COW CARE STANDARDS

Author : Dr. Sreekumar. SE-Mail : ulava92@yahoo.comDate Produced : February, 2015Editor : Sriman Subhananda Hari dasSerial No: : 7 of 54

COW CARE STANDARDS

Care of Calves, Milking, Housing, Feeding and Breeding of Cows

The Mammary Gland Nourishes the Neonate

Exocrine gland; common to all mammals

Function: nourish the neonate to ensure growth. It is the baby calf’s growth food.

Food source: fat, protein, sugar, vitamins, minerals, water

Protection: immunoglobulins (first Ab protection; absorbed via intestinal tract)

Milk Production

Milk Goes Straight to Stomach

Food Passes Through all 4 Chambers

Need to be with their Mother

Calf has to be with Mother for its Overall Growth and Development

Hairy Skin is a Sign of Malnourishment

Cows Need to be Housed in a Clean and Dry Environment

Before: Crying for Milk

After: Obedient and Peaceful

ComparisonCalves Condition in May 2014Calves Condition in July 2014

Milk Starved Calf

Magic of Milk after 3 Months

Milk As It Is Generally, milk is said to have the best

properties immediately after taking from the

cow’s udder. This milk, which is slightly warm, is

especially good for bringing down the increased vata. Thus it is said that warm fresh milk is the equivalent of nectar.

The Milk We Take Is Boiled milk Boiled pasteurized, toned milk Boiled pasteurized, standardized milk Boiled pasteurized, toned/standardized,

homogenized milk Boiled pasteurized skimmed milk

Because of this Adulteration We Should Keep Cows

“When we know something is adulterated we should avoid it………. It is for this reason that in the Vedic culture people use to keep a number of cows without any expenditure, and the milk drawn from them was utilized for many purposes, very, very useful in life .“ Letter to Krishna das, Boston, Dec 25,

1969

Herds Maintained for Wages

When a cowherd supported by wages grazes milch cows in hundreds, if he grazes the herd for the profit of milk and ghee, he will starve the calves to death.

Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Book 2, Chapter XXIX

Arthashastra 2 – 29 – 32 Cows and she buffaloes should

be milked twice during rainy season and winter but only once during summer. If anybody milks twice then his thumb should be cut-off.

 

Rig Veda 10.87.18 Atharva Veda 8.3.16

Milk derived forcibly from cows is poisonous and leads to innumerable incurable diseases.

Milking Limits per Day - Brhatparasara A. 5-8

Cow milking should be done only once in a day in the morning. If milking is done twice a day, the cows loose their health and will not grow. 

Milking is Forbidden on Special Occasions

Br. Parasara . A. 5 – 16,17 

We should not milk cows whose calf is dead or which are pregnant.

A cow should not be milked for ten days after her delivery.

Those cows which are weak or suffer from diseases or have delivered two calves at a time should never be milked.

 

Krishna’s Standard "Every morning at approximately six thirty, Sri

Gopala enters Nanda Maharaja's cowshed to milk the transcendental cows. As Krsna calls each cow, they respond by mooing and immediately surround Krsna. Then Sri Krsna bends down, holding a golden milk pail between His knees, and milks some cows. Krsna directs the cowherd boys to milk other cows, and He lovingly caresses the cows in between milking. Govinda also insures that each and every calf drinks milk to its full satisfaction." (GL)

Ideal Standards Periodic weighing of calves to ascertain

the daily weight gain. Minimum 750g/Day Breeding heifers when they have attained

65% of the adult weight First calving when the heifer has attained

85% of adult weight

Rig Veda10.87.16Atharva Veda 8.3.15

Those who fill their belly by starving people, those who live by stealing horse feed, those who forcibly milk cows, they should be eliminated by strong actions.

Recommendations One time milking in the morning Clean milk production standards to be

ensured Calves are left with the cows till 7-8pm Calves to be kept in an open area with

free access to fodder and water Weight gain to be monitored periodically

Vishnu Purana

In Kali Yuga, cows will be honored as long as they deliver milk.

Starved Dry Cows

To Whomsoever it may Concern

A Burden

A Burden

Flooded Cow Shelters

“High Thinking and Simple Living”

Holistic Management of Cows

Cows should be managed in such a way that they get free access to:

Water Fodder. Mother nature has designed

cows to thrive on grass and grass alone

Mobility Companion

Requirements Ventilation Free access to water Free access to fodder Hoof friendly, dry, and clean flooring Protection from stray dogs and wild

animals Sufficient space for mobility Protection from cold winds and rain Facilitate complete tapping of urine and

dung in the most effective manner

Open and Closed Sheds

Rig Veda 10.67.5 Atharva Veda 20.91.5

By providing well fumigated, clean sunlit ventilated stalls, green pastures, rainwater like potable water for drinking, the intelligent cow owners have taken the cows out from darkness to light.

Open Housing Model

Open Housing

Closed Housing Model

Open Housing

Impact of Lack of Exercise

Provide Adequate Feeder Space

Overcrowding

Overcrowded and Under Nourished Heifers

Lack of Feeder Space in Open Housing

PASTURE FEEDING गोचर वि�षयTime to Release Cows for

Pastures प्रातः काल गोचर

यावदस्या गोपतितर्नो�पशृणुयाद्दचः स्वयम् ।चरेदस्य तावद्गोषु र्नोास्यं श्रुत्वा गृहे वसेत् ।। अथव& 12-4-

27, 4.1.0.27 AV 12.4.27

Morning strains of mantras when heard being recited at Agnihotras indicates the time to release cows to go to pastures for self feeding.

4.1.0.28 AtharvaVeda 12-4-28

Stall feeding is harmful घर में गौ को बंध कर मत रखो

यो अस्या ऋचउपश्रुत्याथ गोष्वचीचरत् ।आयुश्च तस्य भूतितं च देवा वृश्चन्ति9त  हीति:ताः ।। अथव& 12-

4-28 One who keeps Cows at home to

feed even after hearing the morning mantra patha suffers in life.

Pasturing

4.1.0.29 AtharvaVeda 12.4.29 Time to stay in Pastures

वशां चरन्ति9त  बहुधा देवार्नोां तिर्नोतिहतो तिर्नोधिधः ।आतिवष्कृणुष्व रूपाणिण यदा स्थाम जिAघांसतित ।। अथव& 12-

4-29

As long as the cows like to feed in pastures they represent community assets. When cows want to retreat from pastures they indicate it by many signs.।

4.1.0.30 AtharvaVeda 12-4-30

आतिवरात्मार्नों कृणुते यदास्त्थाम जिAघांसतित।अथो ह ब्रह्मभ्यो वशा याञ्च्याय कृणुते मर्नो:।। अथव& 12-4-30

Cow herself indicates the time for her to go back to her home for help from her master.

Aब गोचर से गृह स्वामी के पास Aार्नोे  का समय होता है गौ स्वयम् ऐसे संकेत देती है।

Returning from Pasturing

Stall feed only those who have physical difficulties to graze

Free Access to Water

4.1.0.39 AtharvaVeda 12-4-39

Pastures should have free access 

गोचर महत्वमहदेषाव तपतित चरन्ति9त  गोषु गौरतिप ।अथो ह गोपतये वशाददुषे तिवषं दुहे ।। अथव& 12-4-39

Barriers in pastures angers the cows, the milk from such cows is likened to poison. (महदेषाव - Big barriers)

4.1.0.53 AtharvaVeda 12-4-53

यदिद हुता यद्यहुताममा च पचते वशाम् ।देवा9त्सब्राह्मणा र्नोृत्वा जिAह्नो  लोकाधिNर्रिरंचं्छतित ।।12-4-53

Such a person and society that keeps its cows in confinement in their homes, suffer fall from grace of learned people and Gods.

Dry Matter Requirement for Cows

Dry matter is the nutrient content available once water is removed from any food and it is inclusive of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals

Cows require 2-3 % of their body weight Therefore a 400 kg body weight cow will need 8-12 kg of dry

matter per day Green grass has approximately 20% dry matter 400 kg cows therefore needs 40-60 kg grass daily if they are

to be maintained only on fodder Paddy straw has 90% dry matter but has no digestible proteins

and hence cannot form the only fodder supplied if they are to be maintained only on fodder

Supplements may have to be given if the dry matter met from fodder is of poor nutritive status

Wastage of Water

Impact of Slippery Floors

Dryness and Warmth of Floor

Dryness and Warmth of Floor

Dung may be Precious to us but is Stool to the Cow

4.1.0.9 AtharvaVeda12-4-9 Cow Dung and Urine

गोबर गोमूत्र यदस्याः पल्पूलर्नों  शकृद्दासी समस्यतित ।

ततोऽपरूपं Aायते तस्मादव्येष्यदेर्नोसः ।। अथव& 12-4-9

Throwing away into waste the Cow Dung and Cow Urine disfigures the society.

Manure PitsManure pits are not natural. Nature does not collect the excrement of her fauna in this way.3 deleterious processes are induced:1. The rich exudation which leaves the

heap is like an opened artery; all goodness drains away.

2. Considerable loss of Nitrogen due to establishment of anaerobic flora.

3. Putrefaction as a result of lack of oxygen-release of noxious gases.

Complete Tapping of Dung and Urine

Well ventilated sheds Earthen floors with bedding Soiled bedding and dung removed

periodically Earthen floor swept clean Wet places covered with new earth, after

scraping out the very wet patches During non rainy season cows should be

housed in kraals to make the rain effective

Non Rainy Season Fed in Portable Feeders

Kraals to Make the Rain Effective

Dung and Urine in Kraals

No Removal of Dung

Why Urine Should be Tapped Key substance in the manufacture of

humus from vegetable waste It contains in a soluble and balanced form

all nitrogen and minerals needed for the work of fungi and bacteria which break down the various forms of cellulose-First step in the synthesis of humus

Medicinal properties

4.1.1.5  AV 3-14-5 Goshala and Biodiversity of Life

गोशाला में भि�न्न भि�न्न जी� जंतु  आ�श्यक  �भिश�ो �ो गोष्ठो ��तु शारिरशाके� पुष्यत।इह�ैोत प्र जायध्�ं मया �: संसृजामसिस।। 

अथ�+ 3-14-5 सृजामसिस 

We provide for you शिशवो वो तिगष्ठो this shelter to be blessed with शारिरकाशैव different birds (like egrets). Parrots and animals living together in this cow house may provide us with रायस्पोषेण बहुला plentiful bounties,  सदेम sustainable  रुप  welfare Aीवा Aीव9ती for all the life here, to be also पुष्यत healthy on feeds, प्रAायध्वं and to have large progeny (biodiversity chain of nature).

इस गौशाला में गौओं के संपूण& तिवकास के पया&वरण  में णिभN णिभN प्रकार के तोते बगुले इत्यादिद पक्षी अ9य पशु  साथ साथ रहर्नोे वाले भी गौ के स्वास्थ्य और पौधि`कता के शिलए आवश्यक हैं.

Egrets

Poultry

4.1.0.38 AV 12-4-38 Cow Breeding Facility

गौ प्रAर्नोर्नो व्यवस्थायो वेहतं म9यमार्नोो ऽमा च पचते वशा ।

अप्यस्य पुत्रार्नो् पौत्रांश्च याचयते बृहस्पतित ।। 12-4-38

Neglect of breeding a good cow makes the coming  generation of society into beggars. 

4.1.0.37 AV 12-4-37 Cows Denied Mating are Angry Cows

गौ को वृषभ आवश्यक हैप्रवीयमार्नोा  चरतित कु्रद्धा गोपतये वशा ।

वेहतं मा म9यमार्नोो  मृत्योः पाशेषु बध्यताम् ।। अथव& 12-4-37

Denial of breeding to good cows makes them infertile, makes the cows angry and curses the keepers to death..

About the Author•Name in full Dr. Sreekumar. S • Age and Gender 48, Male• Country/State of Origin India, Kerala• Highest Degree and Year BVSc & AH 1992• Educational Institution College of Veterinary and Animal

Sciences, Mannuthy,Trichur,Kerala• Professional Work Veterinary Officer for 20 years in

Dairy co-operative Milk Union Kerala• Affiliation with ISKCON Since 2009• Present Service Associating with

ISKCON Belgaum

Om Sri Surabhyai Namah !

“Cows Must be Given all Protection!”

“Om Surabhyai namah”

Thank you and

All the best