Evaluation of Diatomaceous Earth Efficiency as an Antiparasitic for Controlling Gastrointestinal Helminths in Fattening Cattle

Diatomaceous earth (DE), composed primarily of amorphous silica from fossilized diatoms, has garnered attention as a natural alternative to synthetic antiparasitic agents in livestock production. This study evaluated the effectiveness of DE in controlling gastrointestinal parasites and improving growth performance in fattening cattle under tropical conditions in Orellana, Ecuador. Forty crossbred cattle were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: Control group (0 g/day), T1 (150 g/day), T2 (175 g/day), and T3 (200 g/day) of DE administered daily for 120 days. Faecal samples were collected and analysed using the McMaster technique to quantify parasitic loads of Eimeria sp., Cryptosporidium sp., and Haemonchus sp. Weight gain was measured periodically. Statistical analysis was conducted using a completely randomised design. The results showed significant improvements in weight gain in the DE-treated groups compared to the control (p < 0.01). The highest dose group (T3) achieved an average total gain of 34.6 kg (288.33 g/day), while the control group only reached 20.5 kg (170.83 g/day). The use of DE significantly reduced the oocyst count of Eimeria sp., with T3 showing the highest efficacy at 57.76%, in contrast to the control group treated without ivermectin, which exhibited a negative efficacy of −13.71%. No statistically significant differences were observed for Cryptosporidium sp.; however, numerical reductions were noted in all DE-treated groups. Additionally, Haemonchus sp. eggs were absent in all final faecal analyses, suggesting a strong suppressive effect of DE, although environmental factors such as temperature and humidity cannot be entirely ruled out. The study concludes that daily supplementation of DE at levels between 175 and 200 g/day is effective in enhancing weight gain and reducing gastrointestinal parasite loads in fattening cattle. DE presents a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional anthelmintics, especially in tropical systems where parasitic resistance and reinfection pressure are high. Keywords: Diatomaceous earth, animal health, gastrointestinal parasites, natural anthelmintic, tropical livestock.