Overbreeding focused on milk production in the name of cow protec

[Guest guest]

Dear Rasananda Prabhu,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

Thank you very much for sharing your observations with us of what seems to

be a common misconception of what it means to implement cow protection

following the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Irresponsible breeding for milk within ISKCON centers is the root cause for

cow abuse, neglect and worse. For a cow to produce milk, they must be

impregnated and produce a calf. Immediately comes responsibility due to milk

production. The average life span for a cow is 15-18 years. Whoever breeds

the cow is responsible for its progeny as long as it may live. 15-18 years

is a long time. Unlike having a human child, the calf will not grow up and

be able to support itself. The cow and its offspring are completely

dependent on their keepers their entire lives.

 

We do have cows that produce on one impregnation for 6 to 10 years. But they

are rare and their quantity of milk usually becomes less and less with the

progression of age. We are milking Draupadi and she is now milking for her

fifth year after one impregnation. We have been told that cows in India,

specifically Vrndavana, India, give milk for only 6-9 months. Also in North

America an average milking cow will give 3-5 gallons of milk a day minimum.

However, in India where you made your observations, the usual production of

milk from a milking cow will be 3 to 6 liters a day. A gallon of milk is

equivalent to 4 1/2 liters.

 

What we can ascertain from these figures is that specifically in India, it

takes a lot of breeding and therefore plenty of progeny to produce

sufficient milk for economic development. Everyone thinks of the joy of

consuming the milk and the delicious milk products that can be offered to

the Deities. Unfortunately,

when the progeny multiply, their care is considered a burden and is not

received with the same joy.

 

We are suggesting controlled breeding with relationship to the carrying

capacity and amount of land that is allotted for the cows. We are suggesting

utilization of the oxen, the bull calves, in producing grain,

transportation, energy. By their use other economic avenues open up other

than milk production. We are suggesting a RESPONSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE

attitude toward the cows from our GBC leaders and temple,

"goshalla",authorities. All these and more are contained in the Minimum Cow

Protection Standards. When these Standards are ignored one can only expect:

 

"Without protection of cows, brahminical culture can not be maintained; and

without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled." S.B.

Canto 8: Chpt. 24 Text 5

 

People do not

know what they are doing in the name of economic development. The influence

of Kali will keep them in the darkness of ignorance. Despite all endeavors

for peace and prosperity, they must try to see the cows and the bulls happy

in all respects. Foolish people do not know how one earns happiness by

making the cows and bulls happy, but it is a fact by the law of nature. Let

us take it from the authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam and adopt the principles

for the total happiness of humanity.>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.17.3

 

Your servants,

Balabhadra das & Chayadevi dasi

ISKCON Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture

 

-

"Rasananda (das) ACBSP (IN)" <Rasananda.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

"Chakra news" <news (AT) chakra (DOT) org>; "ISCOWP (Balabhadra Dasa & Chaya Dasi -

USA)" <ISCOWP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "Cow (Protection and related issues)"

<Cow (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Sunday, January 21, 2001 10:02 PM

Overbreeding focused on milk production in the name of cow

protection

 

 

> Dear devotees,

>

> The posting titled "Call for GBC Cow Protection Reports" speaks of

> "irresponsible overbreeding focused on milk production"....

>

> I have been in India continuously for more than twenty five years. Reading

> the article and thinking for a moment I could think of five urban temples

> that I have been at (in India) that "keep cows" -- as the whole endeavor

is

> often called locally -- but where the real purpose, besides milk

production,

> is to arouse the sentiment of middle or upper class life members or

visitors

> and collect donations. I have more than once happened to hear (my service

> has never explicitly included cow protection) some local bhakta or

devotee,

> also not necessarily involved in the care of the cows, make some

suggestion

> regarding breeding... the idea being, as noted, milk production. At the

same

> time the facilities are in most cases publicized as "goshalas". The temple

> authorities in these situations usually express satisfaction with their

> their dairy business success. Some might agree with them and deem this

> 'dairying' business acceptable. But in a society of sadhakas, it seems to

me

> they are neglecting the karma they will have to reap for bringing these

> pious living entities into the world only to make them live an unhappy

> existence -- if not also have them face an untimely death in a

> slaughterhouse.

>

> Yours in service,

>

> Rasananda das

>

[Guest guest]

> A gallon of milk is

> equivalent to 4 1/2 liters.

 

3 1/2 liters actually.