| What In The World Is
Diatomaceous Earth? And, What Can It Do For The Livestock Producer? Farmer?
Animal Owner?
By Janet "J.D." Sands
Millions of years ago, in all the waters of the earth, microscopic one-celled plants
called diatoms took the minerals from the waters and created protective shells for
themselves. Diatoms once lived in quantities far beyond the minds ability to conceive, and
as they died their shells drifted to the bottom of the sea beds. In this manner, vast
deposits of diatom shells were laid down. Through the history of man's existence, a wide
variety of valuable uses have been found for what has come to be called "diatomaceous
earth." There are now more than 1,500 ways in which man benefits from this incredible
material left by diatoms, Silicon Dioxide, along with a smattering of trace minerals.
According to Perma-Guard's Wally Thorpe, there are many varieties of diatoms, and the
preponderance of the type of diatom in any given deposit will give that deposit certain
characteristics greatly differing to other deposits. Perma-Guard, Inc, is an Albuquerque,
New Mexico, based company specializing in producing agricultural and livestock-related
products, all utilizing diatomaceous earth.
Thorpe also tells us there are two primary types of diatomaceous earth deposits. Since
three-fourths of the earth is covered with oceans, most deposits are of the salt water
type. There are deposits which also occur in fresh water lakes and within this second type
of deposit, the purity is exceptional. In fact, says Thorpe, who utilizes only fresh water
deposits in his products, "It is so pure that the Food and Drug Administration has
given it a "food-grade" designation.
The governments of the United States and Canada recognize that fossil shell flour is safe
to use in animal foods in an amount not to exceed 2 percent by weight of the total feed
ration. When added at this percentage, fossil shell flour prevents "clumping" of
feed particles by keeping them separate, so there is improved flowability, mixability and
handling of the animal feed. This in turn, creates two big advantages to the animals who
consume fossil shell flour at the recommended feed ration. First, acting as an anti-caking
agent to prevent "clumping" of feed particles, the surface area of feed exposed
to the digestive processes - both bacterial and enzymatic - is increased and therefore
more feed is actually digested and utilized. Secondly, fossil shell flour contains a small
amount of 14 trace minerals.
Simply understanding what diatomaceous earth (DE) is wouldn't mean very much to any of us,
however, without the awareness of what pure diatomaceous earth products can do for us as
livestock and animal breeders, feed crop producers, farmers, ranchers - even as pet and
home owners. There is evidence, for example, that ancient Chinese added DE to their animal
feeds 5,000 years ago, and various countries in Europe have been using DE as an animal
food additive for some time now. The Perma-Guard company, with the help of Arizona State
University, obtained a patent on adding DE to animal feeds in the United States in the
early 1960's. Since that time, thousands of animal owners and livestock breeders have
discovered that adding fossil shell flour to their animals' rations has produced a number
of incredible benefits.
In upcoming issues of the Rocky Mountain Livestock Journal, we'll be looking at several
incredible stories and testimonials of livestock breeders and animal owners who talk about
the benefits they have experienced by adding fossil shell flour to their animal's feed.
But fossil shell flour is just one aspect of Perma-Guards ag products.
Perma-Guard insecticides have passed exhaustive tests, many of them under the scrutiny of
the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Kansas State University, and the Food & Drug
Administration (FDA). Over the years these products have scored dramatic successes in
protecting stored grain and seed, growing crops, homes and industrial plants from insect
infestations, without the addition of any chlorinated phosphates, systemic poisons or
chemical compounds commonly found in almost all commercial insecticides. With
environmental and food protection issues a concern to all of us, the Perma-Guard company
has become a revolution in the insecticide field.
While other insecticides kill chemically, and insects, most usually over time develop an
immunity to the chemicals, Perma-Guard insecticides kill bugs physically and insects have
not yet developed immunity to a physical action. Perma-Guard insecticides are certain
death to insects because they kill by actually puncturing the insect's exoskeleton,
disrupting it's soft waxy shell structure, chewing up its digestive organs and causing
death in a short time by dehydration. In addition to the action of the diatomaceous earth
on bugs and insects, which is certainly non-toxic to humans and animals, some Perma-Guard
insecticides also contain Pyrethrum, a vegetable, digestible extract from a variety of
Chrysanthemum flower. that is deadly poison to insects and other forms of cold blooded
life, but virtually non-toxic to warm-blooded life.
Another ingredient used in Perma-Guard's household insecticide and pet powder (an
effective flea/tick/mite application for animals, from pets to buffalo to ratites) is
Piperonyl Butoxide, which was first discovered in Sassafras plants. Although an
insecticide in it's own right, Piperonyl Butoxide's greatest value is that it multiplies
the action of Pyrethrum by a power of ten! Due to their ingredients, Perma-Guard
insecticides have a remarkable repellency factor that is ever-present in any environment
in which they are regularly used. Bugs just don't feel welcome.
Aside from Perma-Guard's household insecticide, proven effective against ants, roaches,
silverfish, crickets, fleas, bedbugs, certain types of beetles, box elder bugs and useful
in protecting exposed, stored food against insect pests, Perma-Guard also makes a D-10
insecticide for grain or seed storage. Field crops can be protected from insect damage
too. by applying Perma-Guard systematically throughout the growing season. The wise grower
will apply prior to insect infestation. And, get this! Perma-Guard insecticide products,
which have been proven to be effective when used in a prescribed crop application program,
also can be used safely, even to the day of harvest!
If you would like to see testimonials, call your distributor or Fran Tully at
801-949-3570
With
a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a guarantee against damage, why consider any other
product?
|
What is DE?