By Nitin Bhatt
Assistant Executive Secretary
Ahimsa Foundation for Cattle Protection
“We, the Ahimsa Foundation for Cattle Protection, would like to comment on the article “Cow Protection” penned by Dusyanta Prabhu”
Dictionary Uvaca
Dusyanta prabhuâs understanding of the word âcowâ is somewhat incorrect. The words cow and cattle are defined in various dictionaries as:
COW:
1. The mature female of cattle of the genus Bos.
3. A domesticated bovine of either sex or any age.
CATTLE:
Cows, bulls, or steers that are kept on a farm or ranch for meat or milk
During my agricultural studies, the word cow was used exclusively to denote a female bovine, while the word âcattleâ referred to cows, bulls and oxen.
Our experience at AFFCAP has shown that goshalas, both in and out of ISKCON, neglect the male segment of the genus Bos. We were determined not to repeat this mistake. Therefore, the importance of caring for bulls and oxen is reflected in both the Foundationâs name and Cattle Protection Standards.
The third and informal use of cow supports Dusyantaâs supposition; however, since we interact with goshalas, agricultural universities and government agencies, the use of the word cattle is most appropriate. In deference to Dusyanta Prabhu, and for the purpose of todayâs discussion, we will employ the word cow.
AFFCAP is NOT part of ISKCON
We are an independent trust formed in Jaipur, India and perform Ahimsa certifications to goshalas throughout India. Yet, we are proud to declare that our philosophical underpinnings are solely focused on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
AFFCAP is governed by six Trustees and three are âin-houseâ ISKCON members. The other three are accomplished businessmen. All except one are involved in running goshalas, and the Foundationâs day-to-day operations are undertaken by the Managing Trustee, the Executive Secretary and an associate.
Ahimsa Certification
The process of certifying involves ear tagging animals and entering their parentage, milk production, birth date and such-like into our database. This allows us to assist goshalas in improving their breeding programs, milk production, etc. It also permits us to source bulls for goshalas who are looking to improve herd genotype.
Huge Ear Tags
The use of âhuge plastic yellow tabs in their earsâ is an exaggeration. In reality a 1.5 X 2.5 inch tag is employed, allowing an inspector to note the presence and condition of each animal. Our first goal is to stop the abandonment of cows to the street, or selling of animals to the slaughterhouse. This demands the ability to identify and track each animal.
Ear tagging is an accepted practice around the world; however, we are currently investigating RFID — Radio Frequency ID — via Rumen Bolus or syringe. The RFID process is more expensive as scanners and computer programs are required, so will unlikely be the first choice of many goshalas. AFFCAPâs plan is to offer both options.
The application of ear tags is painless and a short video documenting this is available. Send your email address to info@affcap.org and we will be happy to send you a copy along with our Cattle Protection Standards.
AFFCAP-certified animals can only be sold or given to another AFFCAP-certified goshala. So once in our system, the animal can and will be traced throughout their life.
Paper-pushing Foundation
The Cow Protection articleâs statements of âpaper-pushing foundations;â âalternative ideas are put forward to get rid of the cows;â âthe cows are âperceivedâ to be surplus to their requirements and cost a lot of money, so they are disposed ofâ makes us skeptical of Dusyantaâs claim of no prejudice.
He has not requested a copy of our Cattle Protection Standards, inquired about certification procedures, or contacted our office; so it is difficult to understand how these claims can be made honestly. What is to be gained by such unfounded statements and how is it conducive to pushing on cow protection?
At this time, AFFCAP is not certifying gau-rakshya byproducts. We do not have any problem in doing so, but the necessary standards are not currently in place.
India and Cow Protection
India is the largest exporter of meat and leather in the world and possesses the largest dairy herd on the planet. Thirty percent of the export is beef. Demand for dairy products expands at 10.2% annually to supply an exploding middle class. This further exacerbates the expansion of the national herd, providing increased inclination to act immorally regarding the welfare of the cow. We are determined that our member goshalas do not participate in this exploitation, in contrast to many goshalas falsely deputing lifelong cow protection.
AFFCAP Cattle Protection Standards
The main thrust of the Cattle Protection Standards is the overall care of the cows. Sections include protection, organization of cow care facilities, shelter, feeding, milking, training oxen and herd expansion. The second section focuses on breeding standard, castration, insemination and Deshi breed traits. Please email us at info@affcap.org for an electronic copy.
Dusyanta is certainly correct in assessing the cow to be a necessary component of a simple living, high thinking society. In all the goshalas I have visited, none have evolved to this point. Many do not even hold the objective dear — especially those outside of ISKCON. But that doesnât turn us into fronts for the slaughterhouse industry.
AFFCAP Administration
All AFFCAP Trustees — including the Managing Trustee — and the Executive Secretary provide their services free-of-charge. By no means are we part of the fantasized capitalistic juggernaut. However, there are many legitimate expenses in conducting certification, and it is not sustainable if these costs are not covered. Certification is only our first priority and as funds allow, we will be providing additional support to goshalas.
Our fees have recently been cut in order to become more attractive to goshalas. The current fee will not even cover the cost of inspection. So in order to proceed, a patron drive has been implemented to support certification efforts. Patronship information can be found on our website ( www.affcap.org ).
True Cost of Milk
The price we pay for milk in the market does not cover the expense of maintaining a cow for its life. As a desperate attempt to make ends meet, animal slaughter has been introduced. As such, the first to be sacrificed and abandoned are bull calves and non-productive cows. Sadly, the sacrifice of their lives is accounted in the cost of meat from the slaughterhouse.
Vegan Diet
The bull calvesâ prime purpose is draught. Subsequently, the eating of tractor-produced vegetables and grains, culminate in the unemployment and slaughter of bulls and oxen. Therefore, even adopting a vegan diet does not liberate the practitioner from slaughtering cows. So in a real sense, vegans are as implicated in the slaughtering business as the lacto vegetarian. The obvious solution is to develop a nationally protected herd.
The publicâs disdain of animal draft and simple living is at the heart of the problem. In reality, it is a symptom of laziness, impersonalism and materialism. We are all complicit. Fortunately, alternatives exist.
AFFCAP Patronship
A benefit of the AFFCAP patron program is that it allows milk drinkers to protect cows allowing them to offset their milk deficit. This can be done by an AFFCAP silver, gold or platinum patronship. Alternatively, one can provide support to an AFFCAP-certified goshala.
If a goshala you support isnât certified, please inform them of our services and request their participation. If they refuse, please ask why not. We will be delighted to contact them in order to provide an explanation of the AFFCAP program.
Basis of Human Civilization
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami explains:
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmanya-hitaya ca
The purport of this prayer is that the Lord specifically protects the brahmanas and the cows, and then He protects all other members of society (jagad-dhitaya). It is His will that universal welfare work depends on the protection of cows and brahmanas; thus brahminical culture and cow protection are the basic principles for human civilization. SB 3.22.3, Purport
Therefore, cattle protection defines human society and we would be foolish to neglect it. In this regard, AFFCAP is dedicated to assisting the cattle protectors and their charges.
Please do not believe anyone who states otherwise. Jaya Govinda!
Hare Krsna .
I have been in farming all my life. And the yellow 1.5 inch x 2.5inch yellow plastic ear tags are factual and not an exageration as explained by Nitin Bhatt. What is not the exaggeration? That they have yellow ear tags or the size of them. Look at a picture of a young calf with brand new yellow ear tags , they look ridiculous. And they do hurt the calf when they are clamped into the ears with metal pliers-like utensils. Not only do they hurt but the cows get them caught on all sorts of things and they get ripped out of their ears and cause loads of pain. Many cows have ripped ears from this and its violence in motion. Before the huge yellow plastic tags were small metal ones with the numbers etched into it but the humans could not read the number so the huge yellow tags were put in for the humans benefit especially the beef trade.
Yes the word COW is a way better term for describing protected cows. Cattle is for commercial herds of whatever gender of animals for slaughter so we devotees steer clear of such derogatory terms as the word “Cattle” to describe protected cows. Also we dont follow dictionary and “farming” definitions in the literal sense of applying them to Lord Krishna’s protected cows. We have an emotive reason for applying the word “COW” rather than the word “cattle”because we LOVE our cows rather than farm our cows. And the relationship with cows is one of symbiosis so applying the word “cattle” is redundant again. Cattle are huge herds of animals that are being farmed for beef there is no sybiosis, no love and no relationship as in cow protection. Thats why the word cattle is always wrong and it should be avoided by devotees. glories to the cows., Dusyanta dasa.
As already described in the article, the word COW doesnât denote specifically a dairy breed as CATTLE doesnât describe a Beefer. It may by Dusyantaâs prejudice but it has no reality in either the dictionary or agriculture, as already described.
The ear tag poses no pain to the cow, oxen or bull. Please email affcap.org@gmail.com and we will send you a video portraying the application of the tags and you will see that it is painless to the animal. They shake their head because of an unknown object being there and not because of pain.
Yes, some do get pulled out. In the Jaipur goshala one has been lost in one year and one in another goshala visited last week which were also placed one year ago. Considering the benefit to the cow, we donât see that as a big problem.
The reason for the tag is to identify the animals so they can be tracked. Please visit the Ahimsa Foundation for Cattle Protectionâs Facebook page and you will see a cow being operated upon and the amount of plastic taken from its stomach. That is the fate of many abandoned cows. Our preference is a one ounce piece of plastic in the ear in contrast to a 100 lbs. of plastic in the rumen.
The word cattle refers to two or more cows, oxen or bulls.
If you have a sentimental attachment to a word, then go for it. We went for the proper use of cattle and now have thousands of cows under our watchful eye.
We are researching RFIDs right now and perhaps Dusyanta can support the extra cost if he objects so strongly.
AFFCAP is dealing with real situations. In the original article we were accused of, or at least lumped in, with people slaughtering cows. It was quite irrational. He still has not contacted us for a copy of our standards or protocols so we consider most of his remarks uninformed.
Along with the ear tag comes a commitment by the goshala to implement our standard of cow/cattle care. This standardizes the protection and allows the herd to be part of the defining of the national protected herd. I donât see a big problem with that.
If anyone wants to see the original article, please email me at affcap.org@gmail.com and we will send you over a copy.