Anti-inflammatories & pain control · Prescription (Rx)
Meloxicam withdrawal time for cattle
meloxicam (oral tablets). Used for pain control (dehorning, castration, lameness) — extra-label under veterinary direction; no U.S. cattle label exists.
Slaughter withdrawal
No U.S. label
no U.S. cattle label — vet sets the interval; ~21 days meat is a commonly used conservative figure
| Route / formulation | Slaughter withdrawal | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Oral (extra-label under AMDUCA, veterinary prescription) | No U.S. label | FARAD-recommended conservative intervals are commonly around 21 days meat / 15 days milk for a single oral dose — your vet sets the actual number |
Milk & dairy: No label milk discard exists; your veterinarian must set one (FARAD guidance is commonly cited around 15 days for a single dose).
Meloxicam is the cheap, long-acting oral pain-control option vets reach for at dehorning, castration, and lameness — but it has no U.S. cattle label at all. Every use in cattle is extra-label under AMDUCA: legal only by veterinary prescription, with the withdrawal set by the vet, not a bottle.
Because there is no label figure, the numbers you see quoted (commonly around 21 days meat for a single oral dose) come from FARAD recommendations, and they change with dose and repeat dosing. Treat any meloxicam number as your veterinarian’s call for your specific use — and make sure it lands in your records with the date and dose.
What the label requires
- No U.S. cattle label — all use is extra-label and requires a veterinary prescription and vet-set withdrawal.
- Commonly cited conservative intervals (single oral dose): ~21 days meat, ~15 days milk — confirm yours with your vet/FARAD.
- Repeated dosing extends the interval; record every dose.
- Do not combine with other NSAIDs (like flunixin) without veterinary direction.
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.
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Common questions
Why does meloxicam have no official withdrawal time for cattle?
Because FDA has never approved it for cattle — there is no cattle label to carry one. It is used extra-label under AMDUCA, and that law makes the prescribing veterinarian responsible for assigning a withdrawal, usually from FARAD data.
Where does the "21 days" figure for meloxicam come from?
From FARAD’s published recommendations for a single oral dose at common rates — it is a conservative science-based estimate, not a label value. Higher or repeated doses need a longer interval, which is why the answer must come from your vet for your protocol.