Extensive improvements have been made to the cows’ pasture land at New Govardhana.
Karunamayi dasi: There are many different attributes to cow protection. It covers so much more than the hands-on care for cows. A large part is managing the environment that the cows are in to make sure they are safe and healthy.
Pasture management has been a large focus in the cow protection program this year. What the cows eat affects their digestion, mood, strength, milk production, growth and more.
Winter presents a difficult time for the cows. By the end of the winter and with no rain in sight, the grass thins out and so do the cows! Maha Mantra dasa started to research what grasses would be best for this area, the winter climate and for the cows.
Settling with the decision to cultivate rye grass, Maha Mantra has planted all the seed. When the cows go into the rye, it’s like letting a child into a candy shop, they are so happy. Throughout winter Maha Mantra has been setting up sprinklers to water the grass and also watering
it by hand.
Through his research Maha Mantra found it is best for the cows to go into the fresh rye and then balance it out by putting the cows in to some roughage to keep their stomachs settled. We all know too much of anything isn’t always good for us.
In the next year there are further plans to progress in our pasture management with the hope of growing and baling our own grass. That way, when we go through dry spots we can hand-feed our cows with organic, home-grown grass.