Livestock Antibiotics

When a calf goes down with pneumonia or a steer comes up lame with foot rot, treatment can't wait. Valley Vet Supply was started in 1985 by veterinarians who treated cattle at a mixed-animal clinic in Marysville, Kansas, and our fully staffed pharmacy now works with producers and their vets every day. Every injectable in this collection requires a prescription. Below is a look at the classes of cattle antibiotics we carry, plus the label details that matter most when you're standing at the chute.

Common Livestock Antibiotic Classes

Tetracyclines are the long-time workhorses. Oxytetracycline Injection 200 for Cattle and Swine from Norbrook carries 200 mg of oxytetracycline per mL, the same strength as the LA-200 antibiotic, and is labeled for pneumonia, shipping fever, pinkeye, foot rot, and more.

For respiratory disease, there are longer-acting options too. Draxxin Tulathromycin for Cattle and Swine is a 100 mg/mL macrolide dosed at 1.1 mL per 100 lb, covering BRD, foot rot, and pinkeye in cattle and respiratory disease in swine. Nuflor (Florfenicol) Injectable Solution for Cattle treats BRD and foot rot in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle, with no more than 10 mL per injection site. Neither Draxxin nor Nuflor is labeled for female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older.

Best Practices for Antibiotic Use

Prescription Requirements Under GFI 263

Since June 2023, oxytetracycline, penicillin, and other medically important antibiotics need veterinary oversight, and you'll enter animal and vet details at checkout. Your vet needs a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship with your operation before writing that prescription, so keep them current on herd health. Antibiotics for sheep and goats are generally used extra-label, so your vet directs that use. Learn more in our GFI 263 guide.

Withdrawal Times and Resistance

Weigh or tape cattle before dosing and record every treatment. Follow Beef Quality Assurance guidelines, which favor injections in the neck. Give the full dose and course your vet prescribes, since underdosing gives bacteria a chance to survive and adapt. Pick up Needles & Syringes and Livestock Pain & Inflammation products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a prescription to buy livestock antibiotics?

Yes. Under GFI 263, which took effect in June 2023, medically important antibiotics such as oxytetracycline and penicillin moved from over the counter to prescription only. Every product here is marked Valid Prescription Required. Your vet must have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship with your operation to write that prescription.

What is a withdrawal time and why does it matter?

It's the minimum time between the last treatment and when an animal can go to slaughter. Following it keeps residues out of the food supply and protects your market. Oxytetracycline Injection 200 carries a 28 day slaughter withdrawal, and Draxxin's is 18 days for cattle and 5 days for swine.

Can I order livestock antibiotics online?

Yes. Add the product to your cart and enter your animal and veterinarian details at checkout. Our pharmacy team handles fulfillment from there. Each listing shows an estimated ship time, so order before you run low during calving or weaning.