There is a vast disparity from the milk production of northern breeds and the Zebu types of India. There are many types of cows in India broadly termed as Zebu however only a few are specifically noted for their milk productivity. Good milking Zebu cows (Sahiwal for example) can produce 2000 litres over a 305 day lactation. In the UK the average amount of milk for the same period is about 8,000 litres per year. ISKCON northern breed cows (predominantly Meusse-Rhine-Issel type) at Bhaktivedanta Manor were recorded as having an average of 10,000 litres over an extended lactation of about 4 years.
Extended lactations are when you allow a cow to continue to give milk even after, and often well after the calf has been weaned at about 6 months old. Many ISKCON Northern farms have cows that have continuously given milk for many years but detailed records are not available. The manor has records of 20 years plus of milk records and show the average time a cow continues to give milk after the birth of the calf is about 4 years. In regards to Zebu cows there are some testimonies whereby cows have had extended lactations even up to four years. The author has seen cows in the Krishna Balarama Goshala in Vrindavana that had been giving milk continuously for 1.5 years however in that system it was still necessary to bring the calf (big as it was) to the mother for stimulating let down and to suckle.
There is little information about extending the lactation of Zebu types generally in Indian villages and goshalas and it is hardly understood or followed at all. This is an area of growth and development that would benefit the Indian herd and the country as a whole. It is widely known in ISKCON northern farms that cows of their area regularly have extended lactations. To use Northern type cows in India and even cross breeds is likely to include the ability to have extended lactations. This would benefit the whole milk productivity of the country.
The significance of these points is that Indian breeds of cows are giving 2000 litres of milk for each calf born whereas a northern breed (following long lactations) is giving 10,000 litres of milk for each of theirs. That five times difference is very significant.
In a letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to Rupanuga on the 18th of December 1974 he wrote “What do you think of exporting nice United States cows such as the ones you have there and in New Vrindavana to India so we can raise them in our Vrindavana and Mayapura Projects and provde nice milk? Is it possible?”
In a recent Prabhupada Memory Recording Srutikirti Prabhu recounted a brief exchange that Srila Prabhupada had with Jayapataka Maharaja regarding crossing Jersey with Zebu cows. In a message srutikirti prabhu confirmed “Yes, it was a simple instruction to Jayapataka Maharaja in his room on arrival in 1975. Prabhupada suggested breeding the Indian cow with a Jersey cow from the west so that they would have richer more plentiful milk but be able to tolerate the heat, which the western cow could not. It was the extent of the conversation at that time”.
It is not a new Idea to use Northern Type cows in India and indeed it has been practiced for some time. Currently there is growth of interest and sometimes passionately in re-positioning milk production from the Zebu breeds primarily if not wholly. There is sometimes an apparent nationalism agenda in promoting Zebu cows and often it is partnered with condemnation and disdain for Northern type breeds. I won’t get into all the various thoughts on this in this article. Here I want to touch on the idea Srila Prabhupada had suggested about using USA type cows and what some of the ramifications might be.
We have discussed the difference in lactation of Northern breeds and the Zebu milking breeds. Zebus may give 2000 litres whereas northern breeds may give 10,000 litres over an extended lactation.
This article is focused on Cow protection and sometimes comparisons of non-protected herds with protected herds don’t always fit so well. Cows not being killed, extended lactations, calves being weaned at 6 months from a dairy cow, cows living on average 16 years and working oxen are terms and practices that are hardly acknowledged in the farming systems where cows are not protected.
In effect Srila Prabhupadas suggestion if followed would bring about a new breed of cows. A Jersey zebu Mix. Similar mixed breeds do exist already in India and you can often notice Northern influence from the reduction or even absence of the hump amongst other distinguishing characteristics. There are a number of crossbreeds in the USA and in South Africa. Some of the reasons for breeding crosses are the same as Srila Prabhupada is suggesting; better milk combined with heat and conditions resistance.
There are a number of challenges regarding establishing a new breed in India. Some of these are as follows:
1. National Identity with Indian breeds and a desire in some cases to reduce or eliminate the Northern breeds.
2. Balancing the right amount of influence between Jersey and Zebu so the milk yield is maximized without losing hardiness and heat resistance.
3. Obtaining suitable bulls either Jersey or Zebu depending on the traits that are wanted to increase.
4. Obtaining suitable cows either Jersey or Zebu
5. Maintaining detailed breeding records over decades and generations of breeding
6. Sustaining a management regime that honours the direction and can withstand management personnel changes. Once embarked on it would undermine any work done if suddenly a leader changed direction or emphasis.
7. Having enough of the mixed breed to enable blood diversity and to have its own bulls and cows that were able to breed together without weakening the collective herd
8. Preventing other local bulls from impregnating the herd and diverting the breeding direction.
We see practically that the task is immense to produce a cross breed type that holds its characteristics. The ISKCON society of Cow Protection has not as yet demonstrated a managerial consistency from generation to generation and from one leader to the next. It is full of diversity and individual flair and trial and error. Perhaps in this reality we are not fit to put into a practical shape the suggestions in this regard that Srila Prabhupada made.
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