Dairy farmer’s awareness level on antibiotic residues in bovine milk in Thanjavur region

Abstract:

In dairy sector, antimicrobials used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes directly leaves residues in milk. Consuming these residues disrupt the gut microflora that triggers the emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (AMR). AMR bacteria create serious threat by causing treatment failures, biofilm, and potential toxicity in human. Hence, understanding dairy farmer’s awareness on antibiotic residues is necessary to implement intervention strategies in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. A cross-sectional study was structured to collect from 100 dairy farmers on socio-demographic details, awareness on antibiotic residues, AMR, health hazards associated with antibiotic usage and attitude of dairy farmers towards antibiotic residue control measures and training in Thanjavur region. In this study, awareness of antibiotic residues showed no significant association with socio-demographic factors (P ˃ 0.05), whereas AMR awareness was significantly associated with age, education level and herd size (P ˂ 0.05), with younger, educated farmers with larger herds were more aware. Majority of farmers (82%) who use antibiotics for their animals had poor knowledge on withdrawal periods and health hazards associated with antibiotic residues. Most of dairy farmers showed positive attitude toward residue control measures such as milk testing (72%), record maintenance (60%) and training programs (92%). The results of the survey indicate inadequate awareness and practices related to antibiotic use, withdrawal periods and antimicrobial resistance among dairy farmers in the Thanjavur region posing a potential risk to public health. Therefore, to close the gap, awareness among dairy farmers regarding use of antimicrobials through veterinary guidance, implementing routine milk residue monitoring interventions could be framed to break the antibiotic residues cycle in milk and further development of milk borne AMR in humans.