One plant alone processed over 4 million pounds of contaminated milk in 1988 which probably doesn't nearly account for all milk lost.
Antibiotic residues can be a very expensive problem.
The first line of defense for dairymen is to carefully observe the proper handling and use of drugs and milk withdrawal times for antibiotics. When a volume of milk whether it be a bulk tank, a truckload, or a plant silo has been contaminated, the legal options for disposal become limited and sometimes expensive. Some of these options are highlighted in this article. The most desirable option for a dairyman is to send contaminated milk to a plant where it can be processed for beneficial use in animal feeds. Cabarrus Creamery has provided this service for several years and was relicensed in 1989 to continue.