About Our Cows
Unveiling the Wonders of Indian Cow Breeds: Enhancing Farming and Health.
Exploring the Remarkable Traits of Indigenous Cows and Their Impact on Agriculture and Wellness
Discovering the Marvels of Indian Cow Breeds
Indian cows aren’t just ordinary animals; they are marvels of nature, each with its own unique qualities that make them indispensable for farming and beneficial for human health. Let’s take a fascinating journey into the world of indigenous cows and uncover the secrets behind their significance.
Intriguing Physical Attributes
Picture this: a cow with high shoulders, a loose under-neck, and a special nerve on its back called the Suryaketu nerve. These aren’t just random details; they’re the remarkable features that help Indian cows adapt to different climates, keeping them cool and naturally repelling pesky insects. And here’s the kicker: they sweat more, ensuring comfort even in scorching heat or during monsoons.
Advantages Galore for Farming
Ever heard of cows with hooves so sturdy they don’t collect dirt? That’s the magic of Indian cows. Their robust hooves make them perfect for plowing fields without harming the precious soil. Plus, they’re tough cookies when it comes to diseases, reducing the need for expensive medicines and making farming more sustainable. And let’s not forget about their milk – certain breeds like Gir and Sahiwal produce copious amounts of nutritious milk, a boon for farmers and consumers alike.
Health Boosters and Natural Resources
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: cow dung and urine. Yep, you heard that right. Cow dung isn’t just waste; it’s a natural fertilizer that enriches the soil and promotes healthy crop growth. And cow urine? It’s no ordinary liquid – it’s packed with medicinal properties and can even keep pesky insects at bay. Talk about eco-friendly remedies that benefit both farming and personal health!
Exploring the Vibrant Diversity
India is a melting pot of diverse cow breeds, each with its own unique strengths and contributions. From the sturdy Gir of Gujarat to the resilient Sahiwal of Punjab, these cows aren’t just animals; they’re cultural icons, deeply embedded in the fabric of Indian society.
Preserving the Legacy
But here’s the catch: many indigenous cow breeds are facing threats like genetic dilution and habitat loss. That’s where conservation efforts come in. By safeguarding these invaluable resources, we’re not just protecting our heritage; we’re ensuring a brighter future for farming and community well-being.
In Conclusion
Indian cow breeds aren’t just animals; they’re treasures of nature, enriching our lives in more ways than we can imagine. By understanding their unique qualities and championing conservation efforts, we’re not just preserving the past; we’re nurturing a sustainable future for generations to come.
Life Activities
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- Basal metabolic rate(BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment.
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- Indian cow has a lower BMR. In draught it can survive with small quantity of food.
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- Though it becomes weaker then, it recovers fast when it gets nourishment.
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- Such temporary difficulties do not later affect its milk yield or fertility.
Panchagavya
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- Constitutes cow urine, cow dung, milk, curd and ghee.
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- Used as food, medicine, manure and insecticide.
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- They increase immunity to diseases.
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- Without side effects, they fight cancer, hypertension, skin diseases, and urinary diseases.
Sixth Sense of Cow
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- Cow has a sharp sixth sense. As per an epic story, the cow could once talk. It predicted an impending accident to its master and helped him avoid it. The God then made the cow dumb for changing what was destined.
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- Cows respond to the joy and suffering of people. There are many examples of cows shedding tears and even refusing food empathising with their masters.
Sensing Danger
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- Lathur in Maharashtra had a devastating earthquake on 30 September 1993. Devani breed of cows in that place had been behaving strange, crying and jumping around a few days before this as a warning to the people. We could not decipher the message.
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- Similar things happened before Tsunami in 2004 too. Then, Baraguru, Amblacheri and Kangayam breed of cows behaved strangely. We could not get the message again.
BHARATHIYA COW
During the last few decades the dependence on cows as the base of our agriculture reduced drastically due to:
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- Mechanization of farmingM
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- Use of chemical fertilizers
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- Slaughter of cows for meat and leather industries
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- Urbanization and increased demand for land
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- Emphasis on high milk yielding foreign breeds
Absence of manpower at the village level and loss of grazing lands added to the problems and our Bharathiya cows got eliminated.
DESI COW & CROSS BREED COW
As of Livestock Survey 2003, there are 18, 52, 00,000 Farm Animals in India. With the improved production potentials of our livestock and poultry, livestock farming has become economically viable and remunerative. In India, Farmers depend on Bharathiya Cow. Cows have been used in agriculture, dairy farming and transportation. In cow based economy, cow dung and urine are the major components. Next comes bullock energy and the last is the milk yield. Unfortunately due to wrong policies, milk yield has been given the priority and hence Policy makers are promoting crossbreed cows for more milk yield compromising on the quality of milk. The quality of milk of Bharathiya cow is healthy (type A2) and most suitable for human consumption. The Panchagavya medicines are based only on the products of Bharathiya Cows.
Characteristics of Bharathiya Cow
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- Bos Indicus Variety
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- Hump on their shoulders ( Thimizh/Thimil )
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- Large dewlap – The skin under the neck region falls loosely in folds
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- Drooping ears
Advantages of Bharathiya Cow
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- Low Cost of Maintenance
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- High immunity levels
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- Highly adaptable to high temperatures
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- Farmed throughout the tropical countrie
Characteristics of Cross Breed Cow
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- Bos Indicus Variety
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- Product of man’s greed – result of cross breeding of a cow and some other animal and created mainly for beef in western countries
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- They have totally different characteristics & are not suitable for Farming & transportation
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- Cannot withstand high temperatures in India
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- Unnatural growth & produce high quantity but not healthy milk, mostly A1 type – cause for number of major diseases
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- Bull Calves are sent for slaughter for calf leather
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- In most cases the banned drug “oxitocin” is injected to the cows to produce more milk weakening them and affecting our health
Go-Samrakshanam (Cow Protection) are needed to reverse the cross breeding culture with the use of Bharathiya bulls so that over a period of time all the cows will be Bharathiya cow breeds.
COW & DIVINITY
The Divine Essence of the Cow: A Symbol of Charity and Purity
In India, the cow holds a sacred status, revered as Gou-Mata, Kamadhenu – the fulfiller of wishes. It is believed that within her resides all the Gods and Goddesses worshiped by Hindus. What makes the cow divine? It’s her innate quality of inspiring charity. Above all, her willingness to share her milk, meant originally for her calf, endears her to us the most.
The cow epitomizes charity. During the churning of the oceans (Sagar Manthan), all the Gods rushed to reside within her, drawn by her magnanimity. Goddess Lakshmi and Ganga Mata vied gracefully for a spot in her, resulting in every part of her body being occupied except for her urine and dung.
Ganga Mata chose to reside in her urine, believed to possess medicinal properties and used for purifying body and mind before rituals (Puja). Lakshmi Mata chose her dung, utilized as fertilizer to enhance crop production and purify homes. Even today, cow dung mixed with water is used for cleansing ritual spaces and homes due to its antibacterial properties. Remarkably, cow dung also possesses radiation protection qualities.
The bull, too, plays a crucial role. Besides carrying loads, it aids in field irrigation and plowing, fertilizing the ground with its copious urine patches, making the soil soft and fertile. Among charitable acts, giving a cow is deemed holiest, recognizing its vital role in agrarian life.
Lord Krishna, often depicted with cows, signifies the divine bond with these animals. The churning of buttermilk for butter mirrors life’s churning for spiritual purity. Let’s invoke the Divine Cow for enlightenment, charity, and universal love, embodying the essence of a harmonious existence.
COW & AGRICULTURE
From time immemorial, India has been an agrarian country and the cow has been the backbone of our agriculture. When fertilizers and tractors were unknown, cow was the only source sustaining the entire agriculture.
Indian agriculture has variety. There is no farm-product that we don’t cultivate. Our land grows all kinds of grains, pulses, vegetables, fruits, flowers, cotton and silk. About 70% of our population has embraced agriculture as profession. Majority of them are small farmers, owning one or two acres of land. Our agricultural landscape is diverse and vivid – in land topology, soil type and quality, irrigation method and frequency of harvesting. Cattle are integral part of this huge canvas of agriculture. We use oxen to plough, to pick and move harvested crops, in irrigation, cow manure as fertilizer, and cow urine as insecticide.
Unique Role of Cow in Agriculture
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- In our country with small holdings and small scale farming, there is no better alternative to employing cattle in farming
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- While ploughing, the oxen stride with gentle gait, not harming the surface of the earth, unlike tractors
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- Even as they plough the land, the oxen defecate and urinate, fertilizing the land
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- Cattle Manure: organic manure, green leaf manure, earth-worms, and slurry manure with cattle manure bond with the nature and make the land fertile. They do not create the challenge of chemical waste
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- 99% of the insects in nature are beneficial to the system. Insecticides prepared from cow urine or well fermented butter milk does not affect these helpful insects
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- Dung from one cow is adequate to fertilize 5 acres of land and its urine is can protect 10 acres of crop from insects
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- Oxen do not pollute the atmosphere
India has been a land of surpluses in food grains and cow based agriculture has never failed us. It is time that we realize the contribution of cows and go back to our time tested traditional farming techniques for a sustainable future. Traditional cow based organic farming is the solution for the future. However difficult it may appear, we must pursue this.
COW & MEDICINE/HEALTH
World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a combination of physical, mental, spiritual and social wholeness. WHO has also predicted that bacteria will become immune to antibiotics by the year 2020. That does not scare us! We can depend on Panchagavya – milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung. These have excellent medical qualities individually as well as a concoction, without any adverse side-effect. In addition, if we are already under some other medication, consumption of panchagavya acts as a catalyst.
Ancient books on Ayurveda state that consumption of cow urine increases resistance to diseases by up to 104%.
Health from Panchagavya
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- Milk : Charaka Samhita states, “Milk is the best life strengthener.” While Casin protein in milk helps growth of infants, calcium and sulphur strengthen our bones. Milk is also rich in vitamins D and B-complex.
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- Curd arrests diarrhoea, controls fat, and resists cancer.
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- Ghee improves intelligence and beauty. It is used to treat eye diseases.
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- Distilled cow urine is effective in treatment of flu, arthritis, bacterial diseases, food poisoning, indigestion, oedema, and leprosy.
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- Panchagavya Mix : Various medical formulations like Panchagavya Ghrita, Amritasara, Ghanavati, Ksharavati, Netrasara etc. are invaluable medicines in Ayurvedic system.
COW & ENVIRONMENT
Cow products are environment friendly and have no adverse impact on the environment. Most of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have detrimental effect on soil as well as water quality and have been the major source of environmental pollution and diseases. In contrast, all the products from the cows are environment friendly and their use enriches the soil. In fact, cow dung and the cow urine along with other organic matters are foremost among known substances that improve and sustain soil quality and fertility.
Cow dung is a very good disinfectant. In olden days, cow dung used to be mixed with water and applied in front of houses every day as a disinfectant. Our misplaced sense of cleanliness in modern times has classified cow dung as dirty.
Neem and certain other leaves mixed with cow urine is a very effective pest repellant. This has no adverse effect on environment and health. Chemical pesticides are highly toxic and have severe detrimental effect on environment and health. Most of the current day diseases have their origin in pesticides.
Gobar gas has proven to be a very cost effective and environment friendly alternative fuel for rural households. Use of bulls in agriculture eliminates pollution as compared to diesel powered tractors and other farm equipments which lead to high levels of pollution and environmental degradation.
COW & ENERGY
Gobar gas based electricity plants will be able to produce clean electricity for use locally saving on big transmission networks and transmission losses. Rural house- holds can run on Gobar gas and cow dung greatly reducing our needs. This will also reduce our need for firewood saving our forests. Electricity produced by using dry cow dung is equivalent to 3.5 crore ton of coal or 6.8 crore ton of wood.
Everything you need to know about Panchagavya.
1. What is Panchagavya?
A natural product promotes growth and offers immunity to plants. Panchagavya consists of 9 Materials.
2. Is Panchagavya 100% Organic?
The short answer is yes. Because no chemical that’s required to manufacture the product. The 9 Ingredients of Panchagavya are easily available in nature. Furthermore, these components are inexpensive. As a result, no chemicals or replacements are required.
3. What are the Chemical and organic residences?
Chemical composition Microbial Load
| pH | : | 5.45 |
| EC dSm2 | : | 10.22 |
| Total N (ppm) | : | 229 |
| Total P (ppm) | : | 209 |
| Total K (ppm) | : | 232 |
| Sodium | : | 90 |
| Calcium | : | 25 |
| IAA (ppm) | : | 8.5 |
| GA (ppm) | : | 3.5 |
| Fungi | : | 38800/ml |
| Bacteria | : | 1880000/ml |
| Lactobacillus | : | 2260000/ml |
| Total anaerobes | : | 10000/ml |
| Acid formers | : | 360/ml |
| Methanogen | : | 250/ml |
hysicochemical houses of panchagavya revealed that they own almost all the essential nutrients, micronutrients, and increased hormones (IAA & ga) required for crop boom.
Summary of the above Table.
The preponderance of fermentative microorganisms such as yeast and lactobacillus is due to a combination of low ph, milk products, and the use of jaggery/sugarcane juice as a substrate for their growth.
The low ph of the medium results from the production of organic acids by fermentative microorganisms, as indicated by population dynamics and organic detection in GC analysis.
Lactobacillus generates a variety of beneficial metabolites, as well as natural acids, hydrogen peroxide, and antibiotics, which can be helpful against a variety of pathogenic microbes. The GC-ms analysis revealed the presence of fatty acids, alkanes, alcohol, and alcohols.
| Fatty acids | Alkanes | Alconol and Alcohols |
| Oleic acids | Decane | Heptanol |
| Palmitic acid | Octane | Tetracosanol |
| Myristic | Heptane | Hexadecanol |
| Deconore | Hexadecane | Octadeconol |
| Deconomic | Oridecane | Methanol |
| Octanoic | Propanol | |
| Hexanoic | Butanol | |
| Octadecanoic | Ethanol | |
| Tetradeconoic |
3. Useful results on industrial vegetation?
Mango
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- induces dense flowering with greater lady vegetation.
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- irregular or change-bearing dependency isn’t experienced and continues to fruit regularly.
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- complements preserving best with the aid of 12 days at room temperature.
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- flavor and aroma are first-rate acid lime
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- non-stop flowering is ensured round the year
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- fruits are plumpy with a strong aroma
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- shelf lifestyles are prolonged via 10 days
Guava
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- higher tss
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- shelf lifestyles are extended via five days
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- In addition to supplying irrigation water and spraying, 3% solution (100 ml) was tied up on the naval stop of the bunch after the male bud was removed. Harvest was first observed one month ago. The bunch length will become uniform. The dimensions of the pinnacle and backside arms turned uniformly massive.
Turmeric
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- complements the yield by utilizing 22%
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- greater lengthy hands
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- make certain low drainage loss
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- narrows the ratio of mom and finger rhizomes
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- enables survival of dragonflies, spiders, etc which in turn lessen pest and ailment load
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- bought for a premium fee as mom/seed rhizome
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- enriches the curcumin content
Jasmine
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- great aroma and fragrance
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- no prevalence of bud malicious program
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- continuous flowering in the course of the 12 months of vegetables
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- yield enhancement with the aid of 18% and in a few instances like cucumber, the yield is doubled
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- healthy veggies with vibrant and attractive pores and skin
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- extended shelf existence
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- very tasty with robust flavor
4. How to use?
Typically panchagavya is recommended for all the vegetation as a foliar spray at the 30 % stage.
5. Endorsed dosage
Three (3) liter panchagavya in a hundred liters of water.
6. spray device
When compared to the greater and lower concentrations investigated, the 3% solution was shown to be the best. All vegetation needs three liters of panchagavya for every hundred liters of water.
Energy sprayers with a capacity of 10 litres may also require 300 ml/tank. Sediments must be filtered when using an energy sprayer, and when using hand-operated sprayers, a nozzle with a longer pore length must be used. Machine for gliding
the answer of panchagavya can be blended with irrigation water at 50 liters in keeping with hectare both through drip irrigation or drift irrigation.
seed/seedling remedy
A 3% solution of panchagavya can be used to soak seeds or dip seedlings before planting. Soaking for 20 minutes is adequate.
Turmeric, and ginger, and sugarcane rhizomes can be soaked for 30 minutes before planting. Storage of seeds. Before drying and storing the seeds, 3% Panchagavya solution can be used to dip them. Periodicity.
7. What are the effects?
Flora sprayed with panchagavya perpetually produce bigger leaves and expand denser cover. The photosynthetic device is activated for stronger organic efficiency, permitting the synthesis of maximum metabolites and photosynthates. Stem
the trunk produces aspect shoots, which might be sturdy and able to wear most fruits to maturity. Branching is relatively high. Roots
The rooting is profuse and dense. Similarly, they remain clean over time. It has also been noted that the roots expand and grow into deeper levels. All such roots help maximum intake of vitamins and water.
there could be yield melancholy beneath everyday circumstances, whilst the land is transformed to organic farming from inorganic structures of the way of life.
But the primary purpose of Panchagavya is its ability to restore the yield level of all plants when the land is transformed from an inorganic cultural device to an organic way of life beginning with the first real year.
In all plants, the harvest is advanced by 15 days. So It not only extends the shelf life of greens, fruits, and cereals, but also enhances their flavor. By decreasing or replacing high-priced chemical inputs, panchagavya ensures better earnings and liberates natural farmers from loans. Drought hardiness The skinny oily movie is formed on the leaves and stems, for that reason decreasing the evaporation of water. So The deep and large roots advanced by way of the vegetation allow them to withstand long dry periods. As a result, the aforementioned qualities lead to a 30% decrease in irrigation water requirements and drought resilience.
