India’s love for milk and dairy products is no secret; they have been part of our daily diets for centuries. What traditionally began as the simple domestication of cattle for household milk needs has now evolved into a massive dairy industry that stretches from small family-run farms to large-scale corporations. Today, this sector is far more than just milk on our tables, it fuels 4.5% of India’s GDP, valued at nearly ₹10 lakh crore, thereby ranking India the largest milk producer in the world. 

But beneath this success lies a less visible risk, the quiet rise of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in our dairy farms, which could threaten both animal productivity and public health.

The Perfect Conditions for Resistance

Overcrowded sheds, poor sanitation, and limited preventive care create the ideal breeding ground for infections in dairy cattle. To bridge gaps in hygiene and veterinary access, farmers often rely on antimicrobials for both prevention and treatment. While these drugs may solve the problem in the short term, overuse and misuse help bacteria adapt, making future infections harder (and costlier) to treat in both animals and humans.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) suggests up to 70% of mastitis cases are preventable through good hygiene, yet it is often treated with antibiotics, sometimes without proper diagnosis or dosage guidance.

Small Farms, Big Gaps

Unlike many countries where large-scale commercial supply chains dominate, India’s milk demands are largely met by numerous small dairy holdings clustered across the country. Only a fraction of this milk supply is processed through regulated, organized channels. The majority flows through the unorganized rural network, where oversight is minimal and farm-management practices vary widely. 

In most settings, farmers turn to peer advice or local pharmacists when animals fall sick. Antibiotics are readily purchased over the counter, without prescriptions. Sometimes, mixtures of antibiotics are administered without any diagnosis. Awareness of withdrawal periods, the time that should pass between the last antibiotic dose and when the milk can be sold, is extremely low. As a result, milk containing antibiotic residues often enters the market, unnoticed and untested.

From the farmer’s perspective, there is little immediate incentive to use antibiotics sparingly or to withhold milk during treatment. The economic loss from discarding milk can seem more tangible than the long-term, invisible threat of AMR.

Mastitis, a common udder infection in dairy cattle, is a case in point. 

The infection is caused when the teats of cows are exposed to pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Escherichia coli. These same bacterial species are categorized as ESKAPE pathogens, which are known to cause deadly AMR infections in humans.

In India, the disease takes a significant economic toll. For instance, a high-yielding cow suffering from mastitis can experience a 3-4 kg reduction in daily milk yield, translating to Rs. 306 to Rs. 458 per cow, per day, in lost income for farmers. Added to this are losses of Rs. 150 to 200  from milk discarded during the treatment (DAHD, 2025). According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), mastitis cases can be reduced through good cattle management that prevents infections, coupled with the planned use of antibiotics.

However in much of rural India, antibiotics are frequently used without veterinary diagnosis, correct dosage, or consideration of withdrawal periods. This reliance on unregulated antibiotic use not only undermines preventive approaches but also accelerates the development of AMR in dairy farms.

The missing numbers

Perhaps the most troubling aspect is the lack of data. There is no centralized system tracking antibiotic use in India’s dairy sector. What little is known comes from sporadic, small-scale studies, and anecdotal reports. A shortage of trained veterinarians further compounds the issue. In many districts, a single vet may be responsible for multiple villages, implying an inadequate vet to farm ratio. 

Where Do We Go from Here?

India’s dairy farmers work tirelessly to meet the country’s nutritional needs often under challenging conditions. Addressing AMR is not about blaming them but ensuring they have the knowledge, tools, and support to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. A collaborative approach, bringing together farmers, veterinarians, policymakers, and consumers, can ensure that milk remains both abundant and safe, without compromising the medicines we rely on. This is an opportunity to safeguard both livelihoods and public health. 

One key intervention is strengthening biosecurity on dairy farms.

Farm biosecurity is considered a core pillar of OneHealth approach, which recognizes that the health of people, animals, and the environment are all connected, and aims to protect and improve all three together. Biosecurity measures could be simple farm management practices, like keeping sick animals separated, maintaining hygiene, and controlling movement, that prevent diseases from spreading, without using medicines or special feed additives. Effective biosecurity lowers disease incidence and thus reduces reliance on antimicrobials. However, the current baseline is low. A study conducted in Ludhiana, Punjab, reported mean biosecurity scores that provide an assessment of farm compliance with hygiene and disease prevention measures of less than 50% for dairy farms, indicating substantial scope for improvement. 

Beyond its health benefits, biosecurity makes economic sense. In Belgium, a targeted training programme demonstrated annual savings of up to €7.68 per sow through improved biosecurity. Investing in biosecurity is therefore not just a public health measure, it is also a long-term economic strategy for sustaining India’s dairy sector.

The Milk Question We All Need to Ask

For generations, milk has been a symbol of nourishment in India. But if we don’t address the hidden risks in how it’s produced, we risk undermining both our health and one of our most trusted food sources. Every dose of antibiotics misused on a farm is a step toward a world where our medicines no longer work, and protecting them starts with better farming practices.

The next time we pour a glass of milk, perhaps the more important question isn’t where it came from, but whether it was produced in a way that protects our health, our environment, and the medicines we depend on.

In collaboration with research scholars from CSIR-IMTECH and veterinary experts from GADVASU, our campaign “Resisting AMR: One Farm at a Time” is reaching dairy farms in Ludhiana to promote better hygiene, responsible antibiotic use, and farmer awareness. Supported by the Trinity Challenge AMR Youth Competition 2025, we are working directly with rural communities to put the solutions into action.