Sixteen lactating Holstein cows were used to evaluate the effect of garlic supply on the load of tick, horn fly, stable fly and house fly. Treatments (T) consisted of a negative control (T1), garlic at 100 g (T2) and 200 g cow-1 (T3) for three days, and Amitraz 0.025% (T4). Engorged female ticks presenting length superior to 4.0 mm and flies were counted before application and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 14th day after each treatment application. On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days after treatments, milk samples were collected to evaluate organoleptic properties in raw milk and in "Minas-Frescal" cheese. Tick mean values were 188.44, 106.28, 108.10, and 7.60%, respectively, relative to those of the pretreatment. Commercial ectoparasiticide was the most efficient (p<0.05) for tick control. On the 14th day, garlic-treated animals (T2) had a reduced tick number, and T2 and T3 had a tick number similar (p>0.05) to that of the chemical product (T4). In these treatments, no garlic flavor or taste was detected in milk and cheese. There was no difference (p>0.05) among treatments for fly control.
Allium sativum; amitraz; Boophilus microplus; Haematobia irritans; Stomoxys calcitrans
