The dangerous side effect of India’s dairy boom

India, the world’s largest producer of milk, contributing 25% to global production, is facing a serious challenge with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The widespread use of antibiotics to treat cattle infections in the dairy industry is a major driver of this crisis.

“AMR severely hampers the effective treatment of infectious diseases, leading to higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs,” says Amit Khurana, director of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi.

Milk matters

Over the last decade, India's milk production has grown by about six percent annually, reaching an impressive 231 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2022-23. The growth highlights the importance of dairy farming to India’s economy, with 18 million dairy farmers spread across 230,000 villages, many of whom are women. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) aims to boost productivity so the country accounts for one-third of global milk production by 2030.

However, this achievement comes at a cost. The industry heavily relies on antibiotics to manage cattle diseases such as mastitis, a bacterial infection of the mammary glands prevalent in high-yielding crossbred cows. While crossbreeding has boosted milk production, it has also made cattle more susceptible to disease.

“Cross-breeding with exotic breeds was introduced to India mainly to enhance production of milk. This led to the loss of local breeds which have resistance to many diseases. High incidence of diseases in cross-bred animals and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in dairy animals caused high antibiotic residues in animal products like milk and meat,” states a chapter in the book, Medicinal Agroecology.

Mastitis not only threatens public health but also imposes heavy financial burdens on dairy farmers. While mastitis prevalence was below 30% in the 1960s, it now exceeds 60%. A report by the National Dairy Research Institute estimated that in 2012, mastitis caused annual economic losses of Rs 71,655 million, increasing farmers’ reliance on antibiotics as a quick fix.

Studies have found a positive link between this rise in demand for mild, a high yield and mastitis.

“Antibiotics are also eliminated in the milk till seven days post-treatment. However, there is an absence of compliance to milk withdrawal periods following antibiotic administration, which leads to antibiotic residues in milk. Hence, improper use of antibiotic therapy in milch animals poses a threat to the public, especially if milk is consumed unpasteurized,” the study states.

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Antibiotics overload

By 2030, the livestock industry is expected to account for 70% of global antimicrobial use. In India, antibiotic use in animal husbandry is predicted to double by the same period. India ranks fourth globally in antibiotic usage in livestock, but enforcement of regulations on antibiotic use in both human and animal medicine remains weak.

Researchers from CSE have pointed towards an inadequate focus on testing for antibiotic residues in the milk collected by some state milk federations, which process it and sell packaged milk and dairy products under popular brands.

“Farmers often sell milk while the animal is under treatment, which increases the chances of antibiotic residues in the milk,” says Amit Khurana of CSE. “While milk sold directly to consumers is not tested, contrary to what one would expect, processed milk sold in packets is also largely unchecked for antibiotic residues.”

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) 2018 milk quality survey found antibiotic residues in packed milk samples, revealing gaps in testing and regulation.  

While milk sold directly to consumers is not tested, contrary to what one would expect, processed milk sold in packets is also largely unchecked for antibiotic residues.

Despite efforts, several challenges sustain antibiotic misuse in India’s dairy farming. Weak regulations and limited enforcement allow over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, often without veterinary prescriptions. Inadequate veterinary services leave farmers to self-administer antibiotics, often incorrectly.

The implications of antibiotic misuse in dairy farming extend beyond cattle. Residues in milk and dairy products can introduce resistant bacteria into the human food chain through consumption of milk or dairy products, posing serious health risks to the public. Pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, common in mastitis cases, are among the resistant strains that threaten public health.

Also read: What’s lurking in your chicken dinner?

No quick fixes

Dr Nabanita Medhi, a microbiologist at Arya Hospital in Guwahati, highlights the gravity of the situation. “The number of pan and multi-drug resistance cases we encounter regularly is astounding. A matter of concern is that no new antibiotics are currently being developed globally. When patients develop resistance to the existing drugs, doctors are left with very few alternative treatment options.”

To combat AMR, experts advocate for systemic changes in the dairy industry, including the adoption of herbal remedies. Katrien van ’t Hooft, a Dutch veterinarian and livestock development expert, and founder of the Dutch Farm Experience and Natural Livestock Farming Foundation, has worked extensively with Indian dairy farmers to promote the potential of ethno-veterinary practices (EVP). These traditional, culturally-rooted methods leverage local knowledge to manage animal health and treat livestock diseases. For example, a formulation combining Aloe vera, turmeric and calcium hydroxide has proven effective against mastitis.

“Revitalise traditional knowledge on herbal medicine, train veterinarians and farmers, and develop scientific substantiation on remedies and practices concerning herbal medicine in dairy farming, gradually replacing antibiotics and other agro-chemicals with herbal products,” Katrien suggests in a co-authored study.

The fight against antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms is not solely the responsibility of farmers but requires a collaborative effort across various stakeholders.

“EVP can go a long way in replacing antibiotics in this sector and reducing antibiotic resistance. But most importantly, it is a low-cost, farmer-friendly option. It can be a game-changer in how diseases are managed without toxic chemicals in the dairy sector,” says CSE director general Sunita Narain.

To tackle AMR, experts recommend a multi-pronged approach. Strengthening farm biosecurity–by isolating sick animals, ensuring clean feeding systems, and maintaining hygiene during milking–can reduce infections and the need for antibiotics.

"The positive impact of ethno-veterinary medicine as an alternative to antimicrobial and chemical veterinary drugs is often overlooked. These remedies are primarily preventive and also curative. We have been able to reduce the incidence of mastitis by over 83% and other infectious diseases significantly. With over 1 million treated cases and an 80% cure rate, the results are undeniable. Of course, the problem is vast, but we need to take positive action" says Dr M N Balakrishnan Nair, Emeritus Professor, University of Transdisciplinary Health science and Technology, Ethnoveterinary science and practice group, Bengaluru.

Educating farmers about alternatives like vaccination and probiotics, along with the importance of veterinary-supervised antibiotic use, is crucial.

“India will need a roadmap to scale up preventive approaches related to animal housing, antibiotic alternatives, vaccines, biosecurity and resilient breeds that help reduce the occurrence of disease in food-animal farms and the need for antibiotics at its first place,” says Rajeshwari Sinha, programme manager, sustainable food systems.

“It also needs a long-term approach to reduce dependence on intensive industrial systems and promote local, decentralised food systems supported by backyard farming,” she adds.

Despite challenges, the country has made progress. In October 2024, FSSAI banned certain antibiotics in food animal production, following an earlier ban on colistin—a critically important antibiotic for human medicine. Under the Muscat Manifesto (2022), India has committed to reducing antimicrobial use in the agri-food sector by 30-50% by 2030.

(Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cgiarclimate)

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