Cross-breed cow’s milk unhealthy: Study

Charanjit Singh Teja

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 6

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) claimed that milk of non-desi cow (cross-breeds) cause cancer, heart attack and diabetes. However, the university did not conduct any research in this regard, but boards were displayed to promote the Sahiwal cattle during a seminar at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

While comparing the Sahiwal cattle with cross-breed cows, GADVASU claimed, “Cross breed cow’s milk contains BCM7 which causes cancer, heart attack and diabetes.”

Several speakers informed the farmers that the milk of non-desi cows (Holstein Friesians cross (HFC) and jersey) have devours effects’ on human health.

But contrary to these statements, the Punjab Livestock Development Board claimed to deliver over 30 lakh inseminations per annum of non-desi breeds in the state in their leaflets distributed during the seminar.

Dr Parkash Singh, director, Livestock Farm, GADVASU, said: “There are two different types of protein in cow milk i.e. Type 1 and Type 2. The milk of cross breed containsType 2. But we did not conduct any research that how harmful is Type 2. A research fellow submitted a project in this regard recently.”

As per the recent cattle census, total number of cows in the state is 24.27 lakh, of these 20.64 lakh cows are cross-breed and 3.63 lakh are indigenous breeds. The number of Sahiwal cows in the state is only 42,000.

Dr Harish Verma, director, Extension, GADVASU, said, “The vet university hasn’t conducted any research in this regard, but literature supports the fact. So, we have displayed the boardsclaiming that milk ofcross-breed cows causes cancer, heart attack and diabetes.”