Whether you are a hobby farmer, a rancher or own a sheep or two, DE can provide your flock some great benefits.
Mixing Fine grade Diatomaceous Earth into your sheep’s feed is a natural way to help prevent fleas and flies from making themselves at home in your sheep's coat. DE promotes weight gain, helps to support their immune and digestion systems and because Diatomaceous Earth is a form of silica it is known to give sheep strong hoofs, healthier and fuller coats. The best results are when the sheep are consistently eating the DE feed mixture.
Diatomaceous Earth is also globally known to reduce internal and external worms and parasites restoring health back to the digestive system all while binding toxins and heavy metals boosting overall health and performance of the flock. As DE is highly absorbent, if taken internally will reduce the odour of the manure while adding nutrients back into the pastures, boosting water retention and improving feed conversion and pasture quality.
The recommended ratio for mixing Fine Grade Diatomaceous Earth into your sheep’s feed:
We recommend adding 2% of the weight of your sheep's feed that they receive either in addition to or instead of grazing. For example, each sheep might eat 100 grams dry pellets and 50 grams hay, the DE to be added would be 2% of 150 grams which is 3 grams per portion. We recommend only feed Diatomaceous Earth to lambs that are eating solid foods. Please be careful not to breath in the powder as like most minerals they can be potentially harmful once inhaled.
Mixing Fine Grade Diatomaceous Earth into dry food or bushel of feed:
Either in a dish, simply mix the measured amount of DE into the portion of dry food or alternatively you can when you buy a new bag of dry food calculate 2% of the bags weight and add the correct amount of Diatomaceous Earth to the entire bag. Be sure to shake the bag well to ensure the DE is evenly spread. Repeat this with every new food bag. By adding Diatomaceous Earth to the bag, you get the added bonus that insects like ants and weevils that can get into the food are deterred as it is like a natural preservative, which thanks to its amazing moisture absorbing power keeps feed fresher for longer.
Every time you go to feed your sheep be sure to shake the bag as the Diatomaceous Earth will settle at the bottom of the bag with time. Please be careful not to inhale the powder as like most minerals they can be potentially harmful once inhaled. As DE is absorbent it is important that your sheep have access to plenty of water to ensure moisture in the digestive system isn’t affected.
Diatomaceous Earth can also be used externally as a drench against the Buffalo Fly. Try using 1 part Fine Grade DE to 1 Part salt. This mixture can also be added to the rubbing roll mixed with oil. Being highly absorbent DE sucks up moisture and oil on/in the sheep's coat which will help to deter flies naturally.
Browse and buy Diatomaceous Earth here in our online shop now!
Want to feed your other animals Diatomaceous Earth too? Read more in our Blog.
When using DE we recommend wearing a protective mask for your own safety and well being.