India's Unique Dairy Industry

India hosts the largest dairy herd in the world and has been the leading dairy producer since 1997. This remarkable position is attributed to the unique political and cultural symbolism associated with cows in India, where the animal is revered and often described as sacred. Unlike dairy industries in many countries where milk production is not intrinsically linked to slaughter, the Indian context complicates this by prohibiting cow slaughter. As a result, the industry's economic operations, particularly concerning unproductive dairy animals, create a complex cycle of treatment and potential neglect that doesn't align with global norms.