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Understanding the Risks: How Waste Milk Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance

Writer's picture: Denis LangloisDenis Langlois

Many farmers still feed waste milk to their calves, although this really is a no-go. Waste milk is milk that cannot be

used for human consumption. It is the milk from cows that are sick and/or are receiving treatment. This milk is

therefore contaminated with bacteria and antibiotics, making it harmful for calves. Do you want to know why? Keep

on reading!


The danger of feeding waste milk


Several diseases are transmittable from a cow's milk to the calf. For example, salmonella, mycoplasma, BVD (bovine

viral diarrhea), and para-TB. Farmers are not always aware of the presence of these diseases.


Moreover, feeding small quantities of antibiotics to calves contributes to creating antibiotic resistance. This is a

significant concern among scientists, as the way we use antibiotics for our livestock is strongly related to those we

use on humans.


And if we pasteurize our waste milk?


Still a no! While pasteurization reduces bacteria, it does not eliminate antibiotic residues. Feeding pasteurised waste

milk still contributes to antibiotic resistance


Researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil conducted a study on this topic. They divided 63

calves into three groups: one group received clean milk from the bulk tank, the second group received pasteurized

waste milk, and the third group received unpasteurized waste milk. The calves were euthanized for tissue evaluation

at 30 and 60 days of age. The results were as follows:

  • Calves fed waste milk (both pasteurized and unpasteurized) showed a higher frequency of resistance to E.

    coli compared to those fed bulk tank milk.

  • Calves fed unpasteurized waste milk showed resistance to 5 of the 7 antibiotics evaluated.

  • Calves fed pasteurized waste milk showed resistance to 4 of the 7 antibiotics evaluated.

Those antibiotics included ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftiofur, florfenicol, enrofloxacin, streptomycin, and tetracycline.


What about “clean” milk then?


Always make sure that you know the disease status of your cows, especially if you want to use their milk as feed.

Also, ensure to collect, transport, and store the milk hygienically. A lot can happen between the moment the cow is

milked and the moment the milk is fed to the calf. Pasteurisation can help. However, you can never be 100% sure

your fresh milk is not contaminated with something.

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