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Home » Animal Health » Sheep Products » Sheep Drench
Sheep Drench

Sheep Drench

Sheep drenches are orally administered anthelmintics essential for maintaining sheep wellbeing, ensuring high productivity levels, and minimising economic losses. At Specialist Sales, we stock a variety of effective sheep drench products from brands like Virbac, Zoetis, Coopers, and International Animal Health Products. We have decades of experience working with producers and owners to find the right drenches for their sheep.

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Types of sheep drench  

There are a range of sheep drenches available in Australia, each with its own benefits.

  • Benzimidazole ‘BZ’ (white drenches): These are broad-spectrum drenches that interfere with the energy metabolism of parasites, depleting their ability to function. Common benzimidazoles include albendazole, fenbendazole, and oxfendazole. 
  • Levamisole (clear drenches): These drenches affect parasites’ nervous systems, paralysing them and expelling them from their host. Levamisole is effective against a range of gastrointestinal nematodes.
  • Macrocyclic lactones (ML or mectin drenches): This group of chemicals includes popular drenches like ivermectin, moxidectin, and abamectin. ML drenches are effective against both internal and external parasites.
  • Multi-active drenches: These combine different active ingredients to provide a broader spectrum of control and prevent resistance.

What are the best sheep drenches in Australia? 

The best sheep drench is the one that will work for you and your flock. Effectiveness is subject to factors like the parasites present, resistance patterns, and the flock’s health.

If your use case is standard, there are a few drenches that we regularly recommend: 

  • Cydectin is a moxidectin-based product known for its long-lasting efficacy against internal and external parasites. 
  • Triguard is a triple-combination sheep drench providing broad-spectrum control and protection against drench resistance.
  • Q-Drench Multi Combination Drench for Sheep is a unique 4-way anthelmintic that combines active ingredients for better control.
  • Startec Oral Drench for Sheep is a short-acting, broad-spectrum combination drench that kills damaging worms that may be resistant to other drenches. 
  • Tridectin 3-Way Oral Drench for Sheep combines moxidectin, albendazole, and levamisole for improved eradication of pests. 
  • Zolvix Plus is an effective combination drench for parasites that may be resistant to older classes of drench. It’s also used as a strategic drench to prevent or manage resistance. 

How often to drench sheep 

The frequency you drench your sheep will depend on your chosen sheep drench product, the extent of the parasite burden, your environmental conditions, and your management practices.

Lambs require drenching first at weaning, and then at 4-to-6-week intervals. When sheep become adults, they require drenching once to twice a year, as well as before lambing and during periods of high parasite risk. You may also opt for strategic drenching, which involves treating sheep at specific times of year to minimise parasite burdens. 

Learn more about sheep drenching and explore our top tips on the Specialist Sales blog. 

What is ivermectin and is it an effective sheep drench? 

Ivermectin is a widely-used macrocyclic lactone (ML) that controls a range of internal and external parasites like gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, and mites. Many customers choose ivermectin because of its great safety profile and minimal side effects. It’s available in formulations including oral drenches, injectable solutions, and pour-on products – making it one of the most versatile options on the market. 

One of the challenges that ivermectin presents is the development of resistance over time. To mitigate this, employ the following strategies: 

  • Rotate drenches from different classes to reduce the selection pressure for resistance. 
  • Use combination drenches to slow down the development of resistance. 
  • Conduct faecal egg counts so you can assess the efficacy of treatments.