CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, July 10: As there has been a rise in the import of exotic breeds of cows such as Jersey Cow into India, many entrepreneurs in Ranchi have tendered to do farming of the native breed of Gir cow as it produces A2 milk.
The most widely used and available milk, A1, is obtained from cows of Western origin, such as Holstein, Jersey, etc., and produces a lot of milk. The milk produced by cows of Indian descent, such as Gir, Sahiwal, etc., is known as A2 milk.
The Gir cattle are one of the principal Zebu or Bos indicus breeds in India and have been used locally in the improvement of other breeds. The Gir hills and woods of Kathiawar are the natural range of Gir cattle, which covers the Gujarati districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, and Rajkot. The Gir forest, the breed’s natural habitat, is where the name of the breed comes from.
A Gir bull typically weighs 545 kg, while cows weigh 385 kg on average.
Nandani Kumari, Asst. Professor and junior scientist, Dept. of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Ranchi Veterinary College, BAU, has said that there are multiple benefits of A2 milk as compared to A1 and it should be promoted more.
“A2 milk is abundant in A2 protein, a vital component of everything from skin and blood to muscle tissue and other body tissues. It is most well known for having a lot of calcium, which supports bone development and repair in the body. Additionally, osteoporosis, or the weakening of bones, is treated and prevented with it. “Many efficient acid reflux therapies also contain calcium,” she said.
“A litre of A2 milk can cost anywhere between Rs. 150 and Rs. 200. A1 milk is harmful to humans as it causes a lot of diseases in children, such as diabetes,” she added.
She further explained why it is important to keep Gir cows and other native breeds of cows instead of exotic breeds of cows.
“Conservation of Gir cows is important as the expense of keeping a cross-bred cow is much higher than a native breed. Crossbred cows have a high mortality rate and cannot withstand high temperatures. They are also prone to both ectoparasites and endoparasites. Their immunity is quite low as compared to Gir cows,” she further added.
She added that the Gir cow is one of the biggest assets for farmers as they have a higher fertility rate and produce an average of 10 calves in its lifespan. The breed is highly adaptable and can adjust to many habitat conditions.
