Antibiotics · Prescription (Rx)
Naxcel withdrawal time for cattle
ceftiofur sodium. Used for bRD and foot rot — daily-dose cephalosporin with a short withdrawal.
Slaughter withdrawal
4 days
| Route / formulation | Slaughter withdrawal | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| IM or SQ injection, once daily for 3–5 days | 4 days |
Milk & dairy: No milk discard at label use — usable in lactating dairy cattle.
Naxcel is the short-acting ceftiofur: reconstituted from powder and given daily for three to five days, with a 4-day slaughter withdrawal from the last dose and no milk discard. Its short hold makes it a common choice for animals that may need to move soon.
Because it is dosed daily, the withdrawal clock restarts with every injection — the 4 days count from the final dose of the course, not the first. The same FDA cephalosporin restrictions as Excede apply: no unapproved doses, routes, or frequencies in food animals.
What the label requires
- Slaughter withdrawal: 4 days from the last daily dose.
- No milk discard at label use.
- Multi-day course — the clock starts at the final injection.
- Requires refrigeration after reconstitution; potency assumptions on the label matter for residues.
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
Does the 4-day Naxcel withdrawal count from the first or last injection?
From the last. A five-day course finished on the 10th clears for slaughter on the 14th. Recording only the first treatment date is the classic way this one goes wrong.