What are gir cows and how do we domesticate them?

/in

What are gir cows:

Gyr or Gir cows are indian indigenous cow breeds which originated in the state of Indian state of Gujarat. Gir cows are also known as Desan, Bhodah, Gujarati, Kathiawari, Sorthi and Surti.

Scientific name is Bos primigenius indicus. This breed is widely known  for its A2 milk production.

Gir cow Identity:

  • Head and body structure:

Gir cows’ heads are big and horns are curved.

  • Color: The color of gir cow is usually red. But sometimes spotted. Black color is rare. It is also seen with combination colors.
  • Hump: They do have a bulgy hump but the bulge is not more than their heads. Their hump is similar to the hump of camels. 
  • Tail: Usually their tails are longer and could be 3/5th of their actual height. 
  • Ear: Gir cows have long ears compared to other desi breeds which make this breed easily identifiable. 

  • Height and weight: Gir cows are taller and heavier. Their height can be as high as 130 to 150 cms and can weigh upto 450 to 500 kgs. 

Feeding of Gir cows: 

The most fabulous part is gir cows are few of those cow breeds who eat less and yield more. When it comes to desi cows they usually eat 30 kg of green fodder and 10 kg of dry fodder in a day but gir eat less than this amount.

But this diet increases when they are lactating or during pregnancy. 

Yielding of Gir cow:

A gir cow produces 15 to 18 liters of milk in a day during their lactation period. On an average gir cow produces 1200 to 1600 liters of milk in a year as they give milk for 270 to 300 days of year. 

Taking care of Gir cows:

Regular check ups and monitoring of cows are essential for their health. Timely vaccinations are important to prevent seasonal viruses and bacteria based ailments. Special care is also required when it comes to pregnancy. 

Behavior of Gir cows:

Gir cows are very social. They love to be around humans. Usually they are polite and gentle. However, if they are mishandled they could be aggressive too.

Ancient use and relevance of pure vedic ghee

/in

One of the hymns of the Rg Veda praises ghee. The vedas called the ghee ‘the first and the most essential of all foods’. Whether it is health or rituals, pure vedic ghee has been a pivotal element since ages in India.

Origin of ghee:

Earlier in ancient India when domestication of cows started, our ancestors started consuming butter prepared from milk. However, it turns rancid due to India’s hot weather conditions. Hence, in terms of improving shelf life of their palatable butter they started clarifying it and the ghee is prepared for the first time in history. 

What is Pure Vedic Ghee:

The Ghee which is produced from the milk of grass fed A2 cows and made through bilona churning method is called pure vedic ghee. This ghee has innumerable health benefits.

Power of Ghee:

A2 Milk is easily digestible than A1. Indigenous breeds of cow like Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Gir, Rathi are the types of breeds which give this elixir called A2 milk.

It has following miraculous benefits:

  • It boosts immunity and gives you a healthy life.
  • Facilitate skin and hair.
  • It has digestive benefits. 
  • Helps in burns and injuries. 
  • Helps in vata and pitta dosha.
  • It maintains the overall health of the body.
  • It gives you vitamin A, K, E and D.

Shelf life:

Ghee can be stored for indefinite time. In the ancient era when there were limited resources available for storage of yellow gold alias ghee, our ancestors used copper or brass vessels and earthenware jars, clay pots to store this yellow gold. These vessels were generally sealed with wax or dough to ensure air tightness which imparts longer shelf life. 

Ghee has a high smoke point and low moisture-containing tendency due to which it can be stored at room temperature without any refrigeration for several months in cool and dark places.

Where to buy pure vedic ghee:

Although, there are various places you can get the pure vedic ghee but guarantee is rare about the purity. In recent days, lots of people have started making money in the name of pure vedic ghee. One should always be vigilant about the source and procurement of the ghee. Here at The Gau Company we have our own farm where we domesticate Hundreds of cows so that we can supply purity with guarantee.

How A2 milk can save you from potential health risk

/in

A2 milk has come out as a savior for those who are lactose intolerant. Apart from this, A2 milk still has lactose and milk protein, which gives all the health benefits to its consumer. At the same time there are many health risks which are caused due to A1 milk.

In this article we will find out what are the potential health risks of A1 milk.

Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks cells which are producing insulin. Genetic and environmental changes as well as diet is responsible for this. Type 1 diabetes is occurring in children and teenagers too. Some studies are suggesting that people who consume A1 milk are at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Heart Diseases: Some researchers have found that in rabbits the levels of cholesterol are quite different, when they are fed with A1 and A2 protein. Similarly, some reaserchers associated A1 protein with higher rates of heart diseases.

Cancer: High calcium intake consumed with dairy products are associated with possible increased risk of overian cancer in women and high calcium intake regardless of sources cause prostrate cancer in men.

Brain function: A few researchers showed that A1 milk could impact brain functions. Result was better in A2 milk.

Henceforth, we can say it is always safe and easy use A2 milk when it comes to you and your family’s health.

A2 Milk- health or hype?

/in

Human beings have been enjoying the goodness of animal milk since the time immemorial. Whether it is cow, goat, sheep, camels etc. We are also having other plant based alternatives of milk like almond, soy, flax and hemp milk. In recent years, the milk market heard about  A2 milk which scientists and consumers found interesting.

In this article we will figure out whether A2 milk is about health or just hype.

Well, there are 2 major proteins which are found in milk: Casein and Whey. Casein is that substance which is responsible for 80% of the milk protein and we also have various types of casein, one of which is called Beta casein. Beta casein carries 30% of the cow milk protein. Earlier, there was only A2 protein but later because of mutation A1 protein is also found in the milk. Today, most of the milk you see around is A1 only.

What we get today is the mixture of A1 and A2 milk. A1 can cause stomach discomfort.

When A1 protein enters into the small intestine, it produces a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). The intestines then absorb BCM-7, and it then passes into the blood. Researchers found a link between BCM-7 to stomach discomfort and symptoms similar to those people with lactose intolerance.

A2 protein is more comparable to human breast milk, milk from goats, sheep, and buffalo.

A study by Trusted Sources on Chinese adults self-reported milk intolerance compared the effects of drinking regular milk that contained A1 and A2 proteins with A2-only milk on intestinal function, stomach discomfort, and inflammation.The participants consumed 8 oz of milk twice a day for 2 weeks. They reported worse stomach pain after they consumed the regular milk but no change in symptoms after they drank the A2 milk.

A1 milk consumption caused the symptoms of stomach discomfort, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea after dairy products, which are typically attributed to lactose intolerance. However, some researchers believe that it is BCM-7, not lactose, that affects digestion and produces symptoms similar to lactose intolerance, in some people.

Beta Casein Protein of A1 and A2 Milk and its Impact on Human health

/in

Milk is essential to all age groups of human beings. It has roughly 87% of water and the rest of 13% is lactose, sugar, protein, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals in it.

What is Beta Casein?

Casein is the major component of the milk protein of which 30% is Beta Casein. Beta Casein has 2 kinds of variants namely A1 and A2. Beta casein consists of a chain of 229 amino acids.

5000 years ago, India had only indigenous breeds of cows and buffaloes. These breeds already were giving us A2 milk. But because of mutation in these proline amino acids, it later converted to histidine. This mutation created 13 variants in which A1 and A2 are most common.

Now, how this is impacting our health. Basically, when A1 Beta casein breaks down inside the intestine it produces beta casomorphin-7 (BCM 7) which is an opioid peptide similar to morphine. BCM 7 interacts with the human gastrointestinal tract, brain stems and internal organs. BCM 7 harms the immune response and this is also considered as a risk factor of chronic heart diseases and juvenile insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.  

While A2 Milk is easily digestible than A1. Indigenous breeds of cow like Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Gir, Rathi are the types of breeds which give this elixir called A2 milk.

Gir Cow A2 Ghee© The Gau Company. All Rights Reserved.

Benefits of Gir Cow Ghee

/in

Gir cow is an Indian native breed mostly found in Gujarat and Maharashtra States in India. This cow has a unique feature that it gives milk with A2 protein which makes it different from other breeds. When we talk about physical features, it has hump, spiraling horns, dome-like head and long ears. Daily yielding is around 8 to 10 liters per day, which is why A2 milk and Ghee is costly.

What is ‘Gir Cow Desi Ghee’ or ‘A2 Ghee’?

Ghee which is only made by using Gir cow milk is called Gir cow Desi ghee or A2 ghee.

Why is A2 ghee costlier than other ghee available in the market? What is the bilona method?

It takes 25 to 30 liters of milk to prepare 1 kg of Gir cow desi ghee plus we prepare ghee using bilona method. Bilona method is an ancient way of making ghee in which we first set the curd then churn the curd. After churning the curd we get makkhan, this makkhan is then heated which finally gives Desi gir cow ghee. Obviously, the quantity of milk it takes and the extra effort we exert for the bilona method makes it costlier.

What are the benefits of A2 gir cow desi ghee?

The Ayurvedic texts e.g. Charak Samhita has already mentioned innumerable benefits of desi cow ghee. Some of them are as follows:

  • Boost immunity: Desi gir cow ghee is well known for its property of improving immunity which keeps us away from multiple health problems.
  • Facilitate skin and hair: Desi gir cow ghee is a natural moisturizer which moisturizes the body internally and externally which leads to shiny and healthy skin. It gives strength to hair roots.
  • Digestive benefits: According to ayurveda if we want to keep our body healthy we should have our digestive system healthy. This ghee keeps our digestive system healthy by keeping necessary microbes in our gastrointestinal tract alive.
  • Helps in burns and injuries: Gir cow desi ghee has miraculous benefits of curing cuts, wounds and injuries of the skin. in ancient times, it was being used to cure the same.
  • Helps in Vata and pitta dosha: Ayurvedic texts claim that this Ghee helps in maintaining balance between vata and pitta. 
  • Maintains overall health: Ghee contains calcium, phosphorus, rich fats and potassium which helps to maintain blood pressure. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is an important acid that lowers bad cholesterol thus it improves overall heart health.
  • Gir cow ghee is rich in vital elements like Vitamin A, E, D and K which increase your body’s defensive mechanism against various infections. Apart from strengthening your immunity, this ghee also promotes heart and brain health.

Why do we need calcium?

/in

Since time immemorial, our ancestors have already known the extreme importance of milk for humans. Right from childhood, we hear that we must drink milk regularly. It has an important mineral called calcium in it, which makes it vital for growth and bone health. Our bone is a living tissue that breaks down and regenerates itself periodically. It’s obvious to ensure good health, we need to supply calcium to our bodies through our food. In this post, we will further see how important calcium is for us and how to get it in the right way.

How much calcium does the body require?

It is recommended in a day is 1000 mg amount of calcium for men aged 19 to 70 and women aged 18 to 50. This recommendation varies when it comes to pregnant women as their requirements are a little higher. If your body doesn’t have enough calcium, it may lead to brittle bones and teeth. Moreover, if calcium deficiency continues, the body will start stealing calcium from bones.

What does calcium do in our bodies?

Calcium is a mineral of which 99% is stored in our bones and the rest is in blood and tissues. Calcium also helps in blood clotting, and muscle contraction and maintains heart as well as nerve health.

How much calcium can milk provide?

A glass of milk can give 300 mg of calcium. Some vegetables are also high in calcium content, like okra, nuts, dark leafy green vegetables, and some seeds.

Which diet is calcium-rich?

Cow milk is easily absorbed into our bodies. Calcium also needs vitamin D to be absorbed. Whenever our body is exposed to sunlight, our skin itself produces vitamin D. Some foods are also rich in vitamin D, like egg yolks and mushrooms.

The Gau Company Farm Gir Cows 18© The Gau Company. All Rights Reserved.

Why is A2 milk costlier than regular milk?

/in

Milk is essential for everyone one, especially when it comes to tea, coffee. Even children love milk glass along with some of their favourite flavours. People of all ages love to have milk. But, adulteration is a rising concern which necessitates us to think twice before consuming milk.

People often question our pricing, so in this article we will discuss the hidden reason behind. Cow hygiene, health, fodder, nature friendly packaging and delivery to your doorstep are the major factors behind the price.

Unlike any other breed of cows, Desi Gir cows need little extra care. In terms of maintaining the best milk quality we give them organic fodder and fresh water. They need grasslands to graze, sunlight and natural environment. We also ensure regular health checkups for our beloved gir cows.

The onus is on their good fodder only as we don’t use any hormone for high milk production. The outcome of this care and love is nutritious A2 milk from Gir cows.

We collect the milk and deliver it to your doorstep in a glass bottle. Handling a glass bottle is costlier than a plastic packet. They are fragile in nature and reverse logistics are also needed because of re-usability of bottles.

These all are the factors that constitute the price of our A2 milk.

A2 Milk Facts to Know

/in

People nowadays are more health conscious than ever before. Everyone wants to be healthy and fit. So, demands for such kinds of products have surged in recent times. In the same context we are hearing a lot about Desi Gir cow A2 Milk.

What is it? Where does it come from? What are the real benefits? 

All the answers are here inside this post.

Difference between A1 and A2 Milk

Basically, any milk is made up of two components i.e. calcium and protein. The 80% of milk protein is formed by Casein, which is further bifurcated in two types named A1 and A2. The milk which has A2 beta casein is known as A2 type of milk. The fresh Gir A2 cow A2 milk is slightly yellowish in colour and naturally sweet in taste.

How A2 Milk is beneficial for health?

The A2 beta casein of the milk breaks down into amino acids that leads to faster digestion. It also contains different nutrients such as calcium, potassium, selenium and various vitamins. These all help in maintaining and improving good cholesterol and nurturing the human body. Research has shown better results in children also, as it helps them to grow in a faster manner and improve their body and brain.

Curd produced from A2 milk has probiotics which are well known for healthy gut bacteria and a good digestive system. Consumption of A2 milk for a prolonged time helps to improve kidney health, migraine, thyroid, reduces acidity, joint pain and overall health.

Where does A2 milk come from?

A2 milk comes from Desi Gir breed of cows which is our indigenous cow breed. 

These Gir cows with humps deliver A2 cow milk. It is also necessary that the milk you consume must be unadulterated.

Why A2 Milk is essential to everyone!

/in

When we first hear about the word A2, it triggers our mind to think about it. Well, A2 is a specific protein that is found in Gir cow milk while A1 is another type of protein which is found on other classes of bovine. A1 and A2 milk types have exhibited their different digestive natures. A2 milk protein makes Gir cow milk easy digestible compared to the A1 milk.

Many researches have shown, consuming A1 milk for a long time can affect the human body in many ways like, type 1 diabetes, deposition of cholesterol, some cases of autism and neurological problems. We can say Gir cow milk can become an elixir to human life. This nutritive milk imparts those proteins that cannot be produced by the human body.

Our body seeks such kinds of protein so it is important to introduce this to our diet, in the forms of our everyday dairy products.

It is also necessary that the milk which is reaching to your doorstep is pure, organic, unadulterated and fresh Gir Cow A2 milk. Daily consumption of this milk will improve your physical and mental health thoroughly. Your body will start receiving balanced minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, potassium and vitamins like A, B2, B12 and D.