Antibiotic use pattern in dairy cattle and farmers' perception of its impact on public health in a selected area of Khulna district

Abstract

This study examined the pattern of antibiotic use in dairy cattle and farmers’ perception of its effects on public health in a selected area of Khulna District, Bangladesh. Data were collected from sixty (60) farmers associated with dairy farms through survey using interview schedule. About one-third of farmers used antibiotics, typically on advice from informal practitioners rather than veterinarians. About half of dairy farmers used antibiotics to treat sick animals while the remaining portion applied it for various purposes like growth promotion and boosting of milk yield. More than two-third of the dairy farmers in the studied area were not aware of the adverse effects of antibiotics residue on human health. Similarly, a large portion of them (85.71%) were ignorant of the removal period. The results highlight the necessity for awareness training, strict implementation of antibiotic rules, and enhanced veterinary regulation to mitigate public health hazards rising from antibiotic residues in milk.