Do dairy farms increase the risk of antibiotics getting in the water supply?
Antibiotics are used on most dairy farms when they are needed to treat sick animals. However, milk from cows that have been recently treated cannot be sold. As a result, there is a strong financial incentive for dairy farmers to limit their use of antibiotics. Because there is no benefit to farmers, antibiotics are not used extensively or indiscriminately on dairy farms. Thus, dairy farms are unlikely to be a source of water contamination by antibiotics. Editors: Maurice L. Eastridge, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University Suzanne Steel, Director of Communications, Communication and Technology, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University Technical contributors Maurice Eastridge, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University Kent Hoblet, Professor and Chair, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University William Shulaw, Professor, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medic
