Antibiotics · Prescription (Rx)
Excede withdrawal time for cattle
ceftiofur crystalline free acid. Used for bRD and foot rot — long-acting cephalosporin, approved for lactating dairy.
Slaughter withdrawal
13 days
| Route / formulation | Slaughter withdrawal | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Subcutaneous, posterior aspect of the ear (base of ear) | 13 days |
Milk & dairy: Approved for lactating dairy cattle with no milk discard when used on-label.
Excede is a long-acting ceftiofur formulation with an unusual administration site: subcutaneously at the base of the ear. That placement is not a suggestion — it is what the 13-day slaughter withdrawal and zero milk discard were established on. Injected IM or IV by mistake, the label numbers no longer apply (and accidental intra-arterial injection at the ear site can be fatal, which is why technique matters).
Because ceftiofur leaves no violative milk residue at label use, Excede is one of the workhorse antibiotics on dairies. Cephalosporins do carry FDA restrictions on certain extra-label uses in food animals — unapproved doses and routes are off the table, so give it where and how the label says.
What the label requires
- Slaughter withdrawal: 13 days; no milk discard at label use.
- Base-of-ear SQ administration only — the withdrawal was established for that site.
- FDA restricts extra-label cephalosporin use in food animals (unapproved dose/route/frequency prohibited).
- Long-acting: one dose provides therapy over several days, so treatment date still starts the clock.
Always follow the label on your bottle and your veterinarian's directions. Extra-label use — any different dose, route, or frequency — voids the withdrawal above; your vet sets the interval instead, usually via FARAD. When in doubt, hold longer. Label data checked July 18, 2026. Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
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Common questions
Why does Excede have to go in the ear?
The base-of-ear site is where the residue studies behind the 13-day withdrawal and zero milk discard were done, and ear tissue is not part of the food supply. Giving it in the neck like other antibiotics is off-label and voids those numbers.
Is there really no milk withhold for Excede?
Correct — at the labeled dose, site, and indication there is no milk discard time. That is label-specific: the same drug given any other way requires your veterinarian to set both meat and milk intervals.