Milk and milk produce from an integrate and an important part of human diet and provide

substantial percentage of protein, energy vitamins and minerals. Nearly one third of world's
intake of animal protein is derived from milk and milk products. The importance of the dairy
industry to the national economy can be judged from the fact that milk is bigger item of
consumption, than wheat, rice, cotton and sugar cane.

Unfortunately Pakistan is spending a huge amount of money every year on the import of milk
and milk products. Though Pakistan is blessed with vast milk resources and according to
livestock, division at present in the country per capital production is about 130 kg per annum.
The offtake per human consumption is about 100 kgs per capita per year which is the highest
among the Asian countries. Due to lack of storage and transport facilities a good portion is
converted into the KHOA, Ghee and curd the rest remains available as fresh milk.

It is said that milk requirements growing at a rate of 6% per annum whereas the milk production
increasing only about 3% per annum. According to National Advisory Committee a balanced
diet, among other food items, minimum of 10 ounces of milk daily for adults and 15-25 ounces
for children and infants as against 8 oz available per day per person in the country.

Several methods have been suggested so far to improve the situation relating to milk production
in the country, but none has been practiced on a large scale. Most of the milk plants could not
run successfully and that collection of milk is difficult and does not reach in good condition due
to non-availability of refrigeration system.

Soya Milk

Soyabean ranks high among the legumeous crops of the world in its nutritive value. The Soya
Bean seed varies in size, shape and colour from pale or straw yellow to jet black covering about
1500 varieties. Soyabean is grown mainly as a food crop in China, Manchuria, Japan, and other
countries of East and South East Asia. At present USA has been the biggest producer of
Soyabean in the world. It is also cultivated in several other countries, viz, Canada, Brazil,
Argentine, USSR, Germany and Romania.

                                       Soyabean          Cow's

Nutrients                               Milk              Milk 

Total Sold (g)                         10.55             13.44

Protein (Nx6.25)                        4.2               3.2

Fat (g)                                 3.4               3.9

Carbohydrates (g)                       3.2               4.6

Ash (g)                                 0.75              0.74

Calcium (g)                             0.08              0.11

Phosphorus (g)                          0.10              0.07

Iron (mg)                               1.2               0.2 

Vitamin Content Per Litre 

Thiamine (mg)                           0.82             0.45

Riboflavin (mg)                         1.10             1.70

Nicotinic Acid (mg)                     2.49             1.26

Ascorbic Acid (mg)                     21.6             15.9

Vitamin A (I.U.) as Provitamins.       750              1500

The production of Soyabean is limited to about 7000 to 8000 tonnes, per annum and it is steadily
growing in Pakistan. Soyabean plays a unique role and important role in Agriculture Commerce,
Industry and Nutrition. For centuries, it has been the most important source of dietary protein of
millions of people in the orients, contributing a valuable supplement to their diets. The greens
seed are consumed as a vegetable, while dry or sprouted seeds are used in a variety of food
preparation. Soyabean has been utilized in the preparation of milk substitutes and a variety of
fermented products.

Due to non-availability of milk a huge quantity of milk products is being imported every year to
meet the growing demand of the country. The present imports of milk powder and other dairy
products is more than 900 million per annum. In view of the acute shortage much attention has
been directed towards the low cost milk substitutes having the same nutritive value.

The scientists have standardised the conditions for obtaining Soyabean a palatable milk like
emulsion fortified with vitamins and minerals. The composition and nutritive value of milk
prepared compares favourably with that of cow's milk.

Soyabean curd has been prepared by innoculating soyabean milk containing 1-2 per cent added
invert sugar, with a mixed culture of S.Lactis and P. Citrovorus. Lactic fermentation masked the
soyabean flavour almost completely.

Several workers have shown that the biological value of soyamilk protein is 80-90 per cent of
that of cow's milk proteins. Some Scientists have reported a digestibility coefficient of 91 and a
biological value of 79 for the proteins of soyabean milk. The biological value could be further
improved by fortifying the milk with methionine. Calcium fortified soyamilk was found to
supplement diet to a significant extent, compatable to that of cow's milk. Feeding trials with
children conducted by scientists have shown that soyabean milk proteins were 80 per cent as
much utilizable as cow's milk proteins. Digestibility coefficient and biological value as reported
by them for adult subjects were 96.6 and 94 respectively. Metabolism studies carried out by
Scientists with human subjects have shown that the calcium in soyamilk and curd fortified with
calcium hydrogen phosphate, was utilised to the extent of about 90 per cent of the calcium
present in cow's milk. For growing rats found that soyamilk is about 80 per cent as potent as
cow's milk with registered to its vitamin B-complex content.

Some scientists have reviewed exhaustively the literature available on the nutritive value of
vegetable milks in infant feeding. In general, the results obtained by a large number of
investigators indicate that soyabean milk can be used as a satisfactory substitute for cow's or
human milk for feeding infants.

Dried milk substitute from soyabean: Spray dried milk substitutes like Soyalac and Mullsoy are
being used in America for feeding infants and children who are allergic to cow's milk. Human
feeding trials carried out by some scientists have shown that the biological value of Mullsoy a
brand of processed soyabean milk was 95 as compared with egg protein. Some Scientists
successfully treated an advanced case of kwashiorkor with spray dried soyamilk and suggested
the use of spray dried soyamilk with malt or chocolate flavour for children whose digestive
power had been severely impaired. Production of Saridele from soyabean and groundnut or
sesame for feeding infants and children is being successfully carried out in Indonesia with
UNICEF aid.

CONCLUSION

The production of vegetable milk/curd from Soyabean has been successfully done and marketed
in many parts of the World particularly in South Asia and South East Asia such as Japan,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India. The writer has successfully prepared in a laboratory
scale milk from Soyabean. The price per litre of Soya Milk does not exceed more than Rs.8/9.
The Government or private organisation come forward to produce Soya Milk to inhibit the price
of Animal Milk in the country.