Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the skeletal remains of single-celled algae, or diatoms from freshwater
or marine sedimentary deposits. To evaluate the benefits of the use of DE in goats the effects of DE on
internal parasite control was studied. Twenty Spanish and Spanish/Boer crosses were infected with 1.77 g
(Group 1), 3.54 g (Group 2), and 5.31 g (Group 3) of DE. Body weights, fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell
volume (PCV), white and red blood cell counts and body weights were recorded over 6 weeks. Highly significant
differences in PCV, FEC, and white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts and body weights
were observed between all groups. Over the course of the study increases in FEC were observed. The PCV
decreased in all groups. Each group exhibited increases in WBC and decreases in RBC counts over the course
of the study. An anthelmintic effect of DE was not observed. The analysis of treatment effects on weights
showed highly significant differences among treatments (P < 0.0001). A positive gain occurred in the mean
weights of Group 1 and 2, which received the lowest dosage of DE. Group 3, which received the highest dose
of DE, did not show statistically significant differences after the treatment. Exposure to DE in water may
contribute to physiological changes in goats that impact performance. Further study is needed to evaluate the
effect on performance characteristics in goats such as weight gain, attributable to treatment with DE.