# Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin: veterinary dose and monograph

> Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin is a veterinary drug. Parenteral source of organic phosphorus and vitamin B12. Indications include prevention or treatment of vitamin B12 and phosphorus deficiency; supportive therapy in metabolic disease, convalescence and debility. This monograph lists 6 reference doses for cattle, horses, pigs and poultry, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/butafosfan · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## 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

*Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal / no milk discard |
| Calves — B12 / phosphorus source | 4.4–8.8 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal |

- 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

*Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B12 / phosphorus source | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — |

- 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

*Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin doses for pigs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Growers / adults — B12 / phosphorus source | 4.4–11 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal |
| Piglets | 1–2.5 mL/piglet | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal |

- 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

*Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin doses for poultry*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Turkeys — drinking water | 1–3 mL per litre of drinking water | PO | daily as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal |

- 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.

*Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal / no milk discard |
| Calves — B12 / phosphorus source | 4.4–8.8 mg/kg | IM | q24h as needed | — | no slaughter withdrawal |

- 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

> **Caution:** 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.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin for cattle?

Reference doses for Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin in cattle: 2.2–4.4 mg/kg IM q24h as needed (Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source); 4.4–8.8 mg/kg IM q24h as needed (Calves — B12 / phosphorus source). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin for horses?

Reference doses for Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin in horses: 2.2–4.4 mg/kg IM q24h as needed (B12 / phosphorus source). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin for pigs?

Reference doses for Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin in pigs: 4.4–11 mg/kg IM q24h as needed (Growers / adults — B12 / phosphorus source); 1–2.5 mL/piglet IM q24h as needed (Piglets). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin?

Cattle, IM (Adult cattle — B12 / phosphorus source): no slaughter withdrawal / no milk discard; Cattle, IM (Calves — B12 / phosphorus source): no slaughter withdrawal; Pigs, IM (Growers / adults — B12 / phosphorus source): no slaughter withdrawal; Pigs, IM (Piglets): no slaughter withdrawal; Poultry, PO (Turkeys — drinking water): no slaughter withdrawal. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin not be used?

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

### What are the side effects of Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin in animals?

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

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.