Riverbend Farm supplies premium-grade Australian diatomite (also known as natural amorphous silica). Sourced directly from one of the world’s largest known and highest quality deposits*, our freshwater DE is taken from the ancient freshwater lakes of Mount Garnet, Far North Queensland. Our producer processes the Diatomaceous Earth directly from the mine, enabling us to ship throughout Australia, in quantities from as little as 1kg, to many tonnes, at very competitive prices.
Our diatomaceous earth is Food Grade, 100% natural and chemical free, and has been certified by the Queensland Government as containing an undetectable amount of crystalline silica (less than 1%) . It has no additives and has not been subject to any manufacturing process other than crushing and bagging. It is only sun-dried and has not been subject to any artificial heat treatment – making it safe to use in the home, garden and on the farm.
Whether you are a large-scale agricultural producer, run livestock, a professional horticulturist, a breeder, a home gardener, or a pet owner, you will find many uses for diatomaceous earth.
We offer Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth in the following grades:
- Food Grade Regular
- No Grit Food Grade Superfine
- Poultry / Bird Feed Supplement
- Agricultural
All are exactly the same quality, but each has been milled to a different particle size, to suit different uses.
Food grade regular is ideal for using in your garden (mixed in with garden soil), with fruit trees, with pets and livestock. It is milled to a maximum particle size of approximately 2.00mm and so is a mixture of powder and larger ‘crunchy’ particles. It is excellent for use with insects, such as ants.
No-grit Food grade superfine has many applications, and will appeal to users who are seeking a fine powder with no grit. This is exactly the same quality DE as regular, extra-milled to a maximum particle size of mostly less than 200 microns (or 0.2 mm). It is ideal for use in pet’s fur for fleas, or for bed bugs.
While no DE produced in Australia has been certified for human consumption, many people do choose to eat DE, seeking to obtain the many reported health benefits. If you choose to consume DE, spread it in a baking tray and heat in a moderately slow oven of 140-160 degrees (not hotter) for about 30 minutes to ensure it is sterilised.
Chicken / bird food DE supplement is milled to a particle size of between approximately 0.5mm to 2.00mm. It is a perfect additive for mixing with regular chook and bird food.
*Independent comparison tests undertaken by the Russian Academy of Science found that Diatomaceous Earth from our mine in Mt Garnet, Far North Queensland, compared favourably to high quality DE from the USA and Russia.
Diatomaceous Earth is a completely natural product. It is also known as natural amorphous silica and can be used in more than a thousand ways to achieve significant improvements in plant and animal health increasing productivity and lowering production costs. It is an organic non toxic, chemical free, natural mineral - making it suitable for use anywhere from the smallest garden to the largest agricultural ventures, and for animals and in animal enclosures of all kinds.
The diatomaceos earth that we stock compares with the best in the world. Formed in a high altitude volcanic lake in far North Queensland, Australia. It has a low content of salt and heavy metals and an ideal balance of trace elements and rare earth minerals.
What are the benefits for poultry?
Of all animals, chickens and ducks respond the fastest to natural silica supplementation. Scientific trials show that when assessed against a control group, chickens fed DE were noticeably larger, with more meat, stronger bones, healthier and free of parasites.
Diatomaceous Earth can be used for:
- Feed Suppliment
- Parasite control both internal and external
- Reduces smells, fewer flies
- Improves the health of the poultry
- Improves the quality of the eggs
- Increases the quantity of the eggs produced
Save with lower production rates:
It is recommended that Diatomaceous Earth replaces 15% of the feed given to poultry to enable the DE to work efficiently. When used in this quantity, the DE will reduce the amount of commercial feed required, allowing farmers to achieve significantly improved production and save on feed (15:85) will control any worms that are present in the stomach of the birds and will reduce the smell emitted by droppings. The absence of any internal parasites as well as the improved overall health and well being of the birds, can lead to measurable weight increases.
Natural silica has been proven to have a significant, positive impact on animal health, animal weight and size, and on pasture quality and sustainability.
- Increased Production: when optimal levels of silica are used cattle can experience superior weight
gain. Cattle fed DE can outweigh non-DE fed cattle by up to 11.65% at the same time as reducing feed
by an average of up to 25%
- Reduced Expenditure: Additional increases in profits can be achieved through a reduction in expenses. When used in recommended quantities, DE will reduce reliance on the application of chemical inputs and feed requirements, resulting in fewer vet bills. If used in line with regulatory requirements DE can void withholding periods.
- Improve Animal Health: livestock health problems, including those that have been unresponsive to traditional chemical and medical treatments, can be controlled with optimal DE use. Mastitis, scours, tumours and cysts can be controlled.
Natural silica is directly related to the formation of bone, cartilage and can increase the collagen in growing bone by up to 100%. Silica can also accelerate the growth in calves and plays a vital role in weight gain in adult livestock.
Optimal use of DE can stimulate the metabolism, including the metabolism of minerals, increase protein digestion and the amount of feed exposed to the digestive processes, thereby increasing the amount of feed utilised by the animal.
Parasite and worm control:
Although perfectly harmless to humans and animals, natural silica contains sharp microscopic edges which kills the parasite or worms in the digestive tract on contact. (Heartworm and lung worm are not controlled) Because of this mechanical process, parasites are unable to build up resistance or become immune. Parasite control with DE is extremely effective, and completely safe. Natural silica is 100% organic, harmless to animals and humans and will not be subject to any withholding period.
Pest Control:
DE effectively controls all insects and pests common with animal farming, including fleas, ticks and buffalo fly. By applying the DE directly to the animal and spreading it in the enclosures, the number of insects is significantly reduced without the use of toxic chemicals.
This is a great product to use in your dust baths for poultry and spread throughout nesting boxes to eradicate the presence of lice and mites.
Natural silica will also be present in the animal droppings and will control insects and larvae on or in the dung. If spread on pasture DE will improve the soil and grass fertility and will also control pests such as cut worm and army worm.
DE and Agriculture - Benefits for Growers:
Natural silica significantly increases crop yeild which means increased revenue for growers. Natural silica proivides the plant with energy and reinforced its ability to protect itself against stress. Soil treated with DE will have optimum fertility through improved water, physical and chemical properties and by allowing nutrients in the soil, such as phosphorus, to remain in a plant available form. All crops benefit from silica nutrition and when used in recommended, typically average a 15% to 35% increase in yeild within the first season. Crops such as rice and sugarcane, which can take up more silica than nitrogen, typically average a 20% to 70% increase in yield.
The Environmental Benefits of DE:
Diatomaceous Earth will improve the quality of agricultural land by:
- Restoring soil fertility
- Detoxifying the soil
- Increasing the amount of arable land
The overuse of synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides leads to the soil degradation and toxicity, DE wll:
- Increase plant tolerance to toxic elements, allowing the plant to grow and produce good yeilds.
- Change the chemical structure of the soil, detoxifying chemical poisons.
This means a reduction of chemical fertiliser use. Ongoing use of DE reduces reliance on chemical inputs - both fertilisers and poisons, which reduces expenditure. Less chemical fertilisers will:
- Produce healthier crops
- Better tasting and better quality food
- Increase transportation and shelf life of fruit and vegetables
- improve soil fertility