Cow Protection
Learn about the ancient science of cow protection and why it is absolutely important for a peaceful and prosperous society. The cow and bull are glorified in the ancient Vedas as the mother and the father of society.
What are the Issues?
Learn about how cruel and abusive the dairy industry and why millions of people are changing to a vegan diet. The dairy industry and the slaughter industry are partners in crime against innocent animals.
What is Wrong with Commercial Milk?
Experts from around the world all concur that commercial dairy is harmful to our health. Here we also point out how there is a vast difference between milk that is stolen from an abused cow and that which has been offered in love.
What Did Prabhupada Say?
The founder of the Hare Krishna movement established cow protection as an integral part of the movement’s success, this included instructing his followers to become self-sufficient to supply their own food and milk.
COW PROTECTION
“in the Kali-yuga, the calves are separated from the cows as early as possible for purposes which may not be mentioned in these pages of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The cow stands with tears in her eyes, the śūdra milkman draws milk from the cow artificially, and when there is no milk the cow is sent to be slaughtered. These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society.”
Srila Prabhupada commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam, verse1.17.3
AVOID IT
“Regarding purchasing things in the market, these items are considered as purified when we pay the price for them. That is the general instruction, but when we know something is adulterated, we should avoid it. But unknowingly if something is purchased, that is not our fault. Things which are suspicious, however, should be avoided.”
– Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Krishna Das on 25th December, 1969
The Issues
21,000,000 dairy calves are slaughtered for veal or cheap beef every year globally. Commercial dairy cows produce up to 12 times more milk than normal. Dairy calves are stolen from their mothers within hours of birth. Cows are artificially and repeatedly and forcibly impregnated year after year. Over 90% of U.S. dairy cows are confined in primarily indoor operations. Most dairy cows are slaughtered before they reach 4 years.
Commercial Dairy is Unhealthy
“Consumption of dairy products has also been linked to higher risk for various cancers, especially to cancers of the reproductive system. Most significantly, dairy product consumption has been linked to increased risk for prostate and breast cancers.”
– The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine
What do Krishna leaders say
ISKCON gurus and leaders speak out
“I don’t consume any dairy unless its source is compatible with what we have in Krishna Valley. Blood milk, milk from the commercial industry is not for me. But I travel a lot and ahimsa or cruelty-free milk is not widely available, so, therefore, I am mostly dieting as a vegan.”
Sivarama Swami
GBC & Guru & founder of Krishna Valley
“Both the meat and commercial dairy industries make a profit from exploiting the cow, her brothers, and her children. If you can become vegetarian and not take milk from the commercial dairy industry but only from life-protected cows (Krsna – Dairian), then you are contributing to lessening the demand for meat and commercial dairy products. The less demand the less the supply and the less suffering for Mother Cow.”
Balabhadra das
Founder of ISCOWP
“Srila Prabhupada told his disciples not to offer anything to Radha Krsna made by the karmis and to sell the commercial dairy sour cream “at any cost.” Do you think he would consider commercial dairy milk infested with pus, hormones, chemicals, and MRSA suitable to offer to Sri Sri Radha Govinda?”
Kurma Rupa das
Founder of Care for Cows
“Consuming milk or milk products that originate from cows that are not protected (including their calves) for their entire lives, go against basic tenets of Krishna consciousness (cow protection and compassion for all living entities). Therefore it is my opinion that milk and milk products from unprotected cows should not be consumed.”
Bir Krishna Goswami
GBC & Guru
“If we (ISKCON) believe in cow protection we must stop funding cow slaughter with our purchases of commercial milk.”
Vaiyasaki das
Kirtan Master
“Honestly, I cannot fathom how a devotee of Krishna can justify offering an adulterated product to Krishna when He clearly states in the Gita to only offer him sattvic foods in devotion. These devotees are obviously enslaved by their tongues but they will never admit it and prefer to present weak arguments.”
