Background and Aim: Antimicrobial residues are the parent compounds, their metabolites, and associated impurities of veterinary drugs in any edible portion of an animal product. It can result in severe consequences in human if it is consumed concentration level higher than the standard residue limits. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and its public health risk of antimicrobial residue in fresh beef meat at Bahir Dar and Debre Tabor towns, Northwest Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2017. The data were collected through interview questionnaire survey and laboratory experiment using Premi^® (R-Biopharm, Germany) test Kit. Data were entered; analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: The result of this study showed that almost all beef farms 42 (97.67%) were using tetracycline (oxytetracycline). In addition to β-lactams, (pinstripe) 21 (48.84%), and sulfonamides drugs including sulfadimidine and diminazene aceturate each 4 (9.30%). No one beef farm has respected drug withdrawal period and lack of awareness about antimicrobial side effects in 37 (86.05%) farms. Of 250 beef cattle slaughtered, antimicrobial residue positivity were 191 (76.4%) giving a 95% confidence interval of 71.10-81.70%. Origin of beef farm system was not significantly associated (p>0.05) with antimicrobial residue positivity.

Conclusion: Prevalence of antimicrobial residue in beef meat in Bahir Dar and Debre Tabor towns were high and also the drug residue detected was higher than the standard level. It implies that; it has the public health hazard.

Keywords: antimicrobial residue, beef, Ethiopia, withdrawal time.

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