Visit by Paul Starkey, Drew Conroy and others - April 16th 2004 (BM)

[Guest guest]

Haribol Prabhus,

 

following is a report on the visit today to BM of some influential persons

in the field of ox implementation.

 

 

Paul Starkey and Drew Conroy visit Bhaktivedanta Manor 16th April 2004

 

As a consequence of participating in the TAWS workshop on the 15th of April

2004 Paul Starkey, a consultant specialising in animal traction, and also an

Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre of Agricultural Strategy, University

of Reading, requested a site visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor for the next day.

Accompanying him was Drew Conroy lifelong ox teamster, prolific writer on

working oxen, International ox trainer PHD and lecturer in Dairy science.

There was also Jorg Bremond from Germany with knowledge of Padded Harness

for oxen and as well as Cozette Griffin-Kremer from the French centre of Ox

History and Techniques.

 

The weather was a perfect setting for the Manor to host such distinguished

guests in the field of animal traction. Surya showed himself in pleasant

spring glory.

 

On arrival the group was shown around our current farm facilities where we

explained the method of farming practiced and the philosophy behind it. The

numerous farm implements were shown and we explained how we were interested

in using modern machinery as far as possible that complemented the working

of the oxen. There was quite some interest in the ox mill that we are

manifesting at the Manor and Paul Starkey was able to give some global

insight into the practicalities or not of such a system. Whew! He knows his

stuff.

 

In the barn we displayed the main oxen in the team and Drew shared his

extensive knowledge on the subject of suitable breeds and their

characteristics. At this point we demonstrated the hitching of the oxen and

drew commented that the yoke we were using could be more comfortable with

additional sanding along the neckline. He expressed that it didn't seem

rounded enough for the best comfort. We confirmed we would address this

concern. We mentioned how castration and nose rings fitted into our system

and during the yoking of two of our oxen we were able to show how we harness

to the nose ring. Drew mentioned some of his experiences where nose ropes

had been placed in young bulls and then not replaced when the bulls grew

which led to damage and discomfort to the respective animal. He had concern

particularly in this case when the rope was made of nylon because they never

broke.

 

>From this point we took the ox team out and hitched them to a wagon where

our guests sat comfortably whilst we transported them some 500m to the

ploughing fields. Drew noted how the yoke sat on the shoulders and how the

bows were not fully utilised by the oxen. Later he commented that the

materials they were made from would bend if they were to be used in the US

teamster style. He was able to identify that the oxen had neck developments

as a consequence of hauling out and he gave his own experience of how he

would train his oxen to stop doing it by tying their horns together. When

they walked normally he would untie them and again when they hauled out he

would tie them again and in this way they learned not to do it.

 

On reaching the ploughing fields the oxen were transferred to the plough, a

ride on sulky plough imported from the USA, wherein numerous photographs

were shot by everyone armed with a camera. We ploughed a few furrows and

then to everyone's surprise drew took the seat on the sulky plough, took the

reins (oh yes, but he asked us not to tell the New England teamsters with a

smile on his face) and ploughed one furrow encouraging the oxen on with his

calm and yet commanding voice. At this point we posed for group photographs

and then remounted the ox wagon to return to the farm. During the trop back

Paul mentioned to us that the primary reason why oxen and other animals are

displaced by tractors is prestige. He explained that generally tractors

don't make economic sense on less than 50 hectares (125 acres) yet people

were adopting them because governments were subsidizing them for prestigious

reasons. It is just not so impressive for most governments to be known to be

dependant on animal traction. Paul mentioned the success of Cuba in animal

traction were it was valued by the leader Fidel Castro who awarded prizes

for the best Ox teams. He also mentioned that were horses replaced oxen was

because of the speed consideration and because of the profile of horses over

oxen. He said that when people are given a tractor and it brakes down after

5 years or so they have forgotten how to use the oxen and therefore they

seek another tractor, which makes no financial sense. His point is that they

should have stayed with the oxen.

 

With time pressing our guests we invited them to take a meal with us and

showed them around the Manor and into the Temple room. During the Prasadam

there was much discussion on ox training and working with animals around the

world. They wanted to know about how we were placed within Hinduism, how

does Iscowp connect with ISKCON, how does the farm work financially. In turn

we were able to ask about animal traction around the world. We explained how

Vaisnavism fits into Hinduism, and how iscowp is a parallel charity run by

devotees who oversee the world of Cow Protection within our ISKCON society.

We were able to explain how there is an internal economy for the products of

the cows and bulls and how there was vibrant charity support from the

visitors to the Manor.

 

We received books from Drew and from Paul and in reciprocation we gave them

going away gifts of Prasadam and a vegetarian cookbook and a mantelpiece

ornament of Lord Krishna.

 

The day went exceptionally well and will I am sure be the springboard of

future collaboration and sharing of advice and resources. Drew invited our

participation on the yolk discussion he was going to start as a result of

the TAWS meeting he had attended the previous day.

 

All in all it was a very worthwhile day to be able to host such important

people in the world of animal traction. We must thank Hare Krishna prabhu

for her insight into this initiative and approach.

 

Ys syam