Afrikaans 
Effect of Diatomaceous Earth on Growth Rate, Egg Production, Feed Conversion Efficiency and Parasitic Load in Hens Raised on Deep Litter
An excerpt from:
This study showed that DE can be used successfully in growing pullet diets to correct nutritional mineral imbalance since it supplies more than 14 trace elements including silica which are essential for animal well-being.
Although some observations in some parameters were not significantly different during some time in the study period, DE supplementation somehow enabled pullets cope with Ascaridia galli load; and improves the efficiency of feed utilization especially during weeks 17 to week 20 of age. Additionally, supplementing with 2% DE did not show significant improvement in egg production in deep litter raised chicken compared to where no supplementation was applied. However, a reduction in egg production can be got when supplementation with levels of DE higher that 2% are applied. Further research is required to investigate the effect of DE supplementation on feed efficiency in deep litter laying hens. Biweekly fecal analyses showed significant differences in FEC (p<0.05); and treatment by group (p<0.05) in birds infected with A. galli and treated with DE as compared to those infected and not supplemented with DE in their diet. This therefore gives evidence that dietary supplementation with DE had a significant effect on A. galli counts. The results of the present study, therefore, depict that the inclusion of 2% DE in the diets of layer chickens can help reduce their intestinal parasitic load.
Published on Feb 12, 2021
