Oxytetragyclines in Cattle

Abstract
Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline (OTC) were studied in 4 cows after administration of either a conventional (OTC-C) or a long-acting (OTC-LA) preparation. After intravenous administration of OTG-G the elimination half-life for OTG was found to be 6 h. Intramuscular injection of OTC-C and OTC-LA resulted in almost identical plasma concentrations of OTC with peak values after 6–8 h. For both preparations the bioavailability after i.m. administration was 100 % and about 60 % of the dose was excreted in the urine during the first week. Plasma concentrations above 0.5 μg/ml were with both preparations maintained for approximately 60 h, indicating no retard effect of OTC-LA as compared to OTC-C.