Rajasthan Minister Links Cow Milk to Intelligence

Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar stirred controversy after claiming that drinking milk from indigenous cows makes children “active and intelligent,” while those who drink buffalo milk become “sluggish” — a remark that has drawn criticism for lacking scientific basis and potentially spreading misinformation.

At a Go-Samvardhan and Gocharan event in Ramganj Mandi (Kota district) on 22 February 2026, Dilawar said that milk from “high-shouldered indigenous cows” helps build intelligence and energy, whereas buffalo milk supposedly leads to lethargy. To illustrate his point, he described observing cow and buffalo calves: in his narrative, a cow calf would quickly find its mother and remain energetic after feeding, while a buffalo calf would struggle and appear lethargic — a comparison he used to support his claims about human nutrition.

During the same gathering, the minister announced a plan to revive the traditional village cowherd system, appointing one paid ‘village guwala’ (cowherd) for every 70 cows across 14 villages, with each cowherd to receive ₹10,000 per month funded by local donors.

Experts and critics have pointed out that there is no scientific evidence linking the type of milk — cow or buffalo — with differences in intelligence or behaviour. Nutrition researchers note that while both cow and buffalo milk contain important nutrients such as protein, calcium and vitamin B12, these differences do not translate into measurable cognitive effects in children.

The comments prompted debate on social media and among nutrition professionals, who emphasise that balanced dairy consumption overall contributes to nutritional health, but reject claims that one type of milk inherently makes children smarter or lazier than another.

Source : Dairynews7x7 Feb 26th 2026 Read full story here

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