Antibiotic‐resistantEsch. coliwere found in 10.6% of milk samples collected from 998 farms in the west of Scotland. The incidence of bothEsch. coliand antibiotic‐resistantEsch. coliin milk was higher when the cattle were housed day and night than when they were outdoors. Of the 1125Esch. coliisolates tested 22.2% were antibiotic resistant and of these 42.4% were resistant to more than one antibiotic.Escherichia colicarrying up to six resistance determinants were isolated. The possible implications to animal and human health are discus