India is the world's biggest milk producer - PHOTO+VIDEO

India is the world's biggest milk producer and all set to become the world's leading beef exportDairy industry is of crucial importance to India. The country is the world largest milk producer, accounting for more than 13% of world’s total milk production. It is the world’s largest consumer of dairy products, consuming almost 100% of its own milk production. Dairy products are a major source of cheap and nutritious food to millions of people in India and the only acceptable source of animalprotein for large vegetarian segment of Indian population, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women.Dairying has been considered as one of the activities aimed at alleviating the poverty and unemployment especially in the rural areas   in  the  rain- fed and drought-prone regions. In India, about three-fourth of the population live in rural areas and about 38% of them are poor. (Source: Dr K.G. Karmakar and Dr G.D. Banerjee)According to the United States Department of Agriculture, India is forecast to become the world’s leading beef exporter in 2012 due to an expanding dairy herd, efficiency improvements, increased slaughter and price-competitiveness in the international market particularly vis-à-vis Brazil. India’s exports are exclusively deboned frozen buffalo meat (carabeef) which is included in USDA’s global estimates of beef (bovine) meat production. According to the most recent Indian Livestock Census (2007), buffalo comprise approximately one-third of the bovine herd.  Buffalo are preferred to cattle due to their adaptability to climatic conditions and high milk fat content as dairy production fuels the bovine sector.  Federal law prohibits the slaughter of all cattle (male and female) as well as productive (in milk) bovines (cattle and buffalo). Thus beef/carabeef production is driven by buffalo slaughter which is allowed, albeit restricted to males and unproductive females.Inside the Indian dairy industry: a PETA-report on the abuse of cows and buffaloes exploited for milkPETA India's undercover investigation of several dairy farms revealed shocking cruelty to cows and buffaloes. Tabelas – animal factories with no provisions for health care or animal welfare – are steadily replacing small family farms.Buffaloes in Delhi's main dairy facility stand knee-deep in foul-smelling excrement, suffering from skin infections, foot disease and other illnesses. Garbage is piled up everywhere. Drainage, electricity and designated waste disposal sites are lacking.In Mumbai, calves are tightly tethered on short ropes in order to prevent them from reaching their mothers, but in their struggle to get free, they often become entangled in the ropes and strangle themselves. One dairy owner reported that half the calves die shortly after birth.(occupyforanimals.org)ANN.Az