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 DE36
is an approved feed additive (up to 2%) that is a natural
blend of diatomaceous earth & montmorillonite. Our DE
is granular which means less dust, less waste!
Millions of years ago, in all the waters of the earth, billions
of microscopic one-celled plants, called diatoms, took the
minerals from the waters & created a protective shell
for themselves. The fossilized skeletal remains of these diatoms
accumulated in layers on lake & sea floors forming deposits
of what we know today as diatomaceous earth. Alias names include:
diatomite, silicon dioxide, Kieselgur (Europe), Fuller’s
earth, fossil shell flour, or simply DE.
DE deposits have been mined for centuries; used in hundreds
of industrial & agricultural applications. There are two
primary types of diatomaceous earth deposits - saltwater &
freshwater. DE’s are also divided into grades: commercial,
feed-grade & food grade like in your toothpaste.
Importantly, diatomaceous earths vary greatly in something
called “free crystalline silica” (FCS). Common
DE’s contain 8-25% FCS while pool-filter grade has a
whopping 55%. Therefore, it is vital that only feed-grade
DE one low in FCS be offered, place near or around animals
& humans.
Saltwater DE is commercially processed primarily as a filter
aid. Beer, wine, fruit juices, & vegetable oils are filtered
through the diatoms' multitude of pores, acting as microscopic
sieves. Swimming pool & fish tank filters utilize this
commercial type material. Saltwater DE has a high crystalline
silica content from a process called calcining (being exposed
to high degrees of heat), it is not appropriate, in fact very
dangerous to use in ingestible applications such as grain
storage & or as an animal feed additive.
Freshwater DE (DE36) is mined from ancient lakebeds &
ideal for agricultural uses with its less than 1% FCS. Documented
use of diatomite by the Chinese for pest control dates back
almost 4,000 years. Due to its ability to kill insects, DE
has been used in grain storage for centuries. As awareness
& concern about chemical pesticides grow, non-toxic, natural,
diatomaceous earth is enjoying renewed attention & interest.
Numerous farmers, ranchers & Amish tout DE as a natural
anthelmentic (de-wormer), finding great success adding DE
to their livestock feed to keep their goats, sheep, cattle,
horses, pigs, & fowl healthy & parasite clean without
the use of chemical drugs.
- Quoted from www.aboutde.com
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