To treat or not to treat Just as in human medicine, antibiotics can serve as a useful treatment tool when a dairy animal becomes sick. Still, just as in human medicine, we must do our best to avoid the overuse of specific antibiotics which could lead to the development of resistant bacteria. Using antibiotics appropriately on the farm also has implications for keeping residues out of milk and meat. Further, dairy managers must consider the cost of the treatment and if it will provide maximum effectiveness for the animal’s condition. All of these factors lead to a question farmers face often...