Antimicrobial Residues in Raw Milk of Mastits Cattle Treated with Ethnoveterinary Product: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Of all the infectious diseases of cattle, mastitis is the most predominant disease that affects the dairy cattle globally. Mastitis in cattle is common in laccating cattle but also recorded during dry period. The condition is caused by various infectious pathogens that not only affects the udder tissue but also the quality and quantity of the milk in the affected animal thus rendering huge economic loss to the farmer. Milk from mastitis treated cattle often contains residues of antimicrobials following their administration through different routes. As per the European Commission, antibiotic residues are “pharmacologically active substances and their metabolites which remain in foodstuffs obtained from animals to which the veterinary medicinal products have been administered.” Tetracyslines, Beta lactams and fluoroquinolones are the most common antibiotic residues detected in certain states of India. The present study was carried out to evaluate the presence of antimicrobial residues in the raw milk of mastitis affected cattle vis a vis antibiotic treated ones. 10 cattle with 18 affected quarters whose milk was found positive for Staphylococcus sps. and E.coli were treated with topical ethno-veterinary product, Herbolact for 3-5 days and milk samples were evaluated for the presence of antimicrobial residues on day 5,10 and 15. From the present study all the samples from the cattle that were treated with ethnoveterinary product were found negative for antimicrobial residues on day 5, 10 and 15.