[This post is a reaction on strengthening of laws banning beef trade in India]
There exists a ‘cattle-racist’ tendency among our society to discriminate between cows and buffaloes. This sentiment manifests as regional laws geared towards preferential treatment of cows. Thus, beef (cow-meat) trade is banned but carabeef (buffalo-meat) trade is permitted. Over time, the practice of this law (and our palate for hig-fat milk) has led to ‘buffaloization’ of India’s cattle spectrum.
Lets assume that economics drives most of the decision making in a free market. With this assumption it becomes preferable for a farmer to rear buffalo for milk, as it can be sold to the slaughterhouse when it grows old and(or) turns un-productive, thus generating extra income. Whereas, since the unproductive cows cannot be sold for slaughter, there would be an extra-cost associated with it. Thus over time the market would favor production of buffaloes. In fact, most of the cattle dense states (PB, HR, UP, AP) already have more buffaloes than cows! Pure cow milk, today, is difficult to find in the market.
Thus, rather than strengthening the old laws which discriminate between buffaloes and cows, there needs to be a plan such that India’s cattle diversity is maintained. India needs a strategic cattle policy.
There exists a ‘cattle-racist’ tendency among our society to discriminate between cows and buffaloes. This sentiment manifests as regional laws geared towards preferential treatment of cows. Thus, beef (cow-meat) trade is banned but carabeef (buffalo-meat) trade is permitted. Over time, the practice of this law (and our palate for hig-fat milk) has led to ‘buffaloization’ of India’s cattle spectrum.
Lets assume that economics drives most of the decision making in a free market. With this assumption it becomes preferable for a farmer to rear buffalo for milk, as it can be sold to the slaughterhouse when it grows old and(or) turns un-productive, thus generating extra income. Whereas, since the unproductive cows cannot be sold for slaughter, there would be an extra-cost associated with it. Thus over time the market would favor production of buffaloes. In fact, most of the cattle dense states (PB, HR, UP, AP) already have more buffaloes than cows! Pure cow milk, today, is difficult to find in the market.
Thus, rather than strengthening the old laws which discriminate between buffaloes and cows, there needs to be a plan such that India’s cattle diversity is maintained. India needs a strategic cattle policy.
