Many of my friends and guests make interesting comments and observations related to cows. They are earnest and well-meaning while making those comments. Normally they are around the topics of holy cows, sending them to slaughter houses, unethical practices in dairy farming, etc. They are shocked to hear that many farmers send the old/non-productive cows and male calves to slaughter houses. It is mainly because we have been brought up with the idea of "Gau Mata" and the sins of harming the cows. However, many people want to rest the responsibility of Gau Seva with farmers.
Disclaimer: I am not supporting these practices through this article. I am simply trying to help people be non-judgemental and empathetic.
It is true that "ethical" dairy farming is not financially viable as most of the customers are not willing to bear the cost of the "ethical" practices. That is why most of the dairy farmers adopt one or more of the following practices:
1) Artificial insemination of the cows, thus turning them into "milk machines". This helps them reduce the "non-productive" time of the cows, between two lactating periods.
2) Treating the cows with hormones and giving them artificial feed to increase the milk production.
3) Sending the male calves to slaughter houses as soon as they are born.
4) Sending the old cows to slaughter houses as they can't give milk any more.
5) Abandoning the old cows and male calves on the streets.
Many non-dairy farmers keep the cows for milk only, and not for farming. In this case, they once again adapt one or more of the above practices.
There are many other farmers (particularly organic) who keep cows primarily for farming purposes. They make their own fertilizers, pesticides, etc using cow dung and cow urine. Even among them, there are many who follow one or more of the above practices, mainly for economic reasons. For example, it will cost at least Rs. 1,000/- per month to keep the cows. Most of the marginal farmers won't be in a position to afford this. Another reason is that if you have two cows and you let them reproduce naturally, you will most likely be left with 8 cattle in 5 years. What can we expect a farmer to do with so many cattle?
Next aspect is the concept of Gaushalas and Cow Rescue/Rehabilitation Centers. I have seen many Gaushalas opening with noble thoughts and sacred emotions, but they struggle to keep it going due to the economic aspects. As long as they have to buy the cowfeed, it becomes tough financially. There are few other Gaushalas who have started adapting one or more of the above mentioned practices, to stay afloat. There are a few Gaushalas who have made innovative products of good quality, but struggling to market them.
Now I am coming to the most important part. What is the way out? I am trying to put down a few thoughts below, without any specific implications for any of these points. (However you are free to think of your own implications).
1) Reducing the need for milk can definitely help to some extent, by reducing the need for more cows.
2) Integrating Farm and Gaushala. I repeatedly keep telling everyone that an organic farm without cows and a Gaushala without an organic farm are NOT sustainable. They have to be together in the same place. If that is not feasible for whatever reason, they should at least be close by, with an understanding to help each other. That is, the cows can graze in the farm and the manure is made available to the farm.
3) More and more people adapting organic farming (including those who are into terrace gardening). Of course, all these people cannot keep cows. This is where the Gaushalas can play an important role by making innovative and useful products.
4) Innovate on products based on cow dung and cow urine. There are already few options like electricity generation, gobar gas, Vedic Plaster, mosquito coils, etc. Need to experiment and research, prove the claims and market them properly. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Ayog of the Central Govt, Gau Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra at Nagpur, promoted by RSS are some such initiatives in this direction. But they still need to take up the task more vigorously. And we need many more such initiatives by individuals, institutes, industry/corporates and organizations.
5) The last, but not the best option is for the general public and society owning up "Gau Seva". At least those who really feel for the "Gau Mata" should start adapting/sponsoring the cows in farms and Gaushalas.
To conclude, it is easy to blame the farmers for the cruel and unethical practices related to cows, but try to understand their predicaments and help them solve it in whatever you can!
