mbox-33: Reply to Marcus RE: diatomaceous earth

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With the assistance of the Organic Farming Research Foundation, we =
(Dragon Mountain Farm, Quesnel, B.C.) did a small, on-farm study on =
alternative parasiticides for the production of organic lamb. The test =
was completed by September of 1998 and the results have been published =
in The Shepherds Journal (Alberta) and the B.C. Organic Grower (single =
copies probably available, coabc@bcgrizzly.com). We did send the =
results to The Shepherd, in the US, but the magazine has moved and our =
copy was returned. The Organic Farming Research Foundation also has the =
results.
=20
The short answer to your question is that diatomaceous earth did not =
prove to have any effect on infestations of roundworms in feeder lambs. =
We were not surprised or disappointed as this was anticipated. Similar =
tests published in the New Farm (now defunct I understand) showed no =
results. We tested it anyway because it continues to be touted as an =
effective worming agent and we wanted to do our best to prove one way or =
the other. We are all looking for answers (we had a terrific market for =
organic lamb for our flock of 200 ewes before parasites made organic =
production impossible) and some are willing to say "I know, I know!" =
There is an natural mineral mix on the market which contains amounts of =
diatomaceous earth and promotes it's use as a natural wormer. When =
contacted they had no test results or any other proof (other than =
anecdotal) of it's effectiveness. This is unfortunate. If you want =
more details I can send you the results - it's in Word 7.0 . It's not =
posted anywhere that I know of but I don't hang around on the Internet =
much.
=20
Paddy Doherty
=20
paddy@quesnelbc.com

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With the assistance of the Organic = Farming=20 Research Foundation, we (Dragon Mountain Farm, Quesnel, B.C.) did a = small,=20 on-farm study on alternative parasiticides for the production of organic = lamb. The test was completed by September of 1998 and the results = have=20 been published in The Shepherds Journal (Alberta) and the = B.C.=20 Organic Grower (single copies probably available, coabc@bcgrizzly.com). We = did send=20 the results to The Shepherd, in the US, but the magazine has = moved and=20 our copy was returned. The Organic Farming Research Foundation = also has=20 the results.

The = short answer to=20 your question is that diatomaceous earth did not prove to have any = effect on=20 infestations of roundworms in feeder lambs. We were not surprised = or=20 disappointed as this was anticipated. Similar tests published in = the New=20 Farm (now defunct I understand) showed no results. We tested it = anyway=20 because it continues to be touted as an effective worming agent and we = wanted to=20 do our best to prove one way or the other. We are all looking for = answers=20 (we had a terrific market for organic lamb for our flock of 200 ewes = before=20 parasites made organic production impossible) and some are willing to = say=20 "I know, I know!" There is an natural mineral mix on the = market=20 which contains amounts of diatomaceous earth and promotes it's use as a = natural=20 wormer. When contacted they had no test results or any other proof = (other=20 than anecdotal) of it's effectiveness. This is unfortunate. = If you=20 want more details I can send you the results - it's in Word 7.0 . = It's not=20 posted anywhere that I know of but I don't hang around on the Internet=20 much.