There are no second chances. The implications for consumers and processors have a trickle down effect for producers, in the form of price received for milk. However, more immediate costs to producers include the dumping of contaminated vat milk and non-payment of quota milk. On the farm, antibiotics find their way into milk vats in a number of ways. A surprising number of recently treated dried off cows somehow return to the main herd unnoticed by the milkers and are milked into the vat.
Most antibiotics have a withholding period.
Many enter the bloodstream so footrot treatments and even small injected doses for pinkeye can lead to antibiotic residues in the milk. Weekend milking Many violations occur on a Monday because the weekend milker is not aware that one of the cows has been treated with antibiotics and her milk should be withheld from the vat. This may occur because the cow was not identified, the markings were lost, the identification system was not explained clearly or the milker was not paying attention. It is not uncommon for the test bucket to overflow during milking. This may occur because the bucket is too small, it is not emptied between cows or it is laid on its side.