Can organosulfur metabolites used for parasite control be effectively delivered through cattle drinking water? - A case study.

Ruminant production relies on effective parasite control to maintain animal health and productivity. In extensive grazing systems, challenges in administering traditional treatments have led to growing interest in alternative solutions. Therefore, this study aims to explore whether garlic-derived organosulfur metabolites can be delivered through drinking water on a Commercial Cattle Station. A trial was conducted, under an animal ethics protocol ID SA 2025/03/979, on a Commercial Cattle Station in Queensland, Australia, using two large paddocks with similar stocking rates, where 266 cows had ad libitum access to forage and water-based supplements. Both groups received the same basal diet, but only the treated group received additional organosulfur compounds (uDEFENCE®) via their drinking water. Cows in the treated paddock consumed an average of 96.8 L of water and 142mL of uDEFENCE® per head per day after treatment began. Fly counts from digital images were performed by four different counters and showed high average correlation (0.93) among counters, confirming consistency in visual assessments. When interpreted both fly counting and defensive behaviours numbers suggest that water-based supplement acted to mitigate in certain levels the buffalo fly burden. Although conducted under commercial conditions with limited replicability, the research demonstrated that organosulfur compounds can be effectively delivered via drinking water. These findings offer a promising, sustainable alternative to chemical treatments, warranting further research to confirm efficacy and stability organosulfur compounds delivered via drinking water are crucial for depth and better understanding.