📅 March 2026 · ⏱ 4 min read · BSiO₂ Pty Ltd
Australia has more than 600 million commercial poultry, 25 million cattle, 70 million sheep, and tens of thousands of pigs. Pest management across this enormous industry costs hundreds of millions of dollars annually — and the pressure to reduce chemical inputs is growing from every direction.
Export markets increasingly require chemical-free certification. Consumer demand for antibiotic-free, pesticide-free, and naturally raised products is growing strongly. Organic and free-range certification bodies set strict limits on synthetic chemical use. And resistance to chemical insecticides is developing across multiple pest species — making those chemicals less effective even where they are permitted.
Diatomaceous earth sits at the intersection of all these pressures — a natural, physically acting pest management tool with no chemistry, no resistance, no residues, and no withholding period. It has been used in poultry and livestock production for decades and is one of the most well-researched natural pest control materials available.
The most economically damaging parasites in Australian commercial poultry include:
Dermanyssus gallinae — feeds on birds at night, causes anaemia, reduced production, increased mortality. Extremely difficult to control chemically.
Alphitobius diaperinus — destroys insulation, damages shed infrastructure, and can transmit Newcastle Disease and Marek's Disease.
Musca domestica and related species — disease vectors, welfare concerns, and a major source of neighbour complaints for intensive operations.
DE controls all of these through the same mechanical dehydration mechanism — particles abrade the waxy epicuticle of the insect or mite exoskeleton, causing irreversible moisture loss and death. Applied to litter, perches, nest boxes, cracks, crevices, and shed surfaces, DE creates a persistent physical barrier against pest populations.
Apply DE powder to fresh litter at approximately 0.5–1 kg per m². Mix into the top layer. Reapply after cleanouts or when litter becomes wet.
Dust perches, nest boxes, and wall/floor junctions — the harbourage points where red mite populations live during daylight hours.
Apply to walls, ceiling joists, and support structures. Focus on cracks and joints where mites and beetles harbour and breed.
Mix food-grade DE into dust bathing areas. Birds naturally incorporate it into their feathers during dust bathing — a natural self-treatment for external parasites.
In cattle and dairy production, DE is primarily used for two purposes — external fly and pest control in facilities, and as a feed-through supplement for internal parasite management.
When food-grade DE is added to cattle feed at a rate of approximately 2% of total ration dry matter, it passes through the digestive system and disrupts the development of fly larvae in manure. This "feed-through" effect reduces horn fly and face fly populations in and around the feedlot or dairy shed — without chemical residues affecting milk quality or meat.
This is particularly valuable for certified organic operations where chemical fly control is not permitted, and for dairy operations where any chemical residue affecting milk quality is commercially unacceptable.
Food-grade DE has been used as a feed additive for gut health support in cattle, pigs, and poultry for many years. Research suggests several mechanisms of action:
Pool filtration DE and filter-grade DE are calcined (heat-treated) products that can contain up to 70% crystalline silica. These products are NOT safe for animal use and should never be applied to feed, bedding, or shed surfaces where animals have contact. Always specify and verify food-grade, non-calcined diatomaceous earth for all animal applications. BSiO₂ product is non-calcined and carries independent laboratory certification confirming amorphous silica content (80.2%) and respirable quartz below 0.5%.
| Grade | Recommended Application | Typical Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-4 mm | Litter treatment, shed surfaces, dust baths, bedding | 0.5–1 kg/m² (litter); 2–5% of bedding volume |
| Minus 2 mm | Feed additive, fine shed dusting, dust bath supplement | 2% of total ration DM (feed-through) |
Application rates are general guides. Consult your veterinarian or animal nutritionist for specific recommendations for your operation and species.
Contact Richard West for pricing on food-grade diatomaceous earth for poultry sheds, livestock facilities, and feed applications.
