1Arpita Mohapatra, 2Shakti Ranjan Panigrahy
1Scientist, ICAR- CSWRI, Avikanagar, Malpura, Tonk, Rajasthan
2Assistant Professor, International Agribusiness Management Institute, AAU, Anand, Gujarat
Corresponding Author: panigrahy.shakti@gmail.com
Introduction:
Operation flood of 1970 transformed India from a milk deficient nation to world’s largest milk producer. The per capita availability of milk has been increasing in a geometric fashion; the dairy farmers particularly the livestock animal rearers achieved a self-sustainable income. Paradox is that the nutritional and livelihood security of small ruminant rearers which accounts 15 percent of total rural households of country and among them 70 percent are small, marginal and landless farmers are completely ignored in this reform. Mostly farmers of semi-arid, arid climatic region and mountain areas of India rear sheep integrate to their livelihood. It has advantage over large ruminants in terms of feed requirement, adaptability, disease occurrence, less space requirement, feed conversion efficiency, etc. Sheep is just like a ATM (Any Time Milk) option for the rearers, give them another advantage over large livestocks.
Sheep milk is a delicious substitute for large section of society. Its potential health benefits include reducing inflammation, boosting bone health, reduction of blood cholesterol levels, skin health etc. Sheep milk market can be segmented on the basis of milk type which includes liquid milk, milk powder, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream etc. it can also be segmented on the basis of its application like for child, aged and adult.
Sheep Milk Segmentation:
Sheep milk market is internationally popular for its nutritional and neutraceutical prominence. The global sheep milk market is mainly concentrated in New Zealand, North America and Europe. The well known dairy sheep breeds include Lacaune, Chios, Sarada, East Friesion and Awassi. Mostly sheep milk is used for production of cheese i.e. world famous Feta and Roquefort and some kinds of yogurt. Factors like growing population, dynamic lifestyle, and emergence of new chronic diseases forced public to explore health foods. Due to the richness of essential minerals like calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, vitamins sheep milk is a treasure of nutrients. Globally sheep milk segmented as per product type and customer’s choice. Depending upon the age of a person he/she can choose the portion of sheep milk. Apart from milk, cheese and yogurt sheep milk has a remarkable utilisation in bath and beauty product. In near future, sheep milk is going to create its own segment in neutraceutical world.
The superiority of sheep milk over other dairy animals due to its higher total solid content (improves the product quality), rich in fat content (higher CLA and MUFA and PUFA improves the heart health) and significant mineral and vitamin content (serve as immune boosters). Sheep milk has twice milk fat compared to cow milk. Owing to the presence of large quantity of fat which adds to butter like taste many a time it is blended with cow milk to harvest both health stuff as well as taste. Lot many anecdotal evidences in Indian village shows its uses in arthritis cases and bone injury. This might be due to the abundance of calcium in sheep milk which is approximately 36 percent and 31 percent more than cow and goat milk respectively. It is a concentrated source of vitamin C which is normally deficient in cow milk. Another impressive impact of sheep milk is its role in preventing atherosclerosis; which contributes about 50 percent of total deaths in developed countries.
Conclusion:
The major challenges in Indian are non-availability of dairy breeds; but functional aspect of sheep milk cannot be neglected. Sheep milk is India is usually preferred by nomads. During their migratory way of life sheep milk serve as an ideal food. The recommended daily intake for an adult person per day is at least 60 g of animal protein and 800–1000 mg of calcium which is apparently not achieved in many countries like India as most people are vegetarian. Sheep milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium. It is a better alternative for these people who cannot afford/prefer animal protein in other forms. Its functional aspect is still unexplored by the Indian dairy industry. Sheep dairy industry can be economically viable and can address consumer’s health by a collective effort of farmers, researchers and industries. Farmer should take some stringent hygienic measures and provide moderate supplementation to its flock. Researchers must explore the research evidences for its health importance. Industry must prepare fortified products and popularise it among consumers. For consumer reorganisation, satisfaction and acceptance sheep milk has to may have to run many miles but it cannot be ignored that it is a nature’s gift to humanity having curative power for many untreatable diseases.
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