Indian Cow vs Western Cow
MILK LADY PROJECT: NEWS LETTER VOL03: MAY 2018 - for better understanding milk in India -
Indian cow VS Western cow. Which gives better milk for you?
Do you know how an Indian cow is different from a cow in other countries, and why is it?
An Indian cow is generally small. It’s weight is 250-350 kg. The annual milk production is around 1,000 litre. On the other, a cow in western countries, such as in USA, is quite big. It’s weight reaches 600-800 kg and the annual milk production exceeds 6,000 litre. So, western cow is 2-3 times as big as, and produces 6 times more milk than an Indian cow.
The main factor is that animal species are different. An Indian cow is indigenous species, while western cow is generated through crossbreeding for generations.
Secondly, whereas a western cow gives milk for longer period: more than 300 days/year, an Indian cow does only 180-210 days/year. As you know, animals can give milk only when they have babies and/or are pregnant. This means that a western cow is given drug and get artificially pregnant which never happens in natural condition.
Thirdly, in western countries, a cow is fed more than required to live. Some chemical matters are added in foods to increase appetite, which caused over-weighted and fatty body. You can easily imagine that you could not stop eating if you are provided sweeter and good smelling foods, and you would not be healthy in the long run.
In short, western cow is a commercial animal, which is industrially treated. She is provided with lots of drugs, chemicals including antibiotics and growth hormone (see the FYI to know more information.) On the contrary, an Indian cow in rural village is “God” animal and naturally taken care of. For now, it can be said that Indian cow is probably better than western cow in providing milk with less risks from artificial & unnatural matters. You can get authentic milk as long as you buy it directly from villagers without intervention of milk man.
Anyway, it is highly recommended that you should pay much attention to get authentic milk for your health. Currently, Indian milk market has been being commercialized. Large companies begin to operate dairy farm where western cows are introduced and treated in western commercial way.
For Your Further Information
Is it safe to eat drink milk from animals which is provided with chemicals?
Antibiotics and growth hormone are a kind of chemicals, commonly used in livestock production in many countries. It effects animal body in several ways such as protecting disease and growing faster than normal. So, using such chemical makes profit for producers. Is it safe when people eat meat, drink milk from animals given such chemicals?
Some researchers explain it is OK, as long as the chemical are used in proper way. However, other says it is harmful when chemicals are overused and remain in products like meat and milk.
Here is a story in India. Poultry is the most commercialized in livestock sector in India. A few years ago, several state governments banned using antibiotics and growth hormone in poultry farms. Because the governments concluded it would be significant risk for consumer’s health. As results, some poultry farms failed business, leading increase of market prices of poultry. Do you agree with the governments’ decision?, or would you believe Indian merchants can use chemical properly, and you want cheaper poultry.
Similar thing is going to happen in dairy sector. If you want cheaper milk without paying attention to it’s quality and your health, milk producers will become commercialized industry which need to use chemicals. It depends on what you, as a consumer, think about and pay for.
In Milk lady Project, fresh milk is collected from villagers who take care of animals in non-commercial way. COATA thinks such fresh milk is valuable, and try to preserve traditional livestock in rural villages through creating a social business which benefit both consumers and producers, in short, for both of you and milk ladies.
