Milk from indigenous Indian cow breeds (Gir, Sahiwal) containing only the A2 beta-casein protein.
A2 milk is produced by indigenous Bos indicus cattle breeds, Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, whose genetics encode only the A2 variant of beta-casein protein. Hybrid and European breeds (Holstein, Jersey) carry the A1 mutation, which on digestion releases beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7), a peptide linked to digestive discomfort and inflammation in many people. A2 milk lacks BCM-7 entirely and is widely regarded as easier to digest. It is also higher in beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioavailable calcium when sourced from grass-fed, free-roaming cattle.
