Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Butafosfan, Catosal

Species with doses

Cattle, Horses, Pigs and Poultry

General dose range

2.2–4.4 mg/kg IM q24h as needed — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IM, PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Prevention or treatment of vitamin B12 and phosphorus deficiency
• Supportive therapy in metabolic disease, convalescence and debility

Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Cattle

• Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): 1–2 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed. Split volumes over 10 mL between sites. US label: zero-day withdrawal for meat and milk. = 2.2–4.4 mg/kg butaphosphan with the 100 mg/mL product.
• Calves — B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): calves 2–4 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed. = 4.4–8.8 mg/kg butaphosphan with the 100 mg/mL product. US label: zero-day withdrawal.

Horses

• B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): 1–2 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed; split volumes over 10 mL between sites. = 2.2–4.4 mg/kg butaphosphan.

Pigs

• Growers / adults — B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): 2–5 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed. = 4.4–11 mg/kg butaphosphan. US label: zero-day withdrawal.
• Piglets: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): 1–2.5 mL TOTAL per piglet SC, IM or IV (100–250 mg butaphosphan), repeated daily as needed.

Poultry

• Turkeys — drinking water: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): turkeys 1–3 mL per litre of drinking water, repeated daily as needed. Zero-day egg withdrawal on the US label.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): 1–2 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed. Split volumes over 10 mL between sites. US label: zero-day withdrawal for meat and milk. = 2.2–4.4 mg/kg butaphosphan with the 100 mg/mL product.
• Calves — B12 / phosphorus source: Plumb’s p.171 (US label): calves 2–4 mL per 100 lb SC, IM or IV, repeated daily as needed. = 4.4–8.8 mg/kg butaphosphan with the 100 mg/mL product. US label: zero-day withdrawal.

Contraindications

No specific contraindications documented. Not a substitute for IV calcium in hypocalcaemic milk fever.

Adverse effects

• Few reported; injection-site reactions possible — split volumes over 10 mL between sites

Mechanism of action

Butaphosphan is an organic phosphorus compound; cyanocobalamin is vitamin B12, a cofactor in propionate metabolism and haematopoiesis. The exact mechanism of any metabolic benefit is not well defined.

Formulations and products

• Butaphosphan 100 mg/mL + cyanocobalamin 0.05 mg/mL injection
• Butasure-12 (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Butaphosphan 100 mg + Cyanocobalamin 50 mcg per mL, Injection - IM or IV

Storage

Store below 30 °C; do not freeze.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

• Bromhexine
• Budesonide
• Buserelin
• Buspirone
• Cabergoline
• Calcitriol
• Calcium Borogluconate (IV Calcium)
• Calcium EDTA (Calcium Disodium Edetate)

Frequently asked questions