The growing incidence of lifestyle diseases is a warning to us. We are victims of the commercialization and so is our indigenous breed of cows. The desi Indian cow is a very unique species and needs to be conserved. The best way to recognize them is the hump on their back and long horns. It is said that the rays of sun enter the body of the cow through the hump which makes their milk, dung, and urine medicinal. If they are not exposed to the sun, they will not get the Vitamin D required to produce calcium in milk. The health effects of milk may depend on the breed of cow it came from.

Currently, A2 milk is being marketed as a healthier choice than regular milk. During my research period, I have met with so many important and knowledgeable field persons in dairy business. Here are some views on what they think about what is A1 and A2.

Joint Secretary Dairy Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Rajni Sekhri Sibal said, Milk and Milk products are an important component of the Indian diet. Milk is considered as nature’s perfect food and is an important source of nutrients including high-quality protein, calcium, and micronutrients.

More than 95 percent of cow milk proteins comprise of caseins and whey proteins. Among the caseins, beta caseins is the second most abundant protein and has an excellent nutritional balance of amino acid. Some health problems including coronary heart disease and type 1 diabetes are believed to be associated with a tiny protein fragment, which is formed when A1 beta-casein, a mutated protein found in the milk of some cattle, is digested. Milk that does not contain this mutated protein (A1) is called A2 milk. Studies conducted on Bos indicus, the native indigenous breeds of cattle, have revealed that they possess A2 allele which expresses itself as A2  milk, hence a source for safe milk.

Article by:- Dr. Amod Sane