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a meeting of stakeholders held on September 9, 2019.
The survey finds that non-compliance on quality
parameters, particularly in processed milk is a matter
of concern.
Dr MK Taneja, a well known ENT Specialist said that
adulterated milk is at the root of diseases related to
lungs prevailing among new born.
ALARMING STATE OF CATTLE
More than the FSSAI report, the data released by the
Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation
(FIAPO) is alarming. It shows that humans who drink
milk increase their chances of developing heart dis- tle are sold to economically weaker farmers for their
A Food Safety and
Standards Authority
of India Survey report,
released recently
covering all Indian
States and UTs, points
out that about 41%
samples, fall short of
one or another quality
parameter or standard
ease, diabetes, cancer, and many other ailments. The
FIAPO report is titled “CATTLE-OGUE: Unveiling the
Truth of the Indian Dairy Industry”.
It is because of the horrifying state of cattle in 451
milk producing centres from India’s 10 leading milk
producing states and demands immediate attention
by the Centre and State Governments to regulate milk
producing dairies. The FIAPO’s investigative report
reveals how most cows raised in these dairies are
intensively confined, leaving them unable to fulfill
their most basic natural needs, such as nursing their
calves, and are treated like milk-producing machines,
pumped with antibiotics and hormones in order to
produce more milk.
While cows suffer in such set-ups, humans who
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drink their milk increase their chances of develop-
ing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other
ailments. The unorganized and unregulated upkeep
of dairy animals undoubtedly raises a question mark
on the safety of the milk that these dairies produce as
well as on the sustainability of India’s global leader-
ship of milk production.
Cattle are separated from calves (male calves die
within the first week in 25 per cent of dairies), receive
little to no veterinary care and are injected with drugs
procured illegally to induce sudden milk let-down in
almost 50 per cent of the dairies. Unproductive cat-
personal use or the slaughterhouses by 62.9 per cent
dairies — both at low prices to earn meager sums of
money from the final disposition.
Jersey, cross breeds and Holstein Friesian variety of
cattle have been genetically selected to produce un-
natural average output of 20 liters per milking per day
per animal! In order to meet the high milk production
targets, these animals are over-exploited thereby, re-
sulting in cruel dairy practices. Such practices also re-
duce the average lifespan of dairy cattle and increase
the risk of reproductive diseases and udder infections.
The life of a dairy cow lasts for an average of 10 years
in a dairy establishment as compared to 25 naturally!
The images of happy cows feeding on green pas-
tures are the perfect façade for a truly cruel and in-
creasingly space-deprived dairy industry. FIAPO’s
dairy investigation in 10 states of India reveals the
ugly truth behind the “White Revolution” of India,
where dairy cattle, especially in urban and peri -urban
areas, get little access to soft ground, spend their lives
in cramped, poorly ventilated and dark enclosures.
Moreover, many dairies were found to have ill, injured
and distressed cattle. Poor veterinary care and illegal
use of drugs and hormones like oxytocin to increase
the milk let-down are prevalent. Multiple wounds
were also observed. Thus, an evident delinking of
humane treatment of cattle as sentient beings is being
noticed as a result of the rising demand for milk and
milk products.
This situation persists mainly because all these
methods are considered “normal” and best practice
in terms of economic gain and cost cutting for profits,
by the dairy industry. The report calls for urgent and
strict implementation of the existing laws of animal
welfare as well as urban governance. It also highlights
the need for additional regulation in select areas
where there are significant violations of acceptable
conditions for dairy animals as well as growing civic
problems.
POOR INFRASTRUCTURE
Poor Infrastructure 25.1 per cent dairies had no ar-