The disposition kinetics and systemic availability of phenylbutazone were studied in healthy dairy cows. The same dose (6mg/kg) of phenylbutazone was administered by the i.v., i.m. and oral routes. The elimination half time after intravenous administration ranged from 32.4 to 60.8h. The result suggested that the distribution of phenylbutazone in cows can be described by a two‐compartment open model. Total body clearance of the drug had a mean value of 0.0016 ml/kg‐h. The overall tissue to plasma level ratio (k12/k21‐β), after distribution equilibrium had been attained was 0.64. Phenylbutazone was shown, by an equilibrium dialysis method, to be highly bound to plasma proteins (93%) at serum levels of 100 μ/ml. The systemic availability of phenylbutazone was 69% and 89% when administered orally and intramuscularly respectively. Animals receiving half the dose of phenylbutazone (3 mg/kg) intravenously did not differ from cows receiving 6 mg/kg in elimination half‐life and other distribution and elimination kinetic parameters. Based on the experimental data obtained, a dosage regimen is proposed, consisting of a priming oral dose of 9 mg/kg and maintenance doses of 4.5 mg/kg of phenylbutazone orally administered at 48 h intervals. The relatively long half‐life in cattle, however, complicates the use of phenylbutazone because of the drug resi