Sikkim’s indigenous Siri cow gets its own A2 butter, market launch expected soon

Sikkim’s indigenous Siri cow is set to enter the consumer market with a new butter product developed from its milk, in a move aimed at adding value to local livestock and creating better income opportunities for farmers.

A prototype of the butter was launched during the Himalayan Yak Festival at Gnathang Valley, near the India-China border. The initiative was undertaken by the Sikkim Livestock Development Board (SLDB) in collaboration with the state’s Animal Husbandry and Livestock Department.

According to SLDB Chief Executive Officer Dr Pratik Kashyap, laboratory testing confirmed that the milk used for the product is of the A2 type.

“We sent the milk samples for testing, and we have received a report that it is A2. We have launched it,” Kashyap said.

The product is currently at the prototype stage, with a commercial market launch expected soon.

The initiative is part of the state’s efforts to promote indigenous livestock breeds and develop marketable products that can generate additional income for rural households. The Siri cow is traditionally reared by farmers across Sikkim and is adapted to the state’s hilly terrain.

Alongside the butter launch, a loan scheme to support yak rearing was also introduced at the festival. The scheme aims to extend assistance to yak rearers, recognising the importance of the high-altitude animal to livelihoods in Sikkim’s mountain communities.

Both initiatives were undertaken in collaboration with the Union government’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Kashyap said the broader objective was to ensure that development initiatives translated into tangible benefits for farmers.

“Our government is a farmer-friendly government. We want to make such plans so that money goes to the village and to the farmers,” he said.

By developing branded products from indigenous livestock, Sikkim hopes to strengthen the market value of local produce and create new avenues of livelihood for rural communities.

The proposed commercial launch of Siri cow butter could offer another avenue for promoting the state’s indigenous livestock and traditional farming practices.