COW
PROTECTION STANDARDS
APPENDIX
B TO THE MINUTES OF THE 1999 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ISKCON GBC BODY
The following cow protection
standardsfor ISKCON farms were compiled and submitted by the Ministry of Cow
Protection and Agriculture and adopted by the GBC body during its 1999 Annual
General Meeting in Mayapur.
THE COWS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS THE
CITIZENS (Krsna Book, Volume 1, Chapter 5)
"It is also significant that Vasudeva inquired about the welfare of
Nanda Maharaja's animals. The animals, and especially the cows, were protected
exactly in the manner of one's children. Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and Nanda
Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriya to give protection to the
citizens of mankind, and it is the duty of the vaisya to give protection to the
cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens
should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows also should be given full
protection."
BRAHMINICAL CULTURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED
WITHOUT COW PROTECTION (Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 8: Chapter 24, Text 5
Purport) "Without protection of
cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical
culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled."
The purpose of these guidelines is to
establish world-wide a minimum standard of cow protection within ISKCON. They
represent the product of a cooperative spirit
among the devotees involved, often of diverse views, to come to a
general agreement in a common effort to help prevent any mistreatment of ISKCON
cows and to help develop cow protection programs that exemplify Srila
Prabhupada's vision of cow protection. ISKCON has made significant efforts to
protect cows but still mistakes have been made on ISKCON farms in the past.
These have created present problems that will take time and effort to correct.
Following the guidelines below will
assure that the current problems are rectified in the near future and that
similar difficulties will not arise again.
The standards are classified as
"recommended," "permitted," and "not allowed."
"Recommended" indicates the ideal; "permitted" is an
allowable exception to the ideal;
"not allowed" is self-explanatory. These standards represent
our internal ISKCON requirements, and they do not supercede whatever local
government rules there are. We should
follow the higher standard, whether ISKCON or government. In transportation,
for instance, there are laws of inoculation that MUST be followed.
There are further issues that need to be
standardized, and appropriate proposals will be submitted to the GBC Body as
needed. After the standards below have been in use and feedback has been
gathered, any further ammendments and and additions will be submitted to the
GBC body by the Agriculture and Cow Protection Ministry.
MINIMUM COW PROTECTION STANDARDS
The term "cows" is used herein
to mean cows, calves, oxen, and bulls. Cows are domestic animals, not wild
animals. They are dependent on the care of humans.
CONTENTS:
SECTION 1: COW CARE STANDARDS
a.. I) Protection
b.. II) Organization of Cow Care
Facilities
c.. III) Shelter
d.. IV) Feeding
e.. V) Milking
f.. VI) Training Oxen
g.. VII) Traveling and Preaching
Programs
h.. VIII) Use of Krsna's Properties
SECTION 2: BREEDING STANDARDS
i.. IX) Requirements for Acquiring Cows
j.. X) Selection of Breeding Stock
k.. XI) Castration
l.. XII) Insemination of Cows
SECTION 3: MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
m.. XIII) Responsibility of Local
Community
n.. XIV) Local GBC Responsibility
o.. XV) Investigation Team
GLOSSARY
SECTION 1 CARE STANDARDS
I PROTECTION
Recommended:
p.. 1) Lifetime Protection Maintaining a
animal for its full lifetime including its training and engagement in
productive service. Female cows are not required to be bred (see Section 2.9),
and should not do heavy work (Section 1.5).
q.. 2) Daily Observation of Herd All
cows should be given a daily head count and health check.
r.. 3) Records Short concise records of
conditions of the cows, land, and weather should be kept on a daily basis.
These records are to be used as a tool for monitoring and improving herd
conditions.
s.. 4) Fencing Stone walls, board fence,
woven wire, living fences (except Multiflora rose) or high tensile are
recommended to contain cows by creating an impenetrable border.
t.. 5) Safety and Security Adequate
arrangements must be provided to ensure the safety and security of the cows
from theft, and abuse, maltreatment. These may include locking gates, lighting,
security surveillance, restricted access or other arrangements as per local circumstances.
u.. 6) Death a) A dying cow should be
kept as comfortable as possible and given as much association and
transcendental sound vibrations as possible. There should be access to water
and food. b) Calf mortality rate should be no greater than 5%, the achievable
standard.
Permitted
v.. 1) Daily Observation of Herd For
larger herds with a shortage of cowherds it is acceptable for the health check
to be done weekly. Daily counting is still required.
w.. 2) Records Keeping a general farm
journal. Keeping breeding records of cows, parentage, offspring.
x.. 3) Fencing a) Electric fencing
permitted for temporary and immediate fencing, it is especially useful for
rotational grazing. b) Barbed wire permitted in areas of low pressure and where
other types of fencing would be impractical to use, but should not be used
where animals are concentrated.
Not Allowed
y.. 1) Transferring Ownership
Transferring of ownership or the use of cows where all the minimum standards
aren't observed.
z.. 2) Death due to the following
conditions: a) Failure to provide adequate feed, shelter, safety measures and
health care. b) Performing euthanasia c) Placing a sick cow in a situation
where he/she will be trampled, eaten, frozen, etc. causing death.
aa.. 3) Neglecting the cow while she
dies. Not providing feed and water.
ab.. 4) Calf mortality rate higher than
10% If records are inadequate, mortality rate can be determined retroactively
by seeing how many have been milking in the last 2-3 years and determining how
many of their calves are still alive.
ac.. 5) Failure to count cows daily
Daily counting deters rustling and loss of cows who wander off.
ad.. 6) Fencing Failure to provide
adequate fencing to control animals' movement. There should be no barbed wire
in areas where animals are concentrated and in areas of high pressure, e.g., it
shouldn't be used between a pasture and a meadow or crops field.
ae.. 7) Safety and Security Failure to
provide adequate arrangements to ensure the safety and security of the cows as
stated in
5 of recommended.
af.. 8) Failure to maintain appropriate
herd records.
II ORGANIZATION OF COW CARE FACILITIES
Recommended
ag.. 1) Devotees owning their own land
and cows
ah.. 2) Devotees owning some land and
cows with access to communal rotational grazing and harvesting in order to
fully provide for their cows.
ai.. 3) A Cow/Land Trust established to
secure cow care.
aj.. 4) Breeding not to exceed carrying
capacity of the land. Permitted
ak.. 1) Centralized goshalla operated by
a few devotees where there is an abundant congregation to support the goshalla
and a Cow/Land Trust to secure the cow care and a training program for new
cowherds.
al.. 2) Small privately owned family
farms working with the Cow/Land Trust.
am.. 3) Both following breeding programs
maintaining proper proportion of animals to land capacity.
Not Allowed
an.. 1) Maintaining a centralized
goshalla without appropriate manpower, training, congregational support, and
Cow/Land Trust.
ao.. 2) Breeding without consideration
for land capacity.
III SHELTER Recommended
ap.. 1) Winter Shelter a) All cows
should have access to shelter from the wind, rain, and snow. An open barn or
shed facing away from the direction of the prevailing winds is much preferred
to a closed building. Many diseases thrive in the warm, humid environment found
in some closed buildings. Drafts should be prevented as much as possible in
open buildings. b) Adjoining outside exercise lot.
aq.. 2) Clean water, feed, and
vegetarian salt available at all times.
ar.. 3) Summer Shelter a) All cows
should have access to shade from the sun, either in tree shade or housing. b)
All feed must be fed so as to prevent mixture with manure.
as.. 4) All shelter should have access
to sunlight and ventilation.
at.. 5) All shelters should have clean
floors with dry bedding to prevent problems such as hoof rot. a) Use of dry
bedding of some type is important. Maintaining cows on dry surfaces helps
prevent many foot problems such as hoof rot. b) Pens should be cleaned daily or
fresh bedding added. c) Pens with hard floors are preferable to muddy lots and
should have a sufficient layer of bedding
au.. 6) Feed aisles or mangers should be
constructed within the shelter so feed can not be pulled into the area where
the cows walk. thereby preventing wastage and feed mixing with manure.
Permitted
av.. 1) Clean rest areas with rubber
bedding.
Not Allowed
aw.. 1) Failure to provide shelter that
protects against the wind, rain, and snow.
ax.. 2) Failure to provide shade in the
summer.
ay.. 3) Failure to provide sunlight and
ventilation.
az.. 4) Failure to provide clean feeding
conditions.
ba.. 5) Failure to provide water (also
in freezing weather) and vegetarian salt.
bb.. 6) Forcing cows to lie in sloppy,
filthy pens.
bc.. 7) Forcing calves to nurse on cows
which have been lying in manure.
bd.. 8) Overcrowding.
IV FEEDING Recommended
be.. 1) All cows should have pasturing
facilities. Herding and intensive rotational grazing are the recommended
methods of pasturing.
bf.. 2) Diet a) Milking cows, growing
and working oxen, and breeding bulls should be fed grains or high quality
supplemental feeds such as silage which should be secured to prevent
overeating. b) Change from one type of feed to another, especially from dry feeds
to fresh feeds, should be done gradually so that bloating, which can lead to
death, does not occur. c) Clean water and vegetarian salt should always be
available. d) All feeding should be done under the supervision of the primary
cowherd to ensure the health and safety of the cows. e) There should be
sufficient feeding space so that all animals can eat without undo stress from
herd mates. f) Hay or other feed should be available for all animals when
natural browsing is insufficient to provide minimal nutritional requirements.
Permitted
bg.. 1) Pasturing with as much rotation
of paddocks as possible.
bh.. 2) Tethering when sufficient
pasturing grounds are not available and under the following conditions: a) All
tethering should be supervised by primary cowherd. b) There must be sufficient
availability of green grass and provision for exercise. c) The safety and
comfort of the animal is the prime consideration. E.G., Care must be taken to
guard against a cow being strangled on a rope especially in hilly areas. d)
Adequate water and vegetarian salt must be available if tethered for more than
a couple of hours.
bi.. 3) If cows are being fed bhoga and
prasadam scraps (not from human plates) in addition to their other feed then
such feeding must be carefully monitored by the primary cowherd due to the fact
that cows can become unhealthily fat on scraps, sick, or in immediate danger
due to carelessly adding indigestible items such as kitchen utensils.
bj.. 4) If grazing grounds are
inadequate for the number of cows then there must be a plan to eventually
provide grazing land or replenish existing land.
Not Allowed
bk.. 1) Tethering which fails to meet
even the Permitted standards described above.
bl.. 2) Total confinement.
bm.. 3) Diet a) Feeding by-products of
animal slaughter. b) Feeding a diet consisting entirely of kitchen garbage and
prasadam scraps. c) Feeding prasadam scraps from human plates. d) Feeding
rotten prasadam and kitchen scraps. e) Carelessly including in feed articles
that are not digestible such as garlands, kitchen utensils, floor sweepings, or
burnt food such as burnt chaunces, burnt custard. f) Feeding moldy hay.
bn.. 4) Throwing cow's hay and grains on
the ground where they can walk on it and pass stool on it.(refer to 3b & 6
of Standard 3 Shelter).
bo.. 5) Failure to follow 2a through 2e
of recommended.
V MILKING Recommended:
bp.. 1) Training Cows a) Cows should be
trained by voice commands for the purpose of safety during public events, every
day health checks, etc. b) All cows should be given names.
bq.. 2) Milking a) Milking should be
done by hand by trained experienced milkers who regularly milk the same cow(s).
b) Cows should be brushed daily, and udder washed before milkings
br.. 3) A Calf and Mother a) A calf and
its mother should have as much association as possible, especially in the
calf's first week, to acquire the essential colostrum. b) There must be careful
consideration to the eating habits of the calf so that overeating does not
occur leading to scours (diarrhea) which can lead to death. Overeating can be
prevented by limiting access to the udder of the mother. c) Weaning must be
gradual, totally achieved no sooner than 3 months with the option of 6 months
or longer. d) During the weaning process a sweetened grain with the proper
balanced ration for a young calf, first cutting, non stemmy hay, and clean
water should be available for access by calf. e) Caution should be taken
against putting calves on pasture too early which can cause bloat (which can be
fatal). f) The primary cowherd should be supervising and instructing the
treatment of the calf and mother.
Permitted
bs.. 1) Training Cows Cows can be
trained to lead by halter or gentle herding techniques. This is for safety and
health checks, not working as oxen. However light work is allowed for non
lactating cows and must be supervised by the primary cowherd.
bt.. 2) Milking Milking should be done
by hand.
bu.. 3) A Calf and Mother a) Calves may
be bottle fed colostrum for the first few days and later on milk.
b) A plan must be presented to correct
bottle feeding allowing for new calves in the herd to be with their mothers. c)
Gradual weaning can be prior to 6 months If the calf's coat color or it looses
interest in milk (ruling out illness).
Not Allowed
bv.. 1) Ill Treatment Failure to develop
a personal relationship with a cow leading to excessive use of whips, prods,
beating, rough treatment, and violence to the animal.
bw.. 2) Milking a) Milking by hand in
which the following occur: pinch, pull or any other action that may result in
the animal becoming disturbed. b) Milking by machine. This is not acceptable
and can only be done in a crisis situation, e.g., lack of sufficient cowherds.
A plan to correct the crisis situation must be presented. c) Failure to provide
all calves access to mother's milk either directly from the cow or by milk
bottle. d) Feeding calves milk replacement or by the bucket method.
bx.. 3) Working cows as oxen except in
dire emergency.
VI TRAINING OXEN
Recommended Method:
by.. 1) Training oxen should begin at
2-4 months to develop a relationship of love and trust. No work is done at this
time due to softness of bones as well as other reasons.
bz.. 2) Training should be by voice
commands or Indian technique of pierced nose with rope halter.
ca.. 3) All oxen should be given names.
Permitted:
cb.. 1) Training at a later age but
still developing a relationship of love and trust.
Not Allowed
cc.. 1) Using whips excessively,
beating, rough treatment, and violence to the oxen.
VII TRAVELING AND PREACHING PROGRAMS
(Such programs represent ISKCON to the public. If there is an unfortunate
incident it is ISKCON that can be sued and attacked, not the individuals
handling the animals.)
Recommended:
cd.. 1) Before traveling, all oxen must
be well trained with a proven working reliability by an experienced teamster.
ce.. 2) All cows and calves involved
must be trained to voice commands and/or halter broken.
cf.. 3) All local laws of health, safety
and insurance must be followed.
cg.. 4) All animals in such programs
must have had previous experience in the association of people so as to not be
in a state of shock when taken to be viewed by a crowd.
ch.. 5) The health, safety and general
well-being of all animals and people in such programs and people observing such
programs takes priority over achieving inappropriate daily distance or
preaching goals.
ci.. 6) There must be fair and
considerate treatment of any uncooperative animal.
cj.. 7) Oxen should be handled by
experienced teamsters only.
ck.. 8) Cows, calves should be handled
by persons approved by the primary cowherd. They should have had some previous
experience caring for the animal.
cl.. 9) Daily health check of all
animals. A sick animal is one which is: noticeably unwell, has temperature, not
eating, or diseased. Appropriate remedial measures must be taken.
cm.. 10) Transported Oxen Oxen must be
well-provided at all times with the following: a) Sufficient space to lie down
and rest. b) Sufficient ventilation, sunlight and protection from bad weather.
c) Legally safe & secure transport facilities (doors closed while
traveling, vehicles and/or trailers must be a in well maintained condition). d)
Sufficient food, water, and vegetarian salt. e) Sufficient exercise by being
un-trailered at night and when not traveling. g) Daily brushing.
cn.. 11) Walking Oxen In addition to all
the above: a) Appropriate and timely foot care (including shoeing, when
needed). b) Extra rest time and health care. c) Their load must be appropriate
to their strength power, health, and age, and approved by an experienced
teamster. f) Legs and feet of walking oxen should be given special attention
during health check.
co.. 12) On a monthly basis, the oxen
should have a complete health examination by a local government or approved
veterinarian.
cp.. 13) Short concise records of health
and temperament of the oxen, local land conditions, weather, distances
traveled, and public interest shown to the oxen should be kept on a daily
basis.
Permitted
cq.. 1) If the person handling the oxen
is not an experienced teamster he must be in training and under the strict
supervision of an experienced teamster.
Not Allowed
cr.. 1) Training programs consisting of
only 1 to 7 days previous to beginning traveling.
cs.. 2) Failure to provide sufficient
supervision of public access to the cows, resulting in abuse to the cows.
ct.. 3) Initiating a travelling
preaching program with bullocks without sufficient provision for a suitable
place for retirement and cowherd care.
cu.. 4) Failure to provide animals the
recommended and permitted.
VIII USE OF KRISHNA'S PROPERTY
Recommended:
cv.. 1) Any property (land and cows)
belonging to the Deity should be protected by environmentally sound
conservation practices designed with the long term fertility and preservation
of the soil in mind.
cw.. 2) Construction of convenient
watering places like ponds and tanks and easily accessible shade is appreciated
by the cows.
Permitted
cx.. 1) Land may be burned only when
dense growth needs to be removed to increase productivity.
cy.. 2) Timber a) Conditions for
Timbering Individual select cuttings of trees may be done for the erection of
homes, road right-of-ways, construction of fence lines, crop land, or pasture.
b) Use of Timber Cut Trees so cut must be utilized for construction purposes or
firewood. c) Replacement When deemed necessary to forest health and supply,
trees cut should be replaced by planting new ones in appropriate locations
Not Allowed
cz.. 1) Grazing animals who are destined
for slaughter on ISKCON/devotee property.
da.. 2) Removing sod or yearly burning
of crop or grazing land.
db.. 3) Clear cutting of trees.
dc.. 4) Cutting of trees on steep land
or land which may be prone to erosion or any other activity that may lead to
erosion.
dd.. 5) Performing activity that may
lead to contamination of any bodies of water.
de.. 6) Selling or exchanging land used
by cows except where the cows will directly benefit or such sales will increase
the assets of the cows.
df.. 7) Allowing unauthorized passage of
people without permission from temple and knowledge of the primary cowherd.
SECTION 2 BREEDING STANDARDS
IX REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING COWS
Recommended
dg.. 1) Animal Acquisition a) A cow
should not be acquired or bred for furnishing milk without well-defined plans
to provide care and lifetime engagement for her resulting offspring. b) Cows
should be acquired from the nearest ISKCON farm.
dh.. 2) Sufficient Land Care includes
having sufficient productive land to support the offspring. This land should be
held in a Cow/Land Trust and maintained by self-reliant, low-impact methods.
di.. 3) Engagement of All Stock.
Lifetime engagement includes all male calves born be trained and worked and
female calves be trained to voice commands or halter broken. Female cows are
not required to be bred, especially if there are no plans to train any
resultant bull calves.
Permitted
dj.. 1) Use of Non-devotee Land The
acquiring of grazing rights, or leasing of land from non-devotees to provide
sufficient land for the cows' support.
dk.. 2) Trust funds and Lifetime
Adoption The establishment of Trust Funds and Lifetime Adoption, in order to
adequately provide for a calf throughout its entire life.
dl.. 3) The Purchase of Feed Purchase of
feed is permitted when existing lands fail to provide enough.
dm.. 4) Leasing Cows Arrangements for
leasing cows to others is permitted if it can contribute to the overall goal of
cow protection, and if the leasor is legally bound to abide by all Cow
Protection Standards, including, but not limited to, arrangements made for
lifetime protection of both cow and calf.
dn.. 5) Acquiring Cows From Non-devotees
When the nearest ISKCON Farm is practically too far for safe transport, has no
animals suitable for training, or has no need to give cows away, purchase from
non-devotees is permitted.
Not Allowed
do.. 1) Animal Acquisition Procuring or
breeding of a cow for the purpose of supplying milk without any plan for the
care, training and engagement of offspring.
dp.. 2) Lack of Land and Funds for
Animal Care Failure to provide sufficient land, cowherds, and funds to support
the cow and/or offspring.
dq.. 3) The Purchase of Feed Purchasing
feed without planning for future production by sustainable agricultural
methods.
dr.. 4) Leasing Cows Leasing cows
without the legally binding and well monitored contracts as described in
4
of permitted.
ds.. 5) Acquiring Cows From
Non-devotees. Buying cows from non-devotees instead of from local overcrowded
ISKCON Farms when practical transportation of cows is possible and animals
suitable for training are available.
X SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK
Recommended
dt.. 1) Choosing Breed a) Choice should
be made on the basis of retaining traits desirable and appropriate for ISKCON
devotees' particular needs. b) Heritage breeds should be considered before more
recent breeds.
du.. 2) Choosing Desirable Traits a)
Choice should be made taking into consideration docility, longevity,
resilience, and the ability to thrive on low-quality feeds. b) Desirable
milking cow traits include, in addition, longevity of milking, ability to
produce milk on low-quality feeds, durability, ease of handling and leading,
long teats. c) Desirable working oxen traits include, in addition, the ability
to work well, durability, ease of training, and sturdy hoof history in lineage
(black hoofs being generally stronger).
dv.. 3) Geographical Considerations a)
Choice of breeding stock depends a great deal upon local conditions and
availability. b) Breeds that are excellent choices for one area may not be good
choices for other areas. For example, the 'Taurean' breeds are good for
temperate climates while the 'Zebu' types are better for the tropics.
Permitted
dw.. 1) Crossbreeding To use existing
stock with an appropriate crossbreeding program, conducted by an experienced
breeder, to breed in the desirable bloodlines and breed out the original
bloodline.
Not Allowed
dx.. 1) Choosing exotic breeds that are
unsuitable for location and purposes.
dy.. 2) Breeding done without
appropriate knowledge which can result in unusable animals. E.g., most Taurean
crossed Zebu cows have proven too unruly to milk.
XI CASTRATION
Recommended:
dz.. 1) Bull calves of European Taurean
breeds should be castrated at 6 months to a year. Indian Zebu breeds should be
castrated at 1 year to 2 years.
ea.. 2) The method of castration should
be by emasculation, specifically using the tool bordezio (bloodless castration)
performed by a veterinarian, or experienced professional.
Permitted:
eb.. 1) Cutting by a veterinarian or
experienced professional.
ec.. 2) Use of bordezio by experienced
cowherd.
Not Allowed:
ed.. 1) Banding (using rubber bands
around the testicles until they drop off).
ee.. 2) Performing acceptable methods of
castration by inexperienced cowherd.
XI INSEMINATION OF COWS
Recommended:
ef.. 1) Cows should be inseminated by a
bull kept at the farm, rather than by artificial insemination, as requested by
Srila Prabhupada. Such bulls must be properly enclosed for safety reasons, as
well as to avoid unwanted inseminations.
eg.. 2) Careful records of breeding must
be kept in order to avoid unplanned inbreeding.
eh.. 3) When a bull can not be kept
safely and humanely, use of a community bull or neighbor's bulls is
recommended.
Permitted:
ei.. 1) Artificial Insemination may be
used when in special circumstances bulls cannot be properly maintained.
ej.. 2) Bulls from a neighbor (even
though not farmed according to Vaisnava principles) may also be used if they
are suitable.
ek.. 3)Inbreeding may be practiced only
under strict conditions by an experienced breeder.
Not Allowed
el.. 1) Not restricting a bull in a
standard bull pen. Such lack of precaution will inevitably lead to unwanted
inseminations. It can also be the cause of life-threatening accidents to
cowherds or guests.
em.. 2) Keeping a bull without following
the same standards given herein for the cows.
en.. 3) Keeping a bull without
association. At least one ox should be kept with him, to prevent boredom.
eo.. 4) Keeping the bull in adjacent
pastures or stalls to cows he should not breed.
SECTION 3 MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
XIII RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
Recommended
ep.. 1) Housing and use of ISKCON land
contracted to devotees who are seriously committed to protecting cows and
working the land.
eq.. 2) Land Base Cow programs should be
increasing the land base available to cow herding, not decreasing. a) Lands may
be sold or exchanged only if there is an offsetting advantage and an increase
to the overall program. b) New land acquired to be given, leased, sold at fair
market value to those who seriously committed to protecting cows and working
the land. Any income generated from such transferred land should be used to
benefit the cow protection programs. c) The determination of land sales in
regard to what is best for the cows should be made by the cows' primary
cowherd.
er.. 3) Ox-power Produce Ox-power
produce should be purchased from the goshalla at above standard market price by
temple and devotees. Milk from protected cows should be sold at a premium, with
the amount above the standard market value used to make capital contributions
to a Cow Protection Trust Fund.
es.. 4) Cow Remains a) Local government
and customs must be respected. b) When possible it is recommended to honor the
dead body of the cow. c) After all reasonable efforts have been taken to
maintain the soul in the body of the cow, when the soul has left the body of
the cow, there is no bar to someone recycling the body unless illegal in that
country and after consulting with the primary cowherd. (Recycling the dead body
of the cow is in accordance with Srila Prabhupada's instruction in the
Teachings of Queen Kunti and other sources.)
et.. 5) Goshalla Reporting Managers of
goshalla should be accountable for quarterly presenting facts and figures that
show the value of the cows, their services provided (i.e. plowing, transport,
labor, publicity), their produce and their by-products.
Permitted
eu.. 1) Milk and Ox-power Produce a)
When cows and cowherds are sufficiently supported by temple, milk and produce
can be given to the temple. b) Milk and ox-power produce bought at market value
by temple and devotees.
ev.. 2) Land Base Lands may be put into
private hands if there is a means easily monitored and managed by which the
land will continue to be used for cow protection, i.e. retention of grazing
rights, leasing agreements, or the establishment of a fund dedicated to
obtaining new land.
Not Allowed
ew.. 1) Land Base a) Selling lands for
the sake of generating cash flow to deal with non-capital expenditures. This is
strictly forbidden except in emergency situations and then only after approval
by the Minister of Cow Protection and Agriculture and the approval of the GBC.
b) Selling land currently used by cows that decreases the over all land base
available to the cows. c) Using ISKCON's land to graze animals destined for
slaughter. (See Standard ex.. 2)
Taxing of Goshalla.
ey.. 3) Milk and Ox-power Produce
Consuming milk and produce without compensation to the goshalla.
ez.. 4) Cow Remains a) Using the body of
a dead cow by cow protectors for profit making activity to such a point that it
encourages negligence that contributes to the cow's death.
b) Neglecting to follow the government's
laws and local customs in regards to disposal of the dead cow's body.
fa.. 5) Goshalla Reporting Failure to
present facts and figures that show the value of the cows, their services
provided (i.e. plowing, transport, labor, publicity), their products and their
by-products.
XIV LOCAL GBC RESPONSIBILITY
Recommended
fb.. 1) The GBC Should Quarterly a) Meet
with cowherds and ox teamsters. This meeting should be a minimum of 1 hour and
private. b) Visit every cow facility and traveling program and review records.
(See Standard 1) c) Present written reports to the Ministry of Cow Protection
and Agriculture. (Report forms will be provided to the GBC)
fc.. 2) Investigation of Abuses When a
GBC receives reports of cow abuse in his/her locale, the complaint must be
investigated by the GBC and if found true, the situation must be corrected by
consultation with local Farm Council and the Ministry.
fd.. 3) Follow-up by Investigation Team.
Where no action has been initiated after one week following investigation or if
the Ministry deems the action insufficient, the Ministry will appoint an
investigation team to create a report specifying actions needed to correct the
situation.
fe.. 4) ISKCON's Ministry of Justice
Involvement. If corrections are not initiated within one month following the
initial abuse report, the problem will be referred to ISKCON's Ministry of
Justice for further action to protect the cows.
Permitted
ff.. 1) Monitor Appointed Substitute.
The GBC may appoint a monitor to represent him in investigating cow abuse in
relation to these standards and to fulfill his quarterly meetings and reports.
The GBC must personally make 1 private one hour visitation to the cowherds
annually and in addition visit the cow facilities annually, the monitor
fulfilling all other duties.
fg.. 2) Selection of Monitor. The
monitor may be chosen from the Local Farm Council (the intent being he is
knowledgeable in agricultural practices) or come from outside the community
chosen because of nonagricultural reasons) and to be chosen at the GBC's
discretion.
fh.. 3) Response to Abuses Permitted
standards are the same as recommended standards
2,3,4 above.
Not Allowed Failure to meet even
permitted standards.
XV INVESTIGATION TEAM (IT)
Recommended
fi.. 1) Selection of IT The Ministry
will collect a world-wide list of devotees to act as a resource pool. Such
devotees will be knowledgeable of the standards and have agricultural
experience. From this list the Ministry will select an appropriate IT.
fj.. 2) Travel To defray travel expense,
members of the list who live closest to the problem in question will be chosen
first. Members are encouraged to provide travel expense. A fund can eventually
be set up to help with travel expense.
fk.. 3) Membership of IT The IT should
consist of 2 or more devotees not involved in the management of the program
being investigated and a professional suited to the particular situation
selected by the IT. The professional should not be currently employed by the
farm under investigation.
fl.. 4) Duties of IT The IT will arrange
for group meetings and individual interviews with parties concerned and is
responsible for the compilation of reports given to all GBC concerned (Local
Commissioner, Global Secretary, Justice and Cow Protection Ministries).
Permitted
Same as recommended
Not Allowed Failure to follow the above
standards in part or whole.
GLOSSARY
Cow by-products: Leather and bones are
by-products from the cow after death
Clear cutting: To log an area by
removing all of the trees at one time.
Concentrates: Protein supplements and
grains.
Cow/Land Trust: Use of assets and income
generated from assets to benefit the cows. Assets including land, capital
funds, and income producing investments, placed in trusts to secure the long
term viability of cow protection programs.
Exotic Breeds: A breed that is not
historically used in an area.
Experienced Breeder: Is one who has a
minimum of three years working with cows and bulls under guidance. He must know
how to interpret breeding charts and be able to distinguish the weakness and
strengths of particular animals when compared to other related or non-related
animals.
Experienced Teamster: An experienced
teamster is one who has had at least 2 years experience with caring for cows
prior to becoming a teamster and has at least one year experience working with
oxen both in the field and at preaching events.
Feed: Any of the following: Hay, grains,
concentrates, other fibrous foodstuffs.
Goshalla: A cow sanctuary, where cows,
bullocks and bulls are fully protected, productively engaged, and receive
tender loving care for their entire lives.
Heritage: Traditional, non-hybrid seeds
and animal breeds used historically in sustainable, locally viable systems.
Inbreeding: Breeding within same family
line. There are two forms; line breeding where distantly related animals are
bred to strengthen a particular trait they have in common and inbreeding where
both animals used are within three generations of each other. For example
grandsire to granddaughter, cousins, dam to son, brother to sister.
Land Capacity or Carrying Capacity of
the Land: The number of cows the land can support. Supporting the cow
adequately means to provide grazing and/or produce fodder for year-round
maintenance of a specific number of cows, using local or intensive natural
agriculture practices. By talking to local farmers or government agencies,
carrying capacity of the land in the local area can be determined. This can
vary widely from area to area. If the carrying capacity of the land is 5 acres
per cow x 3 bred per year x 12yrs (average life span) =180 acres.
Low impact: Agriculture that uses
localized techniques that are sustainable and environmentally viable. Labor
intensive rather than capital intensive.
Primary Cowherd: This refers to the
person who the community holds responsible for the practical everyday care of
the cows. He/she may be in charge of other cowherds.
Products Milk, dung, urine are produce
from the cow.
Self-reliant Producing most of what is
consumed of the basic essentials.
Silage Fermented feeds stored in silos
or bunkers, most commonly corn.
Stock: Cows, Oxen, bulls, calves - the
herd.
Tether: To limit a cow's pasturing
ability by tying the cow to a fixed spot. (Text PRONTO:278743) ---------------------------------------