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Historical Aspects of Milk Consumption in South, Southeast, and East Asia


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1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
     

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Man has been using the milk of several animals, such as goat, sheep, cow, buffalo, horse, camel and donkey in different regions of the world since times immemorial. From the South, Southeast and East Asian viewpoint, cow, buffalo and goat milk are the most important. The contents of protein, fat, lactose and minerals differ considerably in milk from different animals. The per capita consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia is very low and one of the reasons ascribed for this is high lactose intolerance in ethnic groups present in these regions. However, there are indications that continued use of milk and living near dairy farms can lead to lower lactose tolerance. Also milk products, such as, cheese and yogurt can be taken, without concern for lactose. Low consumption of milk has been held to be partly responsible for low male heights in this region. Currently, there is considerable global interest in the use of dairy proteins as supplements to improve metabolic health in humans and this should attract the attention of the people in South, Southeast and East Asia. With the establishment of Asian Dairy Network (DAN) in 2012, a good progress has been made in increasing the consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia but it is still very low compared to other regions of the world. India has made commendable progress in dairy development and has emerged as the world's largest producer of milk, yet the per capita milk consumption is much lower than the average of the developed countries and it exports only 4% of its total produce. Indians used to be the major milk producers in Southeast Asia th th during 18 and 19 Century and it is high time that India seriously explores the ways and means of playing the key role in augmenting milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia. It has the advantage of being nearest to the region and of ethnic connectivity. Can India make the history repeat itself in its contribution towards milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia?
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  • Historical Aspects of Milk Consumption in South, Southeast, and East Asia

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Authors

Rajendra Prasad
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India

Abstract


Man has been using the milk of several animals, such as goat, sheep, cow, buffalo, horse, camel and donkey in different regions of the world since times immemorial. From the South, Southeast and East Asian viewpoint, cow, buffalo and goat milk are the most important. The contents of protein, fat, lactose and minerals differ considerably in milk from different animals. The per capita consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia is very low and one of the reasons ascribed for this is high lactose intolerance in ethnic groups present in these regions. However, there are indications that continued use of milk and living near dairy farms can lead to lower lactose tolerance. Also milk products, such as, cheese and yogurt can be taken, without concern for lactose. Low consumption of milk has been held to be partly responsible for low male heights in this region. Currently, there is considerable global interest in the use of dairy proteins as supplements to improve metabolic health in humans and this should attract the attention of the people in South, Southeast and East Asia. With the establishment of Asian Dairy Network (DAN) in 2012, a good progress has been made in increasing the consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia but it is still very low compared to other regions of the world. India has made commendable progress in dairy development and has emerged as the world's largest producer of milk, yet the per capita milk consumption is much lower than the average of the developed countries and it exports only 4% of its total produce. Indians used to be the major milk producers in Southeast Asia th th during 18 and 19 Century and it is high time that India seriously explores the ways and means of playing the key role in augmenting milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia. It has the advantage of being nearest to the region and of ethnic connectivity. Can India make the history repeat itself in its contribution towards milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia?

References