Around 3,000 litres of milk from Deoni cattle of four villages in Bhalki taluk of Bidar district will be marketed separately by Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).
Deoni cattle such as Saigon and Lakhangaon are grazed in the countryside as against being fed compounds/mixtures. They have local germplasm that suits the local environment, sources said adding that the National Dairy Research Institute had suggested popularising A2 milk for its digestible properties.
Sources said that a pilot project is being implemented at Bhalki, coming under Gulbarga Milk Union, under a Rs. 2 crore centrally-sponsored programme.
“We want this to be a model that can be popularised elsewhere, as there is a demand for A2 milk for its health benefits.
We will open separate procurement centres for collection of such milk.”
Deoni cows are reared in parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. At present, they are more of sentimental value for farmers as against commercial aspect since their milk yield is low. “The A2 milk fetches a minimum of Rs. 50 per litre in the market, but can go up to Rs. 80,” sources said.
There is a proposal before the government to provide Rs. 10 per litre as support price to these farmers as against Rs. 4 that they get now for the A1 milk.
