Preliminary study of the effects of xylazine or detomidine with or without butorphanol for standing sedation in dairy cattle

The sedative effect induced by administering xylazine hydrochloride or detomidine hydrochloride with or without butorphanol tartrate to standing dairy cattle was compared in two groups of six adult, healthy Holstein cows. One group received xylazine (0.02 mg/kg IV) followed by xylazine (0.02 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg IV) 1 week later. Cows in Group B received detomidine (0.01 mg/kg IV) followed by detomidine (0.01 mg/kg IV) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg IV) 1 week later. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood pressure were monitored and recorded before drugs were administered and every 10 minutes for 1 hour after drug administration. The degree of sedation was evaluated and graded. Cows in each treatment group had significant decreases in heart rate and respiratory rate after test drugs were given. Durations of sedation were 49.0 ± 12.7 minutes (xylazine), 36.0 ± 14.1 (xylazine with butorphanol), 47.0 ± 8.1 minutes (detomidine), and 43.0 ± 14.0 minutes (detomidine with butorphanol). Ptosis and salivation were observed in cows of all groups following drug administration. Slow horizontal nystagmus was observed from three cows following administration of detomidine and butorphanol. All cows remained standing while sedated. The degree of sedation seemed to be most profound in cows receiving detomidine and least profound in cows receiving xylazine.