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ROLE OF INDIGENOUS COWS IN ORGANIC ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES

RS Chauhan

Director, Instituteof Biotechnology GB Pant University of Agriculture & and Technology

Patwadangar–263 128 (Uttarakhand)

Organic farming, usage of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides, biodynamic farming low input agriculture, permaculture, sustainable agriculture, integrated farming practices (IPM/INM) are some of the practices that are being espoused by proponents both in developed and developing countries. All these practices have evolved so called as alternatives to chemical use in agriculture but in India these practices were already existed 50 years ago.

Philosophy of Organic Farming

Organic farming can be seen as an approach to agriculture where the aim is to create integrated, humane, environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production systems. The 'organic' is best thought of as referring not to the type of inputs used, but to the concept of the farm as an organism, in which all components- the organic matter, soil minerals, insects, plants, animals, microorganisms and humans- interact to create a coherent, self-regulating and stable whole. Reliance on external inputs, whether chemical or organic, is reduced as far as possible. Organic agriculture is also known as ecological or biological agriculture, reflecting the reliance on ecosystem management rather than external inputs.

It has been scientifically proven beyond doubt that organic farming systems are the most environmentally-friendly, and thus sustainable, agricultural methods. This method of production actively assists in preserving eco-systems and the variety of species, protecting the soil, keeping the water clean and reducing the impact of agriculture on the atmosphere.

Organic farming does not need costly investments in

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irrigation, energy and external inputs, but rather organic farming policies have the potential to improve local food security, essentially in marginal areas. Further, organic farming in the Indian context can be significant in two distinct ways:

To increase the efficiency and sustainability of production: Organic farming can help to reduce production costs (especially where labour is cheap compared to input costs) and to increase or stabilize yields on marginal soils. This is especially relevant for smallholders in marginal areas where green revolution agriculture has lead to a depletion of soil fertility and to high debts because of increase in input costs.

To increase product value: In areas where farmers have access to established organic markets within the country or abroad, products can achieve a higher price compared to the conventional market. Especially in the trend of decreasing prices for agricultural products, this can be an important way to stabilize or even increase incomes.

India has traditionally practiced organic agriculture. Several forms of organic farming are being successfully practiced in diverse climate, particularly in rainfed, tribal, mountains and hilly areas of India. Further, the importance of organic manures in agriculture is known since ancient times, and finds mention in ancient Hindu religious scriptures (Rig Veda 1, 161, 10, 2500-1500 BC; Atharva Veda II 8.3).

In fact, organic agriculture is based on holistic management systems which promote and enhance agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally-adapted systems. In the context of the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines, "organic" is a labelling term which denotes products that have been produced in accordance with organic production standards and are certified by a duly constituted certification body or authority.

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The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) has defined the objectives of organic farming as follows:

To produce food and beverages of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity;

To work with natural systems rather than seeking to dominate them;

To encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming system, involving micro-organisms; soil flora and fauna, plants and animals;

To maintain and increase the long-term fertility of soils;

To use as far as possible renewable on-farm resources in locally organized agricultural systems;

To work as much as possible within a closed system with regard to organic matter and nutrient elements;

To give all livestock conditions of life that allow them to perform all aspects of their innate behaviour;

To avoid all forms of pollution that may result from agricultural techniques;

To maintain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats;

To allow agricultural producers an adequate return and satisfaction from their work including a safe working environment;

To consider the wider social and ecological impact of the farming system.

Organic farming is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible, organic farming systems rely on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green

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manures, off-farm organic wastes, and aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilth, to supply plant nutrients and to control insects, weeds and other pests.

Advantages for Organic Production in India

Diverse agro-climatic regions across the country that provides environment for wide range of crops that can cater to different market demands. Some comparative advantages for organic production in India are:

1. Growing export market for organically-produced crop.

2. India is strong in high quality production of certain crops like tea, some spices, rice specialties, ayurvedic herbs etc.

3. India has a rich heritage of agricultural traditions that are suitable for designing organic production systems. Sophisticated crop rotation or mixed cropping patterns, for example the famous agro-forestry systems of the Western Ghats, facilitate the management of pests, diseases and nutrient recycling. Botanical preparations, some of which originate from the ancient Veda scripts, provide a rich source for locally-adapted pest and disease management techniques. The widespread cultivation of legume crops facilitates the supply of biologically fixed nitrogen.

4. In several regions of India agriculture is not very intensive as regards the use of agro-chemicals. Especially in mountain areas and tribal areas, use of agro-chemicals is rather low, which facilitates conversion to organic production. On these marginal soils, organic production techniques have proved to achieve comparable or in some cases (especially in the humid tropics) even higher yields than conventional farming.

5. Availability of comparatively cheap labour for labour-intensive organic agriculture.

6. Increasing awareness and health consciousness especially among certain sectors of domestic consumers.

7. The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) sector in India is

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very strong and active promoters of organic farming provide training, extension services information and marketing services to farming communities in different agroclimatic regions.

8. Enhanced Government attention and support for organic agriculture through various policy initiations and action programmes.

Government initiatives to promote organic farming

Declaring standards for organic production;

Recognizing specific bodies for preparing an approved package of practices for specified products and for approving certification programmes;

Allowing the recognized bodies to accredit agencies to inspect and certify those products;

Seeking recognition from, and according reciprocal recognition to, standards of other nations and trading blocs;

Instituting a logo and prescribing its award by accrediting bodies to products that qualify for bearing the Indian Organic Label.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce is the nodal agency to promote the Indian organic agriculture and its export opportunities.

Indigenous cattle in organic farming

Bos Indicus or Zebu cattle breeds which are the humped cattle, found in the Indian sub-continent are thought to be the world‟s oldest domesticated cattle. Cow has been a cornerstone of Indian agriculture for centuries and has served as source of nutrition for farmer‟s families through milk and milk products, as well as providing draught animal power for both agricultural operations such as ploughing and tilling the land, as well as for transportation of goods. Nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the cow, with contributions in all aspects of life,

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including farming and manure, food and nourishment, transport, fuel (burning of dried cow dung cakes and medicinal usage of cow dung and cow urine.

According to a booklet on Livestock and Environment for Sustainable Development, published by CARTMAN, Bangalore, bullocks constitute 88% of the work animals, cows less than 2% and buffaloes only 9%, the latter being kept mainly for milk purposes.

The total area of our country is 32.6 crore hectares having East to West distance of 2977 km and North to South span of 3219 km. A population of nearly 50 crores is spread over this vast area. Of this 82% is in 6,66,878 villages, nearly half of these villages having less than 500 persons. And of course, it is this rural area that does the farming and so supports the cow. In the centuries-old cow economy of this country, nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the pivotal cow. These are:

Farming and manure,

Food and nourishment,

Transport,

Fuel,

Housing, and

Medicinal usage.

Rearing of cattle is an enterprise, which enables poor and landless farmers to earn income using common-property resources and land that has no other sustainable agricultural use. The cattle and other livestock are fed on crop residues and agricultural farm produce and by-products that would otherwise be wasted. Cattle products are an important source of nutrients, and the addition of milk to the diet provides protein, calcium, vitamins, and other nutrients that would otherwise be lacking. Besides providing food, cattle form the most important form of

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non-human power available to poor farmers.

The cattle biodiversity present in India is unparallel in the world, encompassing a wide spectrum of breeds of indigenous cattle which are elaborately allied with social, cultural and traditional values of the diversified geographical areas of the country and its inhabitants. Cow has been deemed very holy in Indian culture and any assistance presented to them is regarded as heavenly. As a salutation of gratefulness, cow has been adored as „Gomata‟ (mother cow) in India since ancient times. During recent past when emphasis shifted from the absolute contributions of cows to milk production only, our indigenous cattle faced discrimination due to their low milk productivity. However, the encounters of crossbreeding (cross species- Bos indicus X Bos taurus) on top of the breed replacements with exotic cattle have not found much favour with farmers due to the associated problems of health, reproductive failures, nutrition and other sophisticated requirements. As a consequence significance has again shifted towards indigenous cattle breeds which have not been exploited to their full potential towards the improvement and conservation of local breeds.

As per the livestock census of 2003, India has 18.5 crore cattle population, which registered a decrease of about 7.0% from that of 1997 livestock census. Majority of this belong to indigenous cattle (87%). There had been radical changes within cattle population over the last couple of years indicating a shift in the priority of the farmers from bullock production to milk production. India is no. 1 in milk production; forty percent of which comes from cows including 22% from indigenous and 18% from crossbred or exotic cows. In spite of all unfavourable circumstances, indigenous cattle contribute immensely in the economy of country through milk, draught, urine, dung, bones, hides, horns etc. There are 30 well defined breeds of cattle in India apart from several other undefined populations in different parts of the country. Recognized breeds represents about 20% of the total cattle population. These are classified into 4 categories

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as per their utility in Indian socio-economic conditions.

1. Milch breeds: Sahiwal, Gir, Rati and Red Sindhi.

2. Draft: Amritmahal, Bachaur, Bargur, Dangi, Hallikar, Kangayam, Kenkat, Kherigarh, Khillari, Malvi, Nagori, Nimari, Ponwar, Umblachery, Red Kandhari and Siri.

3. Dual Purpose: Deoni, Gaolao Hariana, Kankrej, Krishnavalley, Mewati, Ongole and Tharparkar.

4. Dwarf Cattle: Vechur, Punganur and Badri Cow (Red hill cattle of Uttaranchal).

Cattle population and its trend in India

Census Year Population (millions) Trend (%) from the

previous census year

1951 155.30 -

1956 158.70 2.19

1961 175.60 10.65

1966 176.20 0.34

1972 178.30 1.19

1977 180.00 0.95

1982 192.45 6.92

1987 199.69 3.76

1992 204.58 2.45

1997 198.89 -2.78

2003 185.18 -6.89

Population of crossbred and indigenous cattle in India (2003)

States/ UTs Cattle population (in thousands)

Indigenous Crossbred Total

1. Andhra Pradesh 8193 1107 9300

2. Arunachal Pradesh 445 13 458

3. Assam 7999 440 8439

4. Bihar 9455 1274 10729

5. Chhatisgarh 8629 253 8882

6. Goa 63 12 75

7. Gujarat 6785 639 7424

8. Haryana 967 573 1540

9. Himachal Pradesh 1559 677 2236

10. Jammu & Kashmir 1764 1320 3084

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11. Jharkhand 7513 145 7658

12. Karnataka 7936 1602 9539

13. Kerala 387 1735 2122

14. Madhya Pradesh 18595 317 18913

15. Maharashtra 13527 2776 16303

16. Manipur 349 69 418

17. Meghalaya 744 23 767

18. Mizoram 27 9 36

19. Nagaland 208 243 451

20. Orissa 12840 1063 13903

21. Punjab 508 1531 2039

22. Rajasthan 10390 464 10854

23. Sikkim 79 80 159

24. Tamil Nadu 4001 5140 9141

25. Tripura 702 57 759

26. Uttar Pradesh 16917 1634 18551

27. Uttaranchal 1961 228 2188

28. West Bengal 17794 1119 18913

29. Aandman Nicobar 51 13 64

30. Chandigarh 1 5 6

31. Dadar & Nagar Haveli 49 1 50

32. Daman & Diu 4 0 4

33. Delhi 34 58 92

34. Lakshadweep 2 2 4

35. Pondicherry 16 63 78

All India 160494 24685 185179

These breeds of cattle are the result of thousands of years of selection, evolution and development in the process of domestication suitable to the local agro-climatic conditions. Milch breeds like Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Gir and Rathi are high milk producers while majority of other cattle breeds belong to draught or dual purpose category providing small/ good amount of milk besides good quality bullocks for draught and other purposes in agriculture. These native breeds exhibit a distinct superiority in utilizing poor quality feed and are adapted to withstand heat and show better resistance to tropical diseases.

Cows are considered very sacred in Indian culture possibly due to the fact that they are environment friendly and important for sustaining human life. The cow is vegetarian and provides

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every bit of itself to support human life; milk, dung, urine, skin, horn, hooves etc.

Conservation of Indian cattle for organic farming

The conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources is deemed to be essential in the light of the rapid loss of native breeds either through crossbreeding (using indigenous bull through back crossing) or direct replacement with exotic breeds. Further

No organized effort has been made to improve the genetic potential of indigenous breeds. So the actual worth of these breeds is not known so far.

Crossbreds are more milk producer as compared to indigenous under favourable environments but their tendency to wilt under Indian conditions of low input and harsh climate, susceptibility to tropical diseases, drop in production levels beyond F1‟s etc. warrants the conservation of indigenous breeds for future use.

Non-renewable sources of energy are bound to exhaust sooner or later. If this does happen, we may have to fall back on animal wealth for providing draught power and hence we cannot take risk of letting these breeds go extinct.

Landless and small farmers in India are mainly dependent on livestock for their livelihood. They possess majority of indigenous livestock including cattle. The inequality in land distribution is going to increase in times ahead and smallholder livestock enterprise will emerge as a major alternate to crops for resource poor farmers as they cannot afford to maintain high producing but more expensive and genetically unstable crossbreds. Indigenous breeds will then be most sought after

Indigenous Cow in Organic Farming

Minimal requirements

Adapted to diverse Indian environment

Milk- human nutrition

Bullocks

Agriculture

Transport

Biofertilizer

Biopesticide/ pest repellent

Fuel

Medicine

Ecofriendly

Sustainable farming system

Socio economic values

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commodity.

Conservation of indigenous cattle for their products e.g. urine, dung as these possess medicinal properties and can be utilized for treatment of various human ailments.

For organic farming (natural farming), the conservation of indigenous cattle is essential as their dung and urine are utilized as organic manure and biopesticide, respectively.

COW DUNG

Cow dung has been considered as a Gold Mine due its wide applications in the field of agriculture, energy resource, environmental protection and therapeutic applications. Dung as fuel is well known for rural kitchen. Cow dung patties (gootte) are used for cooking. Roasting of potato, sweet potato in it is still considered the best fuel as against electric oven. Traditional wisdom says that in burning these cow dung cakes, the temperature never rises beyond a certain point, ensuring overheating does not destroy the nutrients in the food. Besides, the smoke of gobar clears the air of germs. Gobar has also been successfully used to produce bio-gas (methane) and generate electricity for consumer use. Biogas is used in cooking, for lighting in homes and streets. It can be used for driving self-combustion engines for various uses like running a generator to produce electricity. The slurry (residue) could also be used for production of manure, which when spread on crops acts as an excellent fertilizer. Dung for Bio-gas and its slurry for manure is providing renewable cooking energy and slurry for compost. Cow dung is the best fertilizer. Composting makes it even more powerful fertilizer. It is rich in nitrogen. Different types of bio-fertilizers using cow dung and urine and vegetative waste have been developed using compost method and vermiculture. Cow dung keeps the rotting compost antiseptic. The digester turns the dung into sterile compost and all worms get killed. With use of 1 kg of cow dung with 15/16 kg of Biomas and similar quantity of soil from the fields, 30 kg of good compost is made. This is also

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approved by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Vermi Compost from cow's dung exhibits excellent plant growth promotion property.

Panchgavya spray has been found effective on all the crops under evaluation than the foliar spray of recommended nutrients and growth regulators and found advantageous since it recorded higher growth and productivity than with no Panchgavya spray. Degraded soil is improved by layer of soil and bio-mass with sprinkling of fresh dung slurry for composting. Cow dung along with sea water and yeast has been exploited as a liquid catalyst. It is claimed that this is capable of greening degraded land. Not only good compost is made but valuable organisms like earthworms are also generated in due course which keep on working all through. Individually or system as a whole, biogas slurry with Panchgavya combination is adjudged as the best organic nutritional practice for the sustainability of crops by positive impacts on overall performance on growth, productivity and quality of crops, the soil health and economics. Modern day ecologists are saying that as compared to chemical fertilizer, which damages the land in the long run, cow dung actually improves the health of the soil.

Covering seeds with dung before planting helps to protect against pests. It is an excellent conditioner for the soil. Mixed with mud and water, it is used to coat the floors and walls in mud houses. As a mud additive it dries up slippery mud puddles and improves water absorption of mud. Anti-septic property is also the attribute of cow dung, which is mixed with clay to form a plastering medium for mud huts. Thin coating of dung for cooking place, havan kund, havan platform, mud house, floors, walls

Cow Dung as Gold Mine

Cakes/ Patties (Kanda/ Upla)

Smoke clears germs/ mosquitoes

Biogas

Cooking

Transport

Generation of electricity

Dry ice

Slurry as manure

Compost/ Vermi compost

Amrit Pani (Panchgavya)

Protection of seeds

Plastering houses- Checks radiation

Ash- Cleaning agent

Tooth cleaner

As part of Panchgavya

Several medicinal properties

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provide antiseptic surface. Mud and cow dung ashes become like cement, having improved resistance to disintegration. It is a proven fact that mud huts plastered with cow dung keep insects and reptiles away. For this reason, people in the countryside still store grain in huge earthen pots plastered with cow dung and urine to keep it free from insect manifestations. Smoldering cow patties keep away mosquitoes. Apparently, the traditional Indian village system of wiping the floor daily with a mixture of water and fresh cow dung assures that flies will not settle there. Cow dung is naturally hot and composting makes it hotter. It can be put in glass house to warm them or on run pipes to get hot water. Pots can be cleaned using cow dung in the same way one uses brass polish or soap. It absorbs oil and fat. Dung ash is a very good cleaning agent for utensils and can avoid use of chemicals like vim, which leaves residual effect.

Thrown into pond, cow dung neutralizes acid. It possesses natural antiseptic qualities. Dung ash also helps in controlling pests. Cow dung from a single cow in its life span can produce 4500 liters of biogas which is equivalent to burning 6,80,00,000 tons of wood. This will help us save 14 crore trees from cutting and burning and thus give environment protection. Fertilizers from cow dung act as effective pollution controllers for soil, water and air. Scientific studies show that gobar has been found to be resistant to solar radiation. Experts say that pyramid shaped hump of cow absorbs solar energy. Press reports have appeared mentioning that houses coated with cow dung plaster are saved from nuclear radiation i.e. get protected from atomic emissions. Our own Nuclear Department should experiment on cow dung in their laboratories for the scientific facts. Dung, when sprayed on garbage and waste dump, within a few hours makes these free from all foul odors and even flies are not attracted. Experiments are being made near Indore to fill cattle horns (of dead animals) with dung. These are buried underground before winter and in autumn they are taken out. 25/30 gms of this enriched dung is mixed with 10 liters of rain water and sprayed which gives good

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result.

Cow dung when mixed with crushed neem leaves and smeared on skin - good for boils and heat rashes. It is a good alternative to toothpaste, which is made of chemicals and bones of dead animals causing relief in toothache. Through many experiments on cow dung the famous Italian scientist Prof. G.E. Bea God has proven that the fresh cow dung kills the germs of Malaria and T.B. It has been observed that smoke from ashes actually increases our eyelids to close and open so many times that lot of water from the eyes comes out which increases the vision of eyes of a person to old age also. Cow dung is superior to other dung because it is antiseptic and has prophylactic (disease preventive) properties. It destroys micro-organisms that cause disease. It should be kept in mind that fresh cow dung is pure but once it has laid on the ground, the quality may change with the passage of time. Cow dung as described in our Scriptures is definite indication of prosperity evident from Gobar-dhan Puja, next day of Deepawali (a very popular festival of India during October or November).

COW URINE

Cow urine has many beneficial properties particularly in the areas of agriculture and therapeutics. It has also been observed during the scientific research that the urine of Indian cows is highly effective and interestingly almost nil or few medicinal properties are present in the urine of crossbred, exotic cows, buffaloes etc. Recent research showed that cow urine enhances the immune status of an individual through activating the macrophages and augmenting their engulfment power as well as bactericidal activity.

Addition of cow‟s urine in composting pits led to production of superior quality vermicompost with higher concentrations of major macro- and micro-nutrients and was found to be superior in terms of useful microflora (fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes). Application of this vermicompost in pots significantly improved the yields of leucerne (Medicago sativa). Cow urine acts like a

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disinfectant and thus purifies atmosphere and improves the fertility of the land. Cow urine as such and/or after addition of neem leaves is a wonderful biopesticide. Such biopesticides are safe to use, do not accumulate in the food chain and as such do not have the harmful effects like chemical pesticides. In 10 litres of cattle urine, about 2 kg of neem leaves are soaked with some other vegetable matter and can be used in proportion of 1:50 for spraying in the cultivable land. Cow dung mixed with cow urine makes excellent manure and a natural pesticide. Pest repellent

Percent increase in immunity by cow urine in comparison to control

Parameters Percent increase in immunity

1. B-cell blastogenesis 59.5 %

2. T-cell blastogenesis 64.0 %

3. Serum IgG level 19.8 %

4. Serum IgM level 19.0 %

5. Serum IgA level 0.53 %

6. Macrophage Functions 104.0 %

7. DTH reaction 126.0 %

8. Interleukin 1 level 30.9 %

9. Interleukin 2 level 11.0 %

prepared from cow urine and neem leaves exhibits excellent insecticidal, fungicidal and pesticidal properties and also exerts excellent plant growth promotion property. Urine utility has been explored for generating small power to run electronic clock and efforts are on to light torch light bulb. Cow dung and urine also mixed with mud and straw to make dried cakes to be used as kitchen fuel. When this becomes successful, each house in rural and urban area having no electricity can have light without any recurring cost. It is possible that further intensive research efforts may make it possible to use this source of energy for illumination of a small space in villages.

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Cow urine has been described in „Sushrita Samhita‟ and „Ashtanga Sangraha‟ to be the most effective substance/secretion of animal origin with innumerable therapeutic values. Taken in measured quantities, cow urine or gau mutra has a unique place in Ayurveda and is suggested for improving general health. Exploring its antimicrobial activities, it is being used to produce a whole range of Ayurvedic drugs. Cow urine therapy has a long history. Some recognized it as water of life in Vedas, sacred Hindu writing, which is said to be the oldest books in Asia, it is mentioned as “Amrita” (beverages of immortality), the nectar of the God. The urine of the cow contains all beneficial elements in it. Hence it is natural and universal medicine that fulfills the deficiency of elements and reduces the increased elements in the body and it is the quality of the urine, which helps in curing even the most incurable diseases. Cow urine contains 24 types of salts and the medicines made from cow urine are used to cure several diseases. Cow urine contains 95% water, 2.5% urea, 2.5% minerals, salt, hormones, and enzymes. It contains iron, calcium, phosphorus, salts, carbonic acid, potash, nitrogen, ammonia, manganese, iron, sulphor, phosphates, potassium, urea, uric acid, amino acids, enzymes, cytokine, lactose etc. Copper has the power to destroy diseases and act as an antidote. Cytokines and amino acids might play a role in the enhancement immune system. Gomutra alone has got all such chemical properties, potentialities and constituents that are capable of removing all the ill effects, imbalances in the body. Urine kills the number of drug resistant bacteria and viruses and cures some incurable diseases like cancers. It reduces the ill effects of pesticides in animals.

Cow Urine for Golden Revolution

Medicinal Properties

Immunomodulator

Increases Macrophage Activity

Bioenhancer

Antituberculous

Anticancer

Antifungal

Antibacterial

Antioxidant

Repairs damaged DNA

Protects DNA from aberrations

Controls cholesterol level in blood

Faster healing of wounds

Protects lymphocytes from apoptosis

Increases production in chickens

Biopesticide/ Pest repellent

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Harmful effects of pesticides and their prevention through cow urine

Humoral immunity

Pesticides B-lymphocytes

(%)

B-lymphocytes treated with cow

urine (%)

Advantage cow urine (%)

Cypermethrin 56 16 40

Allethrin 92 60 32

Captan 87 45 42

Dimethoate 73 18 55

Methyl parathion 87 54 33

Forate 81 58 23

Mancozeb 60 29 31

Propoxur 76 65 11

Thriam 61 39 22

Zineb 83 68 15

Cell mediated immunity

Pesticides T-lymphocytes

(%) Treated with cow

urine (%) Advantage cow

urine (%)

Cypermethrin 56 47 9

Allethrin 92 57 35

Captan 87 51 36

Dimethoate 87 20 67

Methyl parathion 68 55 13

Forate 82 67 15

Mancozeb 55 36 14

Propoxur 71 68 3

Thriam 67 35 32

Zineb 87 71 16

Effects on free radicals

Pesticides Effect of Pesticides

(%) Treated with

cow urine (%) Advantage

cow urine (%)

Cypermethrin 174 23 151

Allethrin 34 27 7

Captan 60 11 49

Dimethoate 66 21 44

Methyl parathion 67 8 59

Forate 14 5 9

Mancozeb 58 16 42

Propoxur 104 62 42

Thriam 102 19 83

Zineb 75 33 42

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Most of the medicines are made by distilling urine and collecting vapours. The ark (distillate) is useful for many diseases. A number of ailments could be treated and this therapy is being used even for dreaded diseases like cancer, AIDS, diabetes and skin problems. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine (from India) routinely use urine as a remedy. It is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antineoplastic (anticancer), anticonvulsive, antispasmodic and non-toxic. Improvements have been shown or reported with those suffering from flu, sinus, allergies, colds, ear infection, rheumatoid arthritis, aging, bacterial/viral infections, snake bites, chemical intoxication, chicken pox, enteritis, constipation, edema, baldness, hepatitis, leprosy, obesity, gastric ulcer, depression, heart disease, hypertension, burns, tuberculosis, asthma, tetanus, Parkinson disease, small pox, morning sickness, fever, eczema fatigue etc. It is also used as diuretic, laxative and for treatment of chronic malaria, headaches and fever. It is proved to be a universal curer Prevention of Apoptosis

Pesticides Prevention of apoptosis (%)

Cypermethrin 8

Allethrin 16

Captan 14

Dimethoate 13

Methyl parathion

14

Forate 14

Mancozeb 6

Propoxur 10

Thriam 8

Zineb 11

of blood disorders, leucorrhoea and even leprosy. The urine of the cow cleans the intestines and removes the deposited material. Hence diseases like fever, mouth and skin diseases, menstruation disorders, asthma, giddiness, increase of cough and urinary irregularities in man are cured by its regular use without any side effects. The urine of cow is bitter, pungent,

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piquant, spicy, warm and full of all the five types of elixirs. There is evidence that the urine of the cow works as the best appetizer. It smoothens and nourishes the heart and adds to the power of wisdom of man, and increases their physical strength as well. It increases life span and purifies blood from all sorts of impurities. In India drinking of cow urine has been practiced for thousands of years. It has been experimentally proved that among all sorts of urines, the urine of the Indian cows is most effective thus it is universal medicine for mankind and cures various sorts of disorders. The analysis of cow urine using HPLC is given as under:

Analysis urine - chemical fingerprinting (HPLC)

Characteristic Indigenous

cow Hill Cow

Goat Exotic Cow

Crossbred Cow

Buffalo

1. Tridos har X

2. Madhur ras X X

3. Madhur vipak X X

4. Katu ras X

5. Tikta ras X

6. Kashay ras

7. Rakta shodhak

8. Deepan

9. Pachan X

10. Rasayan X X X

11. Amhar X

12. Vat virdhi X X

13. Hepatoprotective X

14. Stress reliever X

15. Effect on Blood calcium level

X X X X

It is also very helpful in all kind of skin problems, itching, sunburns, eczema, psoriasis, acne etc. It also renders the hair soft and clean. Cow urine is entirely sterile after excretion and has antiseptic effect. Cow dung and urine are the best cures for stomach diseases, heart diseases, kidney ailments and tuberculosis. Cow's urine is prescribed as an ingredient of various plasters and mixtures (sometimes with fermented wine) or alone,

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as an antidote for obesity, as a purgative; for eliminating vermin from an ulcer; vayu disorders, abdominal dropsy and many other diseases. It can be used for stones (kidney, gall bladder etc.). Fresh cow urine from heifers or its ark can be taken as a first thing in the morning for 21 days. Uric acid in cow urine dissolves these stones to a manageable size. For diabetic youngsters it controls sugar level and keeps fit. Daily doses of 1 to 2 ounces of warm cow urine are used to treat cirrhosis of the liver. Urine as such and or mixed with honey/salt is also administered for Liver and other problems. Antimony sulfide and cow urine taken internally are used to cure malignant jaundice.

It has a cure for athlete‟s feet. It has been observed that people cleaning the cow milk barn by bare foot don‟t suffer from athlete‟s foot. Cow's Urine has immunostimulant activity in plants and animals. A herbal preparation popular in Nigeria is based on cow's urine and some herbs known as cow urine concoction (CUC). Over fifty chemical compounds have been identified in CUC. Its major pharmacological actions are anticonvulsant and hypoglycemic effects. For the case of sebaceous cysts (large swellings that exude a fatty liquid on bursting), incision followed by washing with cow's urine is prescribed. Another treatment is the surgical incision and the removal of fat followed by cauterization of the wound. Cow urine acts like a disinfectant and prophylactic agent and thus purifies atmosphere. A cow urine distillate fraction has been identified as a bioenhancer of the activities of commonly used antibiotics, anti-fungal and anti-cancer drugs. The activity of Rifampicin, a front-line anti-tubercular drug used against tuberculosis, increases by about 5-7 folds against E. coli and 3-11 folds against Gram-positive bacteria. Potency of „Taxol‟ (paclitaxel) has been observed to get increased against MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line in in-vitro assays (US Patent No. 6,410,059). (The Hindu, 4 July, 2002; The Indian Express, 4 July, 2002). Bioenhancers are substances, which do not possess drug activity of their own but promote and augment the bioactivity or bioavailability or the

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uptake of drugs in combination therapy. Such bioenhancers have been earlier isolated only from plant sources. It has been found that cow urine also act as a bioenhancer and increases the efficacy of the antibiotics against infectious agents. Bio enhancement has also been observed with other drugs viz. Ampicillin, Isoniazid, Clotrimazole, Cyanocobalamine etc. Bioenhancer activity has been found to reduce the antibiotic dose per day and duration of treatment in tuberculosis patients.

Cow urine possesses anti-cancer properties. Research works carried out by Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra (cow science research center) at Nagpur revealed the beneficial properties of cow urine in the treatment of cancers. Further extensive research on cow urine therapy against fighting carried out by Scientists of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), CSIR center at Lucknow, along with collaboration with Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra, Nagpur confirmed this milestone achievement. Studies highlight the role of cow urine in treating cancers and that cow urine enhances the efficacy and potency of anti-cancer drugs. Recently, this significant achievement has been validated by the grant of U.S. patent (No. 6896907) in the field of treatment of cancers (Amar Ujala, July, 19, 2005). The Indigenous cow urine contains “Rasayan” tatva, which is responsible to modulate immune system and act as bioenhancer. Scientists have proved that the pesticides even at very low doses cause apoptosis (cell suicide) in lymphocytes of blood and tissues through fragmentation of DNA. Cow urine helps the lymphocytes to survive and not to commit suicide. It also repairs the damaged DNA and thus is effective for the cancer therapy. The above two US Patents have attracted global attention. US Patents to Indian Scientists on Cow urine therapy made realize that all traditional practices from Indian systems of medicine have a strong scientific base. The cow urine, the best therapy that can cure disorders, is non-toxic and can be obtained free of cost through domestication of cow. It is an important ingredient of Panchgavya, which has been tested

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by various workers for its immunomodulatory properties and have been reported that it enhances both cellular and humoral immune response. In-vivo cow urine treatment to developing chicks marginally upregulated the lymphocyte proliferation activity.

The immunomodulatory effect of Kamdhenu ark prepared from cow urine were studied in mice and it was found that cow urine enhances both T- and B-cell proliferation and also increases the level of IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies titres. It also increases the secretion of interleukin-1 and 2. The level of both IL-1 and 2 in mice got increased by 30.9 and 11.0%, respectively and in rats these levels were increased significantly by 14.75 and 33.6%, respectively. Kamdhenu ark, a drug made from urine of zebu cattle has been reported to be a potent and safe immunomodulator, which increases both humoral and cell mediated immunity in mice. The cow urine was found to have protective effect on lymphocytes of birds undergoing apoptosis and suggested the exploitation through experimental trails for specific use of cow urine as an adjunct to vaccination. It enhances the activity of macrophages and reduces apoptosis in lymphocytes, thus is helpful in prevention and control of bacterial infections. It has been reported to prevent the pathogenic effect of free radicals through cow urine therapy. These radicals cause damage to various tissues and attack enzymes, fat and proteins disrupting normal cell activities or cell membranes, producing a chain reaction of destruction leading to the ageing process of a person. By regular use of cow urine one can get the charm of a youth as it prevents the free radicals formation. Beneficial effects of cow urine were reported on serum biochemical profile (total serum protein, glucose, calcium, and cholesterol) of laying birds. Its usefulness as antimicrobial agent, positive effect on body weight gain, hematological profiles, immunomodulatory effect on both humoral and cellular immune responses, and healing of surgical wound in experimental rats. The cow urine has capabilities to potentiate the egg production of the birds and it can be used as a feed additive for layer birds in order to get good

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quality eggs. Distilled cow urine protects DNA and repairs it rapidly as observed after damage due to actinomycin-D and pesticides. It protects chromosomal aberrations by mitomycin in human leukocyte.

For the treatment of wounds on body surface local (topical) application of antiseptic powder or lotion is recommended but in ancient Hindu mythology use of cow urine as antiseptic is found. Cow urine is having antiseptic properties in wound healing and it is observed that the healing time is somewhat less in comparison to wounds on which antiseptic cream was applied. Administration of fresh cow urine orally showed added effect on wound healing by virtue of its antiseptic and immunologically modifying properties in dogs, the healing process was observed a bit faster than the group of dogs which were not given fresh cow urine orally. Urine enemas work very well in cleansing the colon and in providing a direct immune stimulant effect. It can also be used as ear and eye drops for treating ear infections, conjunctivitis and glaucoma. Sniffing cow urine is useful in sinusitis and other nose problems like rhinitis and colds. Orally taking the middle stream of morning urine is a good tonic and preventative in minor illnesses. Gargling with urine is helpful in throat ache and also in cold. Vaginal douche is helpful in curing of infections. For, massaging/rubbing one can use either fresh or old urine. Old urine (4 to 8 days) is generally more effective in massaging and nourishes the body through the skin and helps against increased heartbeat. Fresh urine as an after-shave gives a beautiful soft skin. Hair and scalp massage can sometimes stimulates new hair growth. Footbaths can be used for any skin and nail problems of the feet (athlete‟s foot, ringworm etc. However, the biological activity of the cow urine needs to be explored scientifically.

Indigenous cows are thus having a very important place in Indian society and are termed as „Gomata or Kamdhenu‟ who fulfils all or most of the requirements of man. Since, it is useful not only for milk production but also for draught, fuel, manure, pesticide, (all sorts of requirements in agriculture) which cannot

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be fulfilled by any other single animal; hence, its necessity in organic farming/ organic animal husbandry practices is unequivocal.

References Agrawal DK, Singh NP and Chauhan RS. 2002. Colostral antibodies against rotavirus infection in

neonatal calves. J. Immunol. Immunopathol., 4(1&2): 107-109. Ahlawat SPS and Vij PK. 2005. Current issues in indigenous cattle breed improvement and

conservation. In: National Conference on „Utility of gaushalas for improvement and conservation of indigenous cattle‟ on December 27-28, 2005 at National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal (Haryana).

BAHS. 2004. Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi.

Banga RK, Chauhan RS and Telang AG. 2005. Immunodeficiency diseases of livestock and poultry: A review. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 75(4): 445-455.

Banga RK, Singhal LK and Chauhan RS. 2005. Cow urine and immunomodulation: An update on cowpathy. International Journal of Cow Science, 1(2): 26-29.

Chauhan RS and Singh GK. 2001. Immunomodulation: An overview. Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology, 3(2): 1-15.

Chauhan RS, Singh BP and Singhal LK. 2001. Immunomodulation with Kamdhenu ark in mice. Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology, 3: 74-77.

Chauhan RS. 2004. Panchgavya Therapy (Cowpathy): Current status and future directions. Indian Cow, 1: 3-7.

Dhama K, Chauhan RS and Singhal Lokesh. 2005. Anti-cancer activity of cow urine: Current status and future directions. International Journal of Cow Science, 1(2): 1-25.

Dhama K, Rathore R, Chauhan RS and Tomar S. 2005. Panchgavya (Cowpathy): An overview. International Journal of Cow Science, 1(1): 1-15.

Garg Nidhi and Chauhan RS. 2003. Cow therapy as an alternative to antibiotics. Indian Science Congress, 3-7 January, 2003, Bangalore.

Garg Nidhi and Chauhan RS. 2003. Kamdhenu ark changes humoral immunity in rat. National Symposium on Molecular Biology in India- A Post Graduate Update, January 18, 2003, Gwalior.

Gupta PK and Chauhan RS. 1999. Survival of hypocholesterolemic and antagonistic strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus in acidic pH, in presence of bile salt and their adherence to Vero cells. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 36: 152-154.

Kumar R, Chauhan RS, Singhal LK, Singh AK and Singh DD. 2002. A comparative study on immunostimulatory effects of Kamdhenu Ark and Vasant Kusumakar in mice. Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology, 4(1&2): 104-106.

Livestock Census. 2003. 17th Livestock Census. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi. (http://www.dahd.nic.in)

Nivsarkar, A.E., P.K. Vij and M.S. Tantia. 2000. Animal Genetic Resources of India- Cattle and Buffalo, Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.