Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Ractopamine is dosed at 0.14–0.42 mg/kg PO Continuous in feed in cattle, per US FDA. Optaflexx 45 (ractopamine HCl) Type A Medicated Article, NADA 141-221, Elanco US Inc. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=48b0f54c-57ee-445b-9f53-817cfaba38ad - beef steers/heifers in confinement for slaughter; 9.8-24.6 g/ton (11-27 ppm), 90-430 mg/hd/d, last 28-42 d; no withdrawal.. Ractopamine is used in cattle for Feed efficiency and carcass leanness. Routes documented in cattle: PO. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ractopamine in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Optaflexx, Paylean
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.14–0.42 mg/kg | Continuous in feed | Last 28-42 days before slaughter | Feed efficiency and carcass leanness | Strong | US FDA. Optaflexx 45 (ractopamine HCl) Type A Medicated Article, NADA 141-221, Elanco US Inc. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=48b0f54c-57ee-445b-9f53-817cfaba38ad - beef steers/heifers in confinement for slaughter; 9.8-24.6 g/ton (11-27 ppm), 90-430 mg/hd/d, last 28-42 d; no withdrawal. |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your cattle's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Beta-adrenergic agonist that repartitions nutrients from fat deposition to lean muscle growth. Increases rate of weight gain, improves feed efficiency, and increases carcass leanness.
Not for use in breeding animals. Banned in EU, China, Russia, and many other countries. Use only in finishing animals during the last 28-42 days before slaughter. Handle with caution; may cause tachycardia in humans.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ractopamine dose range in cattle, with cited source references: PO 0.14–0.42 mg/kg Continuous in feed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ractopamine in cattle: PO.
Cited course lengths for Ractopamine in cattle include: Last 28-42 days before slaughter. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ractopamine is indicated in cattle for: Feed efficiency and carcass leanness.
These are general warnings for Ractopamine across species; consult the cattle dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Not for use in breeding animals. Banned in EU, China, Russia, and many other countries. Use only in finishing animals during the last 28-42 days before slaughter. Handle with caution; may cause tachycardia in humans.
Why a species-specific page? Ractopamine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cattle — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.