BARNS AND BUILDINGS
From: Madhava Gosh (das) ACBSP (New
Vrindavan - USA)
Madhava.Gosh.ACBSP@pamho.net
Sent: 28 February 2000 13:43
Subject: Re: GAP--govindam adi purusam
Ram Prasad (Dasa) wrote:
what's a barn cost?
That's like asking "What's a house cost?" It will vary
greatly on location, terrain, size, type of materials used, purpose, and
equipment. Do you include land cost in the barn, or solely the structure
itself? Are you including labor as a cost or would one be building it
himself, and just needing to buy materials.? Are there locally available
materials that can be gotten from Nature or recycled? Can the barn be
spartan utilitarian or is there a desire that it be aesthetically pleasing?
As a general answer, barns are cheaper than houses. First you need to define
what is the purpose of the the barn. A calving pen, room for 2 milk stalls
and a team of oxen, with room for visiting or transient animals? 40 cow
milking barn? 400 cow milking barn? Heifer barn? Retired cow barn? Ox barn?
The fact that cows pass urine from the rear end and oxen from their middle
can have an effect on design. How will the manure be handled? As a liquid or
solid? Hauled daily? Stored on site? Composted? Run through a gobar gas
generator? Where will the manure be disposed of ultimately? Land applied?
Sold as dewatered compost? You would need to do an environmental study to
determine what sort of containment structure is workable and permitted by
law.
How much feed needs to be stored and what type of feed will be used? A
winter's worth for how many animals? A week's worth? Fed by hand or machine?
How large of an exercise area will there be? Will it be necessary to put a
concrete pad in the exercise area? Will there be grazing areas associated
with the barn, and what is the ingress and egress to such areas?
What types of predators are in the area? What steps need to be taken to
protect the animals from predators and rustlers? Will their be visitors?
does there need to be special provisions made for visitor parking, viewing,
and comfort? Will there be a space for an informational display? Will the
cow herder need an office? What provisions for storage of veterinary
supplies?
Don't you hate when someone answers a question with a question :-)
From: Madhava Gosh (das) ACBSP (New Vrindavan - USA)
Madhava.Gosh.ACBSP@pamho.net
Sent: 29 February 2000 14:00
Subject: Re: GAP--govindam adi purusam
Don't you hate when someone answers a question
with a question :-)
How bout a geodesic dome? My understanding is
that B. Fuller's design is the most efficient in terms of natural
resources.
I have taken a course in domes and have built models
for them prior to becoming a devotee. When I first moved to NV, I spent my
first winter living in a geodesic dome with Kasyapa (now called Varsana) as
a roommate. We had this little macho austerity thing going where neither of
us would be the first to light a fire, and lived most of the winter in sub
freezing temperatures without heat. As we both spent the entire day out of
the dome, and only returned there to sleep, it usually just seemed a waste
to light the fire simply for sleeping. It would be dark in the morning (no
electricity), and dark when we came back at night, so when we changed into
our work clothes in the morning, we would have to be very careful to have
your temple clothes and bath paraphanalia organized in exactly the right
spot, so when we woke in the morning to go to the temple to bathe, we could
find the stuff by braille.
On days it would be above freezing outside, our work clothes would get wet,
so when we took them off at night, you would have to be careful to hang them
in such a way that when they were frozen in the morning, you could still put
them on. It would take the excess heat of your body to melt the ice in the
clothes in the morning so they became flexible again. Ah, to be young again!
Another complexity to deal with, was to sleep and put your clothes in such a
way the leaks in the structure didn't get then wet (or wetter). As with most
early domes, that one leaked and later collapsed. The leakage was a major
blockage to wide spread adaption. Not to get into a lot of detail, I
wouldn't recommend a dome. Dividing up the space creates a lot of problems.
Another question that I have is can a garage be
converted into a barn and how?
One-car, two-car = one cow, two cow??
Probably more cows than cars, really. A garage , yes ,
could be a barn, but manure and feed handling have to be addressed. First,
what is the purpose of the barn? How many animals of what types? Will
calving happen there, or elsewhere? Will the calf stay with the mother or be
removed?
If you are simply getting a cow that has already been milking for a year,
and continuing to milk her, then the calf is not really an issue. Cows are
gregarious, so I would advise having at least one other cow (cow, ox, or
calf) to keep her company. So it seems a 2 cow barn is minimum. A two car
garage could handle that, with manure storage outside and if feed was
replenished weekly.
From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)
Samba.SDG@pamho.net
Sent: 28 March 2000 17:24
Subject: Cows, cow dung and cow/bull urine...
This is a bit slow at first, but is well worth the
read!
ATTITUDE OF SOCIETY TOWARDS COW BARNS
(Translated from a magazine in India about cow barns)
The inspectors of cow barns generally query (i) about the number of cows in
a barn (ii) the quantity of milk produced in the barn (iii) the land that is
available with the barn and (iv) the sources of income of the barn.
The above inquiry appears somewhat incomplete, as such inquiries do not give
clear picture of the condition of the cow barn. If these inquisitors become
little more elaborate in their questioning about the well-being of the cow
barns, then there cannot be any such situation that can hinder the progress
of the barns in the country. Therefore, while inquiring about the number of
cows in a barn, if the inquisitor tries to know the total number of valid
and invalid cows, milk giving and non milk giving cows, old and diseased
cows, number of calves, bulls etc. instead of just trying to know merely the
number of cows, he can get a clear picture of his inquiry about cows in a
cow barn.
Similarly while seeking to know the total milk production, if they try to
know the average milk production, then their comparative study of milk
production in a cow barn may be more appropriate.
The next question that is generally asked is about the land that is
available with a cow barn. A better and analytical understanding of the fact
would arise only when the inquisitors would attempt to know the total
availability of land for agriculture, growing fodder, grazing cows and
planting trees, inquiring about the land that can be irrigated, land that
can not be irrigated. Similarly to get a clear-cut idea about the source of
income of a cow barn one must inquire about the income that is generated
through self endeavor, through donations and grants and through rent and
interest on the movable and immovable properties of the barn.
Thus when the outlook of the society towards cow barns becomes analytically
focused to a macro aspect, then there can be no real cause that can prevent
the progress and prosperity of cow barns in the country.
Many encouraging and fruitful experiences have come forth from the studies
of cow barns over the years. The verdict of great personalities, saints'
etc. have proved to be true over the years that "by working hard in the cow
barns there can not be any obstacle or scarcity of means far economic and
spiritual progress of the people in the country". A thoughtful planning is
necessary before undertaking any work in the cow barns to achieve desired
results and minimize wastage of resources.
Working in a cow barn is extremely necessary and beneficial. It is like
direct service to God and demigods. Although there had been quite exhaustive
research and developments in the field of Science and Technology, however,
till to-date, our Scientists and Technocrats have not been able to produce
even a drop of milk from grass and/or leaves. Whether they would be able to
develop such a technique in future is very much doubtful. A cow eats leaves
and grass, which can not be consumed by human beings and converts it into
nutritious milk. Our birth-giving mother feed us only for a few months or
years but mother cow supplies her milk to us throughout our life. This is
the reason why the status of cow as mother is far greater than the status of
the mother who gives birth and this is also the reason why mother cow is
cherished and worshiped all over. To express our gratitude to mother cow,
merely worshiping and adoring her is not sufficient but we have to fulfil
our duties towards them according to time, place and circumstances.
For accomplishing economic progress, peace and prosperity in India, it is
very much essential to promulgate such rules and regulations that enforce
complete ban on cow killing in the country. We must also focus our attention
on raising and cultivating cows in the country. The responsibility of
raising and protecting cows falls on the cow barns. There are about 500
district in the India and about 2,800 cow barns. If one barn bears the
responsibility of raising cows in at least one district then one can behold
the changed scenario within very short period. There is no doubt that just
within 14-15 years India can again become a country of milk rivers and
golden birds. Therefore the society must think again about the working and
management of the cow barns and change its outlook towards the cowshed so
that they can shoulder their responsibilities of raising and protecting cows
efficiently. People who are engaged in the activities of cow raising must
see that not a single cow in their locality is sent for slaughtering. Cows
that are taken to the slaughterhouses must be reclaimed and brought to the
local cowsheds and should be given all protection.
Cowsheds have their limitation for keeping and raising the cows. They can
not exceed beyond a particular level. According to the available statistics
there are about 19 crore cows in the country and even if all the cow barns
in the country keep cows to the maximum of their capacity they could at the
most accommodate only about 25 lakh cows. Therefore, if the farmers do not
take up the responsibility of raising and protecting cows it is very
difficult to protect and cultivate cows in India. Around 72% of the Indian
population dwell in the villages. These villages could be made prosperous
and happy just by raising and caring for cows as it provides fulltime
gainful employment to the keeper. The cow raising activities are quite
remunerative and by sincerely undertaking these activities lot of wealth can
be generated which can be used for augmenting and creating civil
infrastructures for the benefit of the masses in the area. Cow raising work
can help restore economic balance in the world.
It has been proved from the work done at Rameshwar Goshala (cow barn) under
'Jivadaya Vistarini Goshala' at Kashi (Varanashi) that by taking proper care
cows can never become useless. So far, the Rameshwar Goshala has provided
shelter to more than 50,000 cows, which were reclaimed from slaughterhouses
under cow protection scheme and after treating and caring them till they
restore their good health, they have been distributed to poor farmers and
villagers for raising and using in agricultural work. There are not even 500
such cows in the Goshala that can be said to be useless. With this rate one
can find not more than 5,00,000 cows in the whole country that can be called
to be called not so useful. It has also been proved at the Rameshwar Goshala
that not a single cow can be called useless because one can earn more than
sufficient just from the dung and urine alone. An old and invalid cow who
eats maximum of 3 to 4 kg fodder gives around 10 kg dung 17 litres urine
from which one can earn more than what he spends for raising the cow by
optimum utilization. The fuel gas generated from the cow dung can be
supplied @Rs.2/-per kg for cooking and lighting. Similarly, 10 to 15-kg rich
quality compost manure and insecticide can be manufactured from the dung and
urine respectively and can be traded on the same ground the chemical
fertilizers and insecticides are traded in open market. Thus, the nicely
cared and protected cows whether young or old, valid or invalid can be very
beneficial from the commercial point of view.
Influenced by the western civilization our government and the so called
scientists and doctors have spread the illusion that the targeted milk
supply in the country can be fulfilled only by western breed of cows such as
Jersey, Helosteen, Phrizion and David brown. The government has now come to
their senses after a decade long illusion and is now understanding that our
own breed of cows are far better than the western breed as far as the Indian
atmosphere is concerned. The government in the Gujarat state deserves real
admiration whose hard work and continuous efforts have been instrumental in
obtaining large quantity of milk from Geer named Indian breed of cows who
give minimum of 40 litres of milk every day when they are properly cared and
protected. Research works on Indian breed of cows are also in progress in
the foreign nations. By producing 120 litres of milk every day from the Geer
cows of India, Israel has astonished the whole world and have proved that
the Indian cows are better then any other species of cows in the world.
Research work on cows named Hariyana, Shahiwal, Gangatiri are in progress in
foreign countries and their findings are very encouraging. As per the
requirements and availability of our means, cows, which give 10 litres of
milk on an average, are very useful for our country because the bulls
obtained from such cows are very useful for agriculture. Bulls begotten by
the cows, which give more than 20 litres of milk, are not very useful for
farmers. Therefore, from the perspective of national welfare, we should not
think of cows that gives more than 20 litres of milk every day.
Protection of bulls is a crucial problem in our country today. By the
introduction of mechanised agricultural appliances, work for the bulls are
reduced. Tractors are employed as an alternative to bulls these days. A
tractor increases the cost of production because the cost of procuring a
tractor itself is quite high and it becomes more burdened with the recurring
maintenance charges. A tractor consumes costly mineral oils and as byproduct
spreads pollution in the atmosphere. In comparison to tractor, bulls hardly
cost any thing. They eat simple grass and leaf and along with their hard
labor they provide dung and urine as bonus by utilizing which the quality
and fertility of the soil becomes multitudinously enhanced. A tractor can
never be compared to bulls on any account.
To wash away the cows, the government has yet another evil program under
which they are erecting mechanised slaughterhouses from place to place for
slaughtering poor cows in the hope of earning foreign currencies. The
foolish government is also engaged in exporting cow dung under the pressure
from the foreign nations.
According to one of the notification of the Ministry of Agriculture
12,95,80,000 hectare land has become barren and to restore this land only
cow dung is the remedy. Agricultural scientists have already suggested that
the number of cows in the country should be increased and their slaughtering
must be controlled. The rules and regulations, which were in existence in
the long past also have never allowed killing of cows. But in the
present-day's degraded social order, under the name of utility and
invalidity, actually lot of the young and healthy cows are being slaughtered
mercilessly. The health departments have forbid that old and diseased
animals should not be slaughtered for human consumption then who are those
cows that are killed at the rate of 29200 every day. Obviously these are
healthy and useful cows. Those who are attached to the program of cow
service say that the actual figure of cow killing is twice what the
government has declared.
The Surabhi Research Institute states that if the cows are protected and
cultivated and their number is increased ten times more, the entire economic
scenario of the country can be changed. This Institute has made a program to
protect and increase the number of cows in India. The program is discussed
in brief as follows.
The whole country can be divided into 5 to 10 zones, which can be further
divided into many sub-zones. A comprehensive research center may be
established in all these zones. These centers then must become instrumental
for establishing one cowshed in each and every sub-zone. From the sub-zones,
this activity may be spread at the district level. The success of the
program lies in the successful working of the district level cowsheds.
Cow diseases are spread mainly because of water pollution. Western breeds of
cows are another major factors for spreading the contamination in the cows.
More than 80% diseases in the cows are spread through western breed of cows.
For taking proper medical care of cows all the systems of medicine such as
allopathic, homeopathy, ayurvedic etc. has to be improved. Influenced by the
western ideals, the government is propagating only allopathic system of
treatment, which is not very irrelevant in Indian conditions and it is not
even sufficient for taking proper medical care of cows. The government
programs and policies in this regard are therefore not very appreciable. The
reason is that there is acute scarcity of allopathic doctors required for
this purpose. Within the present circumstances, it is not possible to meet
the required supply of Doctors even within 10 years. However, somehow or
other, suppose the supply of the doctors are made but to meet the cost of
doctors and medicine would be quite impossible for the poor farmers.
Therefore, all the social organizations in the country are requested to
realize the fact and come together to deliberate on certain other possible
alternatives and disseminate their findings to the poor farmers for their
utility.
Although huge sums of money are invested in establishing large factories and
production units for manufacturing manure, major requirement of manure is
actually imported from foreign countries. If cow urine is utilized for
production of urea in place of the chemical fertilizers, then the whole
nation can accrue its benefit and lot of money can be saved. A very good
alternative of the urea manure is to spread soil soaked in cow urine. Use of
chemical insecticides has harmful effect on the health because of which most
of the countries have banned using chemical insecticides. But the Indian
government has no guts to impose ban on the use of insecticides, as it is
victim of neglecting cows. Spraying cow urine mixed with equal amount of
water can protect crops and plants from insects and diseases.
Kamdhenu vati, which is made of cow urine, is very successful for treating
111 different types of diseases. The Rameshwar Goshala is also experimenting
at its own level and is finding very encouragable and useful results. Cow
dung is quite an effective remedy for disposal of increasing garbage and
refuses in the cities. Spraying cow dung mixed in water on the filth will
eradicate all the foul smell coming from the filth. The generation of the
harmful insects in the filth is replaced with beneficial bacteria, which
convert the filth into compost manure within very short period.
Restoration of the barren land is a big problem in the country. Cows are the
only remedies to restore the barren land and prevent the useful land from
becoming unfertile. Tying the cows on a barren land and daily feeding the
land with dung and urine will very soon transform the barren land into
useful and fertile land. These are some of the reasons why our saints and
great personalities have prevented cow slaughtering under all circumstances.
The only remedy to elevate the living standard of the poor farmers are the
cows. If the farmers are enlightened to take care of the cows and if they
actually serve the cows with proper care and attention, then, even one cow
can magnify their standard of living. One cow can be very easily raised just
by feeding her Kanji water (water drained after cooking rice), refuse of the
vegetables and fruits, grass and leaf every day. These items are not very
difficult to obtain. Cow supplies the required amount of milk to the family
and the calves become objects of play for the children. Thus the cow becomes
inseparable parts and parcel of the farmer's family and after every 1. years
it provides the farmer a new cow or bulls that further increases his income
and prosperity.
Cow milk has wonderful medicinal qualities. Buttermilk can put off the
influence of any kind of intoxicant like tobacco, alcohol, heroin, etc. Its
regular use extinguishes the very desire of addiction to intoxicants. Cow
milk contains gold, which can not be found in any other substance other than
milk of mother. Cow milk increases intelligence, prowess and health. Cows
are very important and significant from all perspectives. It is therefore
very essential for all of us to understand the value and significance of
cows.
From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)
Samba.SDG@pamho.net
Sent: 28 March 2000 17:24
Subject: Cows, cow dung and cow/bull urine...
Great Article Maharaja! Thanks.
Was there any mention of contacts, where more indigenous information on
Indian cow care, and related spinoffs in terms of other uses for the cows
products, such as recipies for insecticides, houshold uses etc. may be
available?
Otherwise does anyone know of a work detailing Indian cow care traditions
and their uses for the cows products?
It seems that in the Indian context, care for mother cow, and the symbiosis
of man and cow has been perfected over millenia.
Surely there must be a study or some other source, that goes into detail on
Indian cow care, somewhere along the lines of the book 'The Family Cow'?
The article was really inspiring, and for us in more 3rd world situations,
this version of cow care is more close to home. I mean by that that cows in
3rd world situations can be cared for in a much more down to earth manner,
than in colder, more expensive and more 'legislature' bound western
countries.
I wonder if parts of the cow standards paper should be altered to take 3rd
world situations into account. I dont think it requires for instance,
$10,000 to ensure a cows safety in these countries.
Your Servant
Samba das
From: Bhakti Raghava Swami
Bhakti.Raghava.Swami@pamho.net
Sent: 28 March 2000 21:54
Subject: Cows, cow dung, cow/bull urine
Hare Krishna Samba prahbu, all glories to Srila
Prabhupada.
I'm glad you liked the article on cow barns. One
devotee based in Mumbai sent me the article. His name is Madhava prabhu and
I have requested him to share any other information he may have on this,
especially in relation to your comments which I have also sent him. Madhava
prabhu is involved with the land project they have near Pune and is in
contact with persons developing various products from natural elements such
as cow dung. Last year he had given me a soap made completely from *cow
dung*, something I never knew existed. The people producing this could only
communicate in Hindi so I did not follow up at the time. We can expect some
news from his side soon.
With best wishes,
Bhakti Raghava Swami
From: Madhava Gosh (das) ACBSP (New Vrindavan - USA)
Madhava.Gosh.ACBSP@pamho.net
Sent: 29 March 2000 00:12
Subject: Re: Cows, cow dung and cow/bull urine...
I wonder if parts of the cow standards paper
should be altered to take 3rd world situations into account. I dont think
it requires for instance, $10,000 to ensure a cows safety in these
countries.
Your Servant
Samba das
Offhand, I don't think the $10,000 figure is actually
used in the Standards. That is kicked around for the US. It will vary
greatly according to local circumstances.
