Cows 'R' Us

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Balabadhra said -

 

> When Srila Prabhupada visited Gita Nagari,

> Parmananda asked him about

> commerical milk production. Parmananda had already

> done the basic math for

> number of cows milking to carrying capacity of the

> land and how many years

> would it take to reach the carrying capacity at Gita

> Nagari. Parmananda told

> me that Srila Prabhupada told him the milk belongs

> to the cows, it is their

> milk not ours. Srila Prabhupada instructed

> Parmananda to put a percentage of

> the milk sale money (not profit) aside in trust so

> when the cows get old or

> are in need, they will have this money available to

> them for buying more

> land for their retirement and care. I have never

> seen this done in any

> equation which has been formulated. Also the

> percentage must be fair, not

> that you can say 1 to 2 per cent. I feel that

> minimum 10 per cent would be

> fair.

 

Bala, this is the equation I am after.

 

Diaries stay "afloat" by the elimination

> of the non productive

> animals, i.e., males, old cows,retired cows,

> non-productive cows. This is

> done by slaughter, or unfortunately in some of our

> ISKCON Farms by "giving

> away" these animals. If you have to feed and care

> for these animals you do

> not make a profit and it is even difficult to

> contnue to function.

 

This is what I am questioning. Profit is entirely

relative to the diference between costs and the income

obtained from the goods and services offered. If the

real cost price is paid, plus 10% for profit then this

model could work.

 

> Any commercial dairy scheme, if it is to stand on

> its own without any

> outside donations or endowments must be kept

> extremely small. I feel this

> means 1 farmer supplying milk and milk by products

> such

> as yogurt, ghee, dung for methane and fertilizer to

> only several families in

> his immeadiate vicinity.

 

With Syamasundar we worked out an optimal work unit to

be used in a more commercial venture. Accordingly, one

man, or woman, could milk 12 cows on hir own. This is

when the 12 cows are composed of 3 cows milking at

different stages of a 4 year lactation. This would

give about 100 litres per day. At 0.25 litres per

person, this would feed 400 people.

 

After 20 years (presuming a 20 year average lifespan)

there would then be a mature herd of 60 cows (on 120

acres average) which would not grow any more, as the 3

cows being born each year would replace the 3 cows

dying each year in this cyclical system.

 

> I think it is more possible to even consider

> successful agri business only

> if ox-power is considered as carrying the lion share

> of the economic

> equation. Milk should be greatly minimized as an

> economic development

> factor. The cow is considered the mother and the

> bull is considered the

> father. Just as in the human family, the mother

> takes care of the children

> and the father works to provide the basic

> necessities. If the father is

> unemployed then there is scarcity and poverty. If

> the father and mother can

> not control their sex life and more and more

> children are born into their

> family, it compounds the scarcity and poverty.But do

> they give the unwanted

> children away and still continue to produce progeny?

> Wouldn't this be

> considered irresponsible?

 

Yes it would. But the reality at the moment is that

people want the milk - Happy Cow milk. And by people I

mean karmi's as well as devotees. It would be

fantastic to lead with the oxen, and in my equations

the oxen should certainly pay for their wears. But

this compartment is more dificult to calculate, more

labour, products, processing, etc.

 

Therefore, if people pay the price for the milk that

covers completely the costs of all the animals, when

the oxen take the economic weight then the price of

the milk can only go down as the cows stop subsidising

the oxen. Of course, if both started with economic

force then that would be better. The price of milk

would start at a more reasonable price - meaning more

success.

 

> 1) Feed

> For each calf that is born, you will need to feed

> that animal, productive or

> not, for an average of 15 to 18 years.

> 2) shelter,

> 3) medical,

> 4) water,

> 5) fencing,

> 6) Bottling

> 7) Delivery, transportation

> 8) Office accounting equipment for business

> 9) land taxes

> 10) office labor

> 11) Land purchase

> 12) Equipment

> 13) 10% for cow social security

> 14) Etc.

> >

 

I would like to get this model costed.

 

>From Pramananda Prabhu.

 

> > I am working on a scheme to engage local dairymen

> in producing for the

> > Calcutta rich vegetarian market as I am confident

> we can get a workable

> > price there. They would have to contract not to

> sell the old animals or

> bull

> > calves and to engage the bulls in varous kinds of

> work.

 

I agree, let's cost the system and create a

water-tight business model.

 

> > But in the US it seems to me that the only way to

> make protected farm milk

> > work is to concentrate on cheese, ghee, etc. as

> the health dept

> restrictions

> > on raw milk appear to be too costly.\

 

niche markets, premium prices.

The top added-value price for milk I have thought of

is Protection Farms ghee, to sell to Hindu temples for

puja. And in veg - succulents, with

demand-side-management, meaning everything is produced

for a 1 to 1 market, not for wholesale. Check out box

deliveries, or veg retaurants who want a niche

product. angelics organics has a good web site for

this.

 

Remember, if demand can be stimulated then there could

well be more demand for the products than the

suppliers, following their strict quality controls,

could meet. This would push the price up creating a

positive cycle.

 

Hoping this meets you well.

 

 

 

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