Dairy Farms and Antibiotic Resistance: What's the Connection?

In India, the dairy industry is massive. It's the world's top producer and consumer of dairy products. But there's a hidden problem. Antibiotics are often misused, leading to antibiotic resistance. This isn't just a problem for cows; it's a public health issue. Farmers, farm workers, and even the environment are at risk. Sixteen dairy farms in Dehradun district were studied. They varied in size, setup, and how they operated. Samples were taken from dung, manure, wastewater, and soil. The goal? To find out if farm infrastructure and operations affect antibiotic resistance. The findings were clear. Better ventilation and exposure to the outside world increased certain antibiotic resistance genes in manure. When farmers didn't consult vets before giving antibiotics, some resistance genes were lower. This might seem good, but it's not. It shows that antibiotics are still being used without proper guidance. Small farms had lower antibiotic resistance levels than medium and large ones. But there was an exception: mcr5 in wastewater was higher on small farms. This could be due to how waste is managed on smaller farms. The study also looked at different sample types. Manure-amended soil had the highest antibiotic resistance levels, followed by wastewater, manure, and dung. This shows that how waste is handled matters. The study also found that agriculture farm workers who work with manure-amended soil are at higher risk than dairy farm workers who handle dung. This is a big deal for public health. The link between farm setup, operations, and antibiotic resistance is clear. This knowledge can help design better practices to reduce antibiotic resistance on dairy farms. It's not just about the cows; it's about keeping everyone safe.