Pour-on ivermectin is a topical antiparasitic solution applied along the backline of cattle. The FDA-approved products sold in the United States contain 5 mg of ivermectin per mL (0.5%), and the label dose rate is 1 mL for every 22 lb of body weight, applied in a narrow strip from the withers to the tailhead. It is approved for cattle only — not for goats, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, or people.

This is an animal formulation. Pour-on ivermectin is labeled for animal use only and is not approved for human use in any amount, by any route. If you are researching the human-labeled tablets instead, our page on how human ivermectin is sold explains the prescription and pharmacy rules, which changed in several states during 2025 and 2026. The guidance below is for livestock producers dosing animals, and it is not a substitute for your product's own insert or your veterinarian's instructions.

Key takeaways

  • Cattle pour-on ivermectin is a 5 mg/mL topical solution dosed at 1 mL per 22 lb of body weight along the topline.
  • Pour-on ivermectin is labeled for animal use only and is not approved for people. The FDA has stated repeatedly that animal ivermectin products can seriously harm humans.
  • Meat withdrawal for the pour-on is 48 days; there is no established milk withdrawal, so labels prohibit use in female dairy cattle of breeding age.
  • Goats, sheep, and pigs are not on the pour-on label. Any use in those species is extra-label and legally requires a veterinarian's order.
  • State-law, price, and retail details in this article were last verified on September 26, 2026; confirm them before acting.

What pour-on ivermectin is

Graduated applicator gun and an unlabeled jug of cattle pour-on solution resting on a straw bale during dosing.

Pour-on ivermectin is a "low-volume" topical parasiticide poured onto the skin rather than injected or given by mouth. It is a clear, colored liquid containing 5 mg of ivermectin per mL (0.5% w/v). The drug is absorbed through the skin and distributes systemically, which is why one topical application can affect both internal worms and external parasites.

Approved uses on US cattle pour-on labels include gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, cattle grubs, sucking lice, and mange mites, plus horn fly suppression — products state that they control horn flies for up to 28 days after dosing, and recommend the pour-on be used as part of a parasite control program built around the local epidemiology of those parasites.

Pour-on versus injectable and oral ivermectin

Injectable ivermectin is a separate formulation with a separate label. The 1% injection is formulated to deliver 200 mcg of ivermectin per kg of body weight, given subcutaneously, and it covers cattle and swine on the US label. Oral pastes and drenches are different again — see our write-up on 1.87% equine ivermectin paste for how those syringes are labeled and metered. Route matters: absorption, persistence, and withdrawal times all differ, so a dose calculated for one formulation cannot be transferred to another.

Species you must not use it on

Cattle pour-on and injectable labels carry an explicit warning against off-label species use: do not use in other animal species not on the label, as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result. That risk is real and dose-dependent, and it is one reason concentrated livestock products should never be used to treat pets. Our page on ivermectin for dogs covers canine-specific dosing and the breeds with known sensitivity.

Dosing for cattle, goats, sheep and pigs

A producer's hands filling in a paper livestock treatment record next to a numbered ear tag and dosing gun to track meat withdrawal dates.

Cattle (the labeled species)

The dose rate is 1 mL for each 22 lb of body weight, applied along the topline in a narrow strip extending from the withers to the tailhead. Labels instruct producers not to underdose and to ensure each animal receives a complete dose based on a current body weight — weigh or use a reliable scale-based estimate rather than eyeballing, since underdosing is a recognized driver of resistance. Each 5 mL treats 110 lb, and when a body weight falls between the measuring markings on the applicator, the next higher increment should be used. Because of the solvents used in the formulation, an applicator gun is recommended.

Body weight Pour-on volume (5 mg/mL)
220 lb 10 mL
440 lb 20 mL
660 lb 30 mL
880 lb 40 mL
1,100 lb 50 mL
1,320 lb 60 mL

Apply to clean, dry skin. Rain or a wet, mud-caked hide at the time of treatment can reduce absorption, so plan chute work accordingly. For a deeper walkthrough of chute technique, applicator calibration, and seasonal timing, see our guide to ivermectin pour on cattle programs.

Goats and sheep

There is no FDA-approved pour-on ivermectin for goats or sheep in the United States. Using a cattle pour-on in small ruminants is extra-label use, which is lawful only under AMDUCA — extra-label use is permissible only on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian within a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Goats also metabolize these drugs differently: because of differences in drug absorption and metabolism between sheep and goats, veterinarians commonly use a dose in goats that is 1.5 to 2 times the approved sheep dose, and the effective dose in goats is currently unknown. Topical application is a particularly poor fit for small ruminants, whose fleece and coat make absorption unpredictable; most veterinarians handling goat ivermectin questions favor oral dosing with a product they can meter accurately. Your vet, not a forum chart, should set the dose and the withdrawal time.

Pigs

Pour-on is not labeled for swine. The swine route on US labels is injection. Published label figures for the 1% injectable put the swine dose at 300 mcg/kg body weight, equivalent to 1 mL per 33 kg (about 75 lb), with sheep listed at 200 mcg/kg, or 0.5 mL per 25 kg (55 lb). Confirm against the insert in the box you actually bought, because concentrations and approved species vary by product and country.

Withdrawal periods (meat and milk)

Nitrile gloves and safety goggles laid out beside an unlabeled container of cattle pour-on before handling.

Withdrawal intervals are legal requirements, not suggestions, and they differ sharply between the pour-on and the injectable.

Formulation Meat withdrawal Milk Other restrictions
Pour-on, 5 mg/mL (cattle) 48 days No withdrawal established Not for veal calves; none established for pre-ruminating calves
1% injection (cattle) 35 days No withdrawal established Not for veal calves; none established for pre-ruminating calves

For the pour-on, cattle must not be treated within 48 days of slaughter for human consumption; because a withdrawal time in milk has not been established, the label directs that it not be used in female dairy cattle of breeding age; and no withdrawal period has been established in pre-ruminating calves. Labels also state plainly: do not use in calves to be processed for veal. For the injectable, the residue warning is not to treat cattle within 35 days of slaughter, with the same milk and pre-ruminating-calf restrictions.

Extra-label use resets everything. AMDUCA requires the prescribing veterinarian's extra-label label to state the withdrawal, withholding or discard time, and an additional warning that if the producer uses the product at a higher dose or for longer, the withdrawal time must be increased to prevent residues. The FDA-funded Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) publishes withdrawal interval recommendations veterinarians use for these situations.

Handling and safety

Hands lifting an unlabeled jug of livestock pour-on dewormer from a wire shelf in a farm supply aisle.

Protecting yourself

Labels warn that the product may be irritating to human skin and eyes, and that accidental skin contact should be washed off immediately with soap and water. Use only in well-ventilated areas or outdoors, wear chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection, and keep the container closed when it is not in use. The solvent carrier — not just the ivermectin — is a large part of why the pour-on is irritating.

Storage

Store at or below 25 °C (77 °F), with excursions permitted up to 40 °C (104 °F), and protect from light. Keep it out of feed rooms and away from children and pets.

Environmental handling

Treated cattle should not be allowed to enter lakes, streams or ponds for at least six hours after treatment, and water must not be contaminated by direct application or improper disposal of containers; containers should go to an approved landfill or incineration. As with other avermectins, ivermectin is excreted in the dung of treated animals and can inhibit the reproduction and growth of pest and beneficial insects that use dung.

Never use it on people

This bears repeating because it is the most common misuse. The FDA has told stakeholders that animal ivermectin drugs can cause serious harm in people, and that people should not take any form of ivermectin unless it has been prescribed by a licensed health care provider and obtained from a legitimate source. The agency has also noted that human ivermectin tablets and topicals have very specific doses that are significantly smaller than the doses meant for animals. Livestock pour-ons are concentrated, are not sterile-dosed for human pharmacokinetics, and contain inactive ingredients never evaluated for human exposure.

Where to buy it

Cattle pour-on ivermectin is sold over the counter for livestock use at farm and ranch retailers, livestock veterinary suppliers, co-ops, and veterinary clinics. National farm retailers list generic cattle pour-on in 250 mL, 1 L, and 5 L container sizes; product pages carry the blunt manufacturer warning that the product is not safe or approved for human use, which could cause severe injury or death. Pricing moves with pack size, brand, and supply, and generic pour-ons are usually cheaper per treated head than branded equivalents in the same concentration. Because farm-supply pricing changes frequently, compare current listings rather than relying on figures quoted in articles, including this one.

Buying tips that hold up regardless of retailer: match the concentration on the bottle to the dose chart you are using, check the expiration date and lot, buy a pack size you will finish within a season, and buy a calibrated applicator gun rather than improvising with a measuring cup.

Human-labeled ivermectin is a separate purchase question

Human ivermectin tablets are a prescription drug federally, though several states changed pharmacy access during 2025–2026. Arkansas enacted SB 189 / Act 396 on March 25, 2025, and Idaho passed SB 1211 on April 14, 2025, both treating ivermectin as suitable for human over-the-counter sale. Texas became the fifth state to allow pharmacy sale without a prescription when House Bill 25 took effect on December 4, 2025; the law also shields pharmacists from criminal, civil, and professional liability for responsibly dispensing it. Reporting in 2026 identified Tennessee, Louisiana, Idaho, and Texas as states with enacted laws permitting purchase without a patient-specific prescription, with approaches ranging from almost no pharmacist obligations to mandatory screening. None of these laws change anything about animal formulations, and none of them make a livestock pour-on appropriate for people. State-law details in this section were verified on September 26, 2026; check your state board of pharmacy for the current rule, since bills were pending in additional states.

Frequently asked questions

Can pour-on ivermectin be given by mouth?

No. The pour-on is formulated with skin-penetrating solvents and is labeled for topical application only. Oral use is extra-label, unpredictable in absorption, and requires a veterinarian's involvement and a veterinarian-assigned withdrawal time.

Does pour-on ivermectin work for goats?

It is not approved for goats, and topical absorption through a goat's coat is unreliable. The FDA notes that the effective dose in goats is currently unknown and that new antiparasitic drugs are needed for sheep and goats. Work with a veterinarian who can recommend a formulation, dose, and withdrawal interval, ideally alongside fecal egg count testing.

Is pour-on or injectable ivermectin better for cattle?

They serve different situations. The pour-on adds external-parasite coverage — horn fly control for up to 28 days — and requires no needles, while the injectable has a shorter meat withdrawal at 35 days versus 48. Resistance patterns on your operation and your marketing calendar should drive the choice.

How long after treatment can cattle be sold?

Cattle must not be treated with the pour-on within 48 days of slaughter for human consumption. Build that interval into your shipping schedule and keep written treatment records with dates, product, lot, and dose.

What about ivermectin horse wormer — is that the same drug?

Same active ingredient, entirely different product. Equine pastes are oral syringes metered by horse body weight, with their own labeling; they are also labeled for animal use only and are not approved for people. A dose intended for a 1,250 lb horse bears no relationship to any human dose.

Do I need a prescription to buy cattle pour-on?

Cattle pour-on ivermectin is generally sold over the counter for livestock use in the US. Extra-label use — different species, different route, or a different dose than the label — is what triggers the requirement for a veterinarian's order under AMDUCA.

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