Rajasthan education minister Madan Dilawar has triggered a controversy after claiming that milk from indigenous cows enhances children’s intelligence and energy, while buffalo milk makes them sluggish and dull.
Speaking at a ‘Go-Samvardhan and Gocharan’ (cow conservation and grazing) event in Kota district, Dilawar offered a striking visual analogy.
Ask a cow calf and a buffalo calf to find their mothers from a distance, he suggested, and the cow calf will run straight to its mother while the buffalo calf will struggle. The difference, he argued, reflects the supposed cognitive impact of the milk they consume.
He extended the comparison further: after feeding both calves fully, the buffalo calf would cough and doze off, he said, while the cow calf would leap around energetically, “showcasing sharp intelligence.”
The remarks quickly gained traction online. But does science back the claim?
NO EVIDENCE LINKING COW MILK TO HIGHER IQ
Nutrition researchers and paediatricians say there is no scientific evidence that cow’s milk offers a cognitive advantage over buffalo milk.
Comparative analyses show that buffalo milk typically contains higher fat content—ranging from 6 to 15 percent—making it more calorie-dense.
However, it also contains slightly higher levels of protein, calcium and vitamin B12, a micronutrient essential for nerve health, brain function, red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis, said Dr Seema Gulati, a nutrition researcher.
According to experts, these differences do not translate into measurable differences in children’s intelligence.
While cow milk may sometimes be recommended for those seeking lower calorie intake, that is a metabolic consideration—not a cognitive one, said Dr Gulati, head of the nutrition research group at Delhi-based non-profit National Diabetes, Obesity, and Cholesterol Foundation.
Iodine, another key nutrient linked to brain development, depends largely on the animal’s feed. Whether the source is cow or buffalo, iodine content reflects diet rather than species, according to the researcher.
IS COW MILK EASIER FOR CHILDREN?
Some paediatricians previously advised introducing cow milk early, believing it to be lighter or easier to digest. However, evolving scientific evidence does not show a cognitive benefit tied to choosing cow milk over buffalo milk.
Paediatrician-clinical researcher Dr HPS Sachdev said that if any milk has been consistently associated with improved intelligence outcomes, it is breast milk.
Multiple global studies indicate that children who are exclusively breastfed for six months, and continue breastfeeding into early childhood, tend to show better long-term cognitive outcomes, he said.
In short, there is no scientific basis to claim that cow milk makes children smarter or that buffalo milk weakens the mind. Nutritional value varies slightly—but intelligence does not hinge on the species of milk in the glass.
