Diatomaceous Earth

MUZARDI scientists collecting data on Diatomaceous earth in poultry

Diatomaceous Earth - a treasure trove for poultry farmers

Diatomaceous earth (DE) an amorphous silicon dioxide used in rural areas in Uganda to paint mud houses white. DE is non-toxic to mammals, and has been described as promising alternative to conventional insecticides. This project coordinated by Mr. Robert Isabirye, is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of DE on internal and external parasites of chicken; feed conversion ratio and its effect on egg production. Scientists at MUZARDI conducted experiments and found that hens fed the DE supplemented diet grew significantly faster than their untreated counterparts. It may be possible that DE offers essential trace elements or may improve absorption of nutrients in poultry. DE could be an unexploited treasure trove that can be harnessed by poultry farmers to improve productivity.