Clinical evaluation of R 51163, a new sedative in cattle.

R 51163, a purine alkyl piperidine derivative, has been shown to produce reliable sedation in cattle of varying age and breed in three different types of experiments: transport and regrouping of cattle which had only been handled occasionally; manipulations and minor interventions; minor and major surgery with or without supplementary local anaesthesia. With dose rates of R 51163 at 0.05 mg/kg i.v. and of 0.10-0.15 mg/kg i.m. sedation became prominent within 10-15 min and lasted at least 60 min. Caesarean sections were performed under adequate sedation with R 51163 with dose ranging from 0.018 to 0.05 mg/kg i.v. and from 0.075 to 0.10 mg/kg i.m. The data suggest possible increased responsiveness to the drug at the time of calving.