A milch can be a cow or any other domestic animal that either gives milk or is kept for milk. But the whole essence of enforcing this article is towards interdiction of cow slaughter and not of milch or other droughtcattle. 

Why so much stress towards prohibition on cow slaughter when the article unequivocally includes any domestic animal that is capable of production or generating income? Well to understand the answer we will have to look long back into the history to the time around the 12th century when this land witnessed arrival of Islamic rule and their dietary practices entered India with the Delhi Sultanate. Cattle slaughter had been a religiously approved practice among the rulers. As Christianity arrived on the Indian Sea Coast, Portuguese attempted to establish their presence by various methods which included converting those they met into Roman Catholicism. The conversion rituals involved consumption of beef and pork as a corroboration that they have given up Hinduism. Since then, the act, whenever talked about,
opens up unhealed wounds and hence religious sentiments are involved. 

Since the time of framing of constitution cow slaughter was very heated topic of debate. The question soon arose weather to include cow slaughter which is attached with Hindu’s sentiments in the constitution of India or not. Many members of constitutional assembly called in favor to include it as a part of fundamental right under constitution of India. But as fundamental rights are inferred for human rights not for the animals. But the conflict arose between economic policy and the culture invoking sentiments of the Hindus and use of cattle for the business purpose in agriculture and in industries. This issue had been considered and placed in directive principles of state policy in article 48 of the Indian constitution which was meant to guide the state for policy making but could not be enforceable in court of law. Majority of members in constitutional assembly found it unsatisfactory.

As the Indian economy primarily depended on agriculture, the fear of drought couldn’t be eliminated. The Constitution makers had outdone their jobs in making the Constitution of India. India wouldn’t have been able to bear a drought or a crop failure. A crop failure meant no food, no income for the humongous population. Hence Article 48 was formulated to tackle these fears of drought, crop failure or unemployment. Dairy farming was the best alternative available. Hence cows and other animals were included in this article due to the value of products they have to proffer to us. Rearing of cow is both economical as well as moral. The produces offered by them will prove to be of immense value in case of paucity of food. Exporting these products ends up in turning in huge revenues. It is a good way to accommodate villages in the Indian economy without converting it into cities. Hence the Article 48 is enforceable as and when the state shall feel the need for a prohibition on butcher of these animals. The enforcement of article is in hands of the states and the ban may be imposed. It has been included in the Directive Principles of State Policy because the enforcement of the Article is subject to the government. The provision mentions ‘prevention of slaughter of milch cattle’. This was envisaged to prevent killing of bowels which are vital to the agrarian economy as they are an additional source of income through live stock rearing.

On the other hand it is well justified to ban the slaughter of cow as in article 51A (g) of fundamental duties it enabled the state the protect and improve the natural environment and to have compassion for living creatures.