Antibiotic use in the dairy sector 

Antibiotic use in the dairy sector 

Part of: GS Mains II – Health/Social issue 

Context: 

According to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report – 

• Dairy farmers indiscriminately use antibiotics for diseases such as mastitis (infection/inflammation of the udder), a common ailment in dairy animals 
• Antibiotics residues remaining in milk are a cause for concern (antibiotic resistance) 
• Milk sold directly to consumers nor processed milk sold in packets are unchecked for antibiotic residues 

Do you know? 

• India is the world’s largest milk producer 
• The abused antibiotics, despite a law against it, are easily available without the prescription of a registered veterinarian and stocked at farms.