title: Remote chemical immobilisation method for free-ranging Australian cattle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many situations are encountered in Australia where the capture and restraint of free-ranging cattle (Bos taurus/Bos indicus) is required. Chemical immobilisation via darting is a potentially useful tool for managing and researching large wild herbivores; however, there is no reliable method for its application to Australian cattle. The aim of this study was to develop an efficacious, humane, cost-effective ground darting method for free-ranging cattle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 30 female cattle were darted and captured on a pastoral station in north-west Australia from a vehicle. Xylazine (0.59 mg/kg) and ketamine (3.59 mg/kg) were used to capture animals and yohimbine (0.10 mg/kg) was used as an antagonist to xylazine to reduce recumbent time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cattle became recumbent at a mean time of 8 min and a mean distance of 260 m from darting. The mortality rate was zero on the day of capture and 7% at 14 days post-capture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of darted cattle were successfully immobilised with one dart and recovered within 30 min, with consumables costing approximately A$30 per captured animal. The technique developed represents a rapid and humane method for capturing free-ranging cattle and, with consideration for legislation surrounding use of veterinary chemicals, could be applied in many contexts across Australia.
authors.affiliation: Ecotone Wildlife Veterinary Services, Inverloch 3996, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.affiliation: Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, Derby, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skroblin
authors.affiliation: Livestock Extension, Inverloch, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: De Ridder
mesh_terms: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007649:Ketamine; D014991:Xylazine; D015016:Yohimbine
chemical_list: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D015016:Yohimbine; D007649:Ketamine
keywords: anaesthesia; cattle; darting; ketamine; xylazine; yohimbine