevents calves from eating manure-tainted dirt in corrals and pastures. Others claim that it can be used to treat scours in calves because it’s a product that absorbs a lot of moisture. Organic producers have long claimed that diatomaceous earth can also be used to control pests like lice and worms. Others say they use it as a mineral supplement because it contains a good balance of chelated trace minerals.
A typical method of using diatomaceous earth is to place it in corrals and pens from the time calves are about a week of age until they are about seven or eight weeks old. Although no one who uses it understands why the product works the way it does, they are nonetheless convinced that it really works.
However, many veterinarians and production specialists are hesitant to endorse the product because they have yet to see any proof that the product does what its proponents claim. There’s no scientific proof that it does anything.
Producers may be able to make a case for using diatomaceous earth as a preventive treatment for scours. The major chemical ingredient of diatomaceous earth is silica – a material that can absorb many times its own weight in moisture. It could act a lot like kaopectate or something similar.
While questions remain unanswered about the efficacy of the product, no one has claimed the diatomaceous earth could harm cattle. At a minimum calves probably are getting some trace minerals from it.