Diatomaceous earth has been known to improve digestive health and give animals shinier, healthier coats, which makes it an excellent feed additive for your horses. Ranchers, farmers, and pet owners alike have many stories of the benefits of adding this silica-rich supplement to animal feed.
Another benefit of adding DE to your horse feed is that it acts as a natural preservative. Its porous nature allows it to absorb moisture that would otherwise cause the feed to mold or rot, helping the feed last longer than it would otherwise.
Follow our guide below to add DE to your horse's diet.
You will need:
- Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
- A Food Scale
- A Scoop
- Horse Feed
Instructions:
Step 1
Make sure you are using food grade DE. Non-food grade DE can be dangerous to you and your horses if not used for its intended purpose.
Step 2
The standard ratio for feeding animals DE is roughly 2% of the feed's weight, which is roughly 3 oz. of DE for every 10 lbs. of feed, or 2 lbs. of DE for every 100 lbs. of feed.
After taking note of the amount of feed you are going to give your horse, use the 2% rule to work out the weight of DE and measure it out on the scale.
An easier way is to add DE to the bag or bushel of feed right after buying it. Simply add the DE to the container of horse feed at a rate of 2%.
Step 3
Mix DE thoroughly with horse feed and give it to your horse as you normally would.
Step 4
Be sure that your horse has access to plenty of water since DE can be drying to your horse's system.
Step 5
Repeat as often as you use horse feed in place of grazing.
Note: Try adding the DE to one serving of horse feed to make sure your horse won't turn up its nose. Some animals can be finicky; if that is the case with yours try this wet application method. (Only use the wet application on single servings of feed to avoid potential moisture build-up in stored grain.)