A survey on veterinary drug use and residues in milk in Hyderabad

A survey on veterinary drug use and residues in milk was carried out in Hyderabad (India) and surrounding suburban villages. Mastitis was the most common disease reported; oxytocin and oxytetracycline were frequently used in veterinary formulations. Of 205 milk samples analysed, 9% of market samples and 73% of individual animal milk samples contained oxytetracycline residues. None of the government dairy samples contained oxytetracycline residues. Maximum oxytetracycline consumption through milk was calculated to be 0.045 mg/kg bw/day. The levels ranged from 0.2 to 1.4 micrograms/ml in market milk samples and from 0.2 to 6.7 micrograms/ml in samples obtained from individual buffaloes. It was found that the oxytetracycline residues affect curd setting, the extent depending on the amount of residue.