The Cow is the most important animal for developing the human body to perfection. The body can be maintained by any kind of foodstuff, but Cows milk is particularly essential for developing the finer tissues of the human brain so that one can understand the intricacies of transcendental knowledge. A civilized man is expected to live on foodstuffs comprising fruits, vegetables, grains, sugar and milk. The Bull helps in the agricultural process of producing grain, etc., and thus in one sense the Bull is the father of humankind, whereas the Cow is the Mother, for she supplies milk to human society. A civilized man is therefore expected to give all protection to the Bulls and Cows.
It is written in the Hindu scriptures that the cow is the superior most animal in the world. We understand the importance, usefulness and necessity of the Cows through religious, spiritual and scientific point of views. To know; how to serve the generations of the cow and how to get more of it, let us understand it by starting with a calf's birth.
At the time of the birth and after the birth, bull-calf requires good care and after standing of calf-heifer, cow nipple is given in its mouth, calf-heifer starts sucking in milk. If it is unable to drink the milk then to teach it the same, a finger needs to be put in its mouth immersed with light milk and then Calf-heifer starts drinking it. When the calf-heifer is little grown up (10-15 days), some tender fodder is served with milk, so that cow's calf does not remain hungry. When it grows up to 15 days, it is fed with some flour, salt and turmeric powder. The calf-heifer, for the duration of at least three months, is fed with enough milk; therefore cow's milk is extracted only after calf-heifers have consumed it adequately. Now the calf is given food in the form of grains and thus with this way of food and nutrition the cow's calf becomes useful and of exquisite breed. If the calf-heifer becomes malnourished then it gets too weak to get enough milk from. Therefore, special care is to be taken for the nourishment of the calf. Similarly, if the calf-heifer is continued with this nutrition then in four years, it becomes capable of reproduction.
When the cow calf is capable to conceive, then it is made to have the intercourse with the superior breed of the bull, so that a fine breed of calf can be produced. And if the calf is of good breed then he can be sent to cowshelters (Gaushallas) or other sheds in the villages so that cow’s reproduction is promoted. If the breed of the calf is poor even then as a bull can function well in the farm work.
If the cow is going to deliver a calf, in that case a person monitors the whole task and keeps the cow tied with the rope because gaumaata (cow) does not want anybody to come near to her at the time of delivery of calf-heifer. At the time of birth of calf-heifer, cow is stroked, fondled, loved and offered good nutrition feed so cow gets the strength to bear the pains. Proper attention and care are kept in mind to reduce the pains especially while cutting the umbilical cord and immediately after the birth, the calf-heifer is brought in front of the cow, so that gaumata (cow) can lick and clean it with plenty of love.
At least one person is always present to take care and especially for monitoring because after the birth of the calf-heifer, the placenta (cord which fed calf-heifer in the womb) drops. If cow or any dog eats the placenta, it can harm to the gaumata (cow) and hence to avoid this, the placenta is buried in the ground by digging in a pit. If the placenta takes more than 10 hours to fall, then to ease the fall of the placenta, roots of Shundia with jaggery are boiled or fenugreek seeds with jaggery are boiled and this preparation is given to the cow.
Before the birth of the calf-heifer 500 grams of ghee is given to the cow because ghee is a thing which lessers the trouble of cow at the time of delivery. Likewise if 15-20 days before the birth of calf-heifer, cow is given two to four kilos of ghee, it is good for the health of gaumata (Cow) as well as calf-heifer.
After the birth of the calf-heifer cow is washed with little warm water, and is fed with low volume boiled millet with grass for three to four times a day, then gradually celery flowers with millet are added in cow's feed. it can also be started even after four weeks of delivery, and to enhance the flavor Bharda, fenugreek, jaggery, makhana, coconut kernel is also added in feed. Warm water is offered to the cow. Green fodder is given to cow after ten to fifteen days.
After four-five days of the birth, the calf-heifer is given milk in full amount only twice a day. Sometimes it happens that a grown up heifer-calf too tries to drink the milk and in this way gaumata becomes weak. And if gaumata is again expecting, then there are chances that upcoming calf will be too weak. Therefore, when cow stops giving milk we separate the calf-heifer from the cow.
Usually while milking the Gaumata, her legs need to be tied but at times there are some very quiet and humble cows too who allow to get milked even without their legs tied.
While milking the Gaumata, calf heifers are allowed to consume the milk first, then the cow’s legs are tied to ensure safety and then when the calf has drun sufficient milk, it is separated and the cow nipples are washed with the Luke warm water. Then the cow is patted gently, Cow is served proper fodder to eat so that milking is carried out easily.
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