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Organic Dairy Farming in the Context of Antibiotic Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health problems especially in developing countries where relatively easy availability and higher consumption of medicines have lead to disproportionately higher incidence of inappropriate use of antibiotics and greater levels of resistance compared to developed countries (WHO, 1996). The use of medicines, especially antibiotics, in livestock and dairy animals is essential for disease prevention and treatment. However, excessive or improper use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, where bacteria become resistant to drugs, making infections harder to treat. This not only affects animal health but also poses serious risks to humans through residues in milk, meat, and the environment (Smith & Jones, 2019). Organic milk production plays an important role in reducing antibiotic resistance by strictly limiting the use of antibiotics in dairy farming. In organic dairy systems, routine, preventive, and growth-promoting use of antibiotics is prohibited (FAO, 2011; APEDA, 2023).