Islamabad, Sept. 13 (INP): China Xinjiang’s region brown cow could create a new era of sustainable dairy farming in Pakistan, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday quoting experts.
In the tranquil pastures of Xinjiang’s Yining County, a brown cow grazes quietly on wild grass, producing an impressive 20 kilograms of milk each day.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan’s Malakand division, the native Achai cow roams the rugged mountains, resilient and self-sufficient, yet yielding a modest three kilograms of milk.
The contrast is striking, yet these two regions, despite their geographical distance, share a similar climate that could pave the way for a new agricultural future.
Imagine combining the Achai cow’s hardiness with the high-yield potential of Xinjiang’s brown cow, creating a new era of sustainable dairy farming in Pakistan.
During a visit to Ili Yimuxin Dairy Co., Ltd. in Yining, it was witnessed how China is enhancing the productivity of its native brown cows using cutting-edge technology.
This dairy company goes beyond just producing milk—it cultivates its own grass, breeds cows, processes various dairy products, and even offers educational sessions to local youth to raise awareness about the benefits of dairy.
Set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys, Yining is the only place in China where natural beauty and advanced dairy farming coexist so harmoniously.
Certified in 1983 by China’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Xinjiang Brown Cow was recognized as a “novel dual-purpose dairy-beef” breed.
Since then, selective breeding, including the use of frozen semen from abroad, has enhanced its lineage.
Today, the Xinjiang Brown Cow is one of the region’s finest, driving socio-economic growth and meeting the growing market demand.
“These brown cows aren’t large, and they graze freely on wild grasslands rather than being confined to indoor farms.
This natural diet enhances the quality of their milk,” an official from the company told Gwadar Pro. Although their daily yield is around 20 kilograms, the milk’s high protein content—3.8 grams per kilogram—makes it a premium product.
Ili Yimuxin Dairy has established a niche in the high-end market with five product lines, including fresh milk, yogurt, and milk beverages.
Their yogurt, a standout product, can be stored for over 20 days. The company also features ancient Chinese poems celebrating milk’s virtues, adding cultural depth with lines like: “Pour the cheese refined from milk to awaken wisdom” and “Celebrating New Year is incomplete without milk and shortbread.”
Local farmers humorously say that “Xinjiang brown cattle eat Chinese herbs and drink mineral water.” The company uses mobile milking units to collect fresh milk directly from the pastures and plans to introduce 120 automated milking vehicles for local farmers.
Rigorous testing ensures the milk is safely stored in massive tanks, each with a capacity of up to 30,000 tons. Employing 197 people, the company distributes its premium dairy products across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and is currently in discussions for collaboration with Kazakhstan.
In contrast, while China seeks to increase milk production—despite lower-than-average consumption due to factors like lactose intolerance—the situation in Pakistan’s Malakand region is quite different.
Here, milk is an essential part of daily life, yet its availability is limited. The small, hardy Achai cow, native to the hilly areas of Malakand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, survives on wild grass in harsh climates.
Although this breed produces relatively little milk, it plays a crucial role in the lives of local farmers. Milk, yogurt, butter, and lassi are dietary staples, and black tea is made rich and creamy with the cow’s thick milk.
The Achai cow holds deep cultural significance, even finding a place in Pashto poetry that has been passed down through generations. One well-loved poem, “Zama Ghwa” (My Cow), was once included in the Pashto curriculum at the primary school level. The poem reads:
“My cow, black with white spots, Has a gentle female calf.
This is the Achai breed, With a long tail and smooth skin.
I let her graze freely on the grasslands
And give her water to drink. The milk she provides. Is enough to sustain our entire family.”
This simple yet evocative verse captures the enduring connection between the people of Malakand and the resilient Achai cow, reflecting its importance not just in daily life, but in local culture and tradition.
Habib-ur-Rehman, a 70-year-old folk veterinarian from Dir Lower in the Malakand division, travels from village to village treating livestock. Known locally as “Kachay,” he specializes in traditional bone-setting and herbal remedies, skills passed down from his father.
“This is an indigenous cow, known as ‘Malkai,’ or as we call it, the ‘Dwa Seerai’ cow, because it produces only about two seers (2.5 kg) of milk a day,” Kachay explained during an interview with Gwadar Pro, gesturing toward a small brown cow.
Despite its lower milk yield compared to foreign breeds, the Achai cow is highly valued for its resilience and the richness of its milk, he added.
A decade ago, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government launched a project to support Achai cow farmers in areas such as Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Swat, Charsadda, and Chitral.
The initiative provided insemination services, vaccinations, medication, and advisory support, but faced challenges in effectively reaching remote farmers.
Despite these obstacles, the Achai cow has shown remarkable resilience. Experts believe that crossbreeding it with high-yielding, genetically stable breeds like China’s Xinjiang Brown Cow could transform dairy farming in Pakistan’s mountainous regions.
“If we crossbreed the Achai cow with higher-yielding breeds, as China has done, it could significantly boost milk production and strengthen local economies,” said Dr. Bakht Ali Khan, who has been involved with the Achai Cow project, in an interview with Gwadar Pro.
INP/jave
