ISKCON Minimum Cow Protection Standards
forwarded by Madhava Gosh das
Posted December 1, 2002

Endorsed by the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture and

Approved by ISKCON's Governing Body Commission, March 1999

The following is a list of cow protection standards which is now ISKCON Law (507. Most of the standards have been discussed and formulated on the COM cow conference mostly by devotees who have had many years of experience caring for cows and/or the land; ISCOWP (Balabhadra das & Chayadevi dasi), Madhava Gosh das (New Vrndavana, USA), Ranaka das (New Vrndavana), Hare Krsna dasi (BTG & ISKCON Farm Research Committee), Rohita das (New Talavan, USA), Radha Krsna das (ACBSP), Shyamasundara das (Bhaktivedanta Manor, England), Labangalatika dasi (India), Pitavas das & Aradhya dasi (France), Nistula das (Bangladesh), Dvibhuja das (Talavan, USA), Gopal, Inc. (Serbia), Ananta Krsna dasi (New Zealand), Suresvara das (ACBSP, ISKCON Farm Research Committee), Ekadasi das (Padayatra Secretary) and some of its other members. Anuttama das (ISKCON Communications) has also contributed.

THE COWS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS THE CITIZENS

Krsna Book, Volume 1, Chapter 5

"It is also significant that Vasudeva inquired about the welfare of Nanda Maharaja's animals. The animals, and especially the cows, were protected exactly in the manner of one's children. Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and Nanda Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriya to give protection to the citizens of mankind, and it is the duty of the vaisya to give protection to the cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows also should be given full protection."

BRAHMINICAL CULTURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT COW PROTECTION

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 8: Chapter 24, Text 5 Purport

"Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled." The purpose of these standards is to institute a world-wide cow protection minimum standard within ISKCON. The standards a cooperative spirit between the devotees involved, often of diverse views, to come to a general agreement in a joint effort to help prevent any mistreatment of ISKCON cows and help develop cow protection programs that exemplify Srila Prabhupada's vision of cow protection. ISKCON has made significant efforts to protect cows but still mistakes have been made on ISKCON farms in the past which have created present problems that will take time and effort to correct.

The Standards enacted below will assure that the current problems are rectified in the near future and similar difficulties will not arise again.

The "Recommended" is the ideal, the "Permitted" is an exception to the ideal, and Not Allowed is self explanatory. These are our internal requirements and they do not supercede whatever local government rules there are. We should follow the higher standard whether ISKCON or government. In transportation, for instance, there are laws of inoculation that MUST be followed.

There are further issues that need to be standardized and such proposals will be presented at the GBC Mayapur meetings.. Rewording, and additions to the standards will be presented at each Mayapur meeting if such changes are deemed necessary by the Agriculture and Cow Protection Ministry after the standards have been in use and feedback has been ascertained.

MINIMUM COW PROTECTION STANDARDS

The term "cows" is used herein to mean cows, calves, oxen, and bulls. Cows are domestic animals, not wild animals. They are dependent on the care of humans.

SECTION 1 COW CARE STANDARDS

I) Protection
II) Organization of Cow Care Facilities
III) Shelter
IV) Feeding
V) Milking
VI) Training Oxen
VII) Traveling and Preaching Programs
VIII) Use of Krsna's Properties
SECTION 2 BREEDING STANDARDS
IX) Requirements for Acquiring Cows
X) Selection of Breeding Stock
XI) Castration
XII) Insemination of Cows
SECTION 3 MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
XIII) Responsibility of Local Community
XIV) Local GBC Responsibility
XV) Investigation Team
SECTION 1 CARE STANDARDS

I PROTECTION
Recommended:
1) Lifetime Protection
Maintaining a animal for its full lifetime including its training and engagement in productive service. Female cows are not required to be bred (see Section 2.9), and should not do heavy work (Section 1.5).
2) Daily Observation of Herd
All cows should be given a daily head count and health check.
3) Records
Short concise records of conditions of the cows, land, and weather should be kept on a daily basis. These records are to be used as a tool for monitoring and improving herd conditions.
4) Fencing
Stone walls, board fence, woven wire, living fences (except Multiflora rose) or high tensile are recommended to contain cows by creating an impenetrable border.
5) Safety and Security
Adequate arrangements must be provided to ensure the safety and security of the cows from theft, and abuse, maltreatment. These may include locking gates, lighting, security surveillance, restricted access or other arrangements as per local circumstances.
6) Death
a) A dying cow should be kept as comfortable as possible and given as much association and transcendental sound vibrations as possible. There should be access to water and food.
b) Calf mortality rate should be no greater than 5%, the achievable standard.

Permitted
1) Daily Observation of Herd
For larger herds with a shortage of cowherds it is acceptable for the health check to be done weekly. Daily counting is still required.
2) Records
Keeping a general farm journal. Keeping breeding records of cows, parentage, offspring.
3) Fencing
a) Electric fencing permitted for temporary and immediate fencing, it is especially useful for rotational grazing.
b) Barbed wire permitted in areas of low pressure and where other types of fencing would be impractical to use, but should not be used where animals are concentrated.
Not Allowed
1) Transferring Ownership
Transferring of ownership or the use of cows where all the minimum standards aren't observed.
2) Death due to the following conditions:
a) Failure to provide adequate feed, shelter, safety measures and health care.
b) Performing euthanasia
c) Placing a sick cow in a situation where he/she will be trampled, eaten, frozen, etc. causing death.
3) Neglecting the cow while she dies. Not providing feed and water.
4) Calf mortality rate higher than 10%
If records are inadequate, mortality rate can be determined retroactively by seeing how many have been milking in the last 2-3 years and determining how many of their calves are still alive.
5) Failure to count cows daily
Daily counting deters rustling and loss of cows who wander off.
6) Fencing
Failure to provide adequate fencing to control animals' movement. There should be no barbed wire in areas where animals are concentrated and in areas of high pressure, e.g., it shouldn't be used between a pasture and a meadow or crops field.
7) Safety and Security
Failure to provide adequate arrangements to ensure the safety and security of the cows as stated in #5 of recommended.
8) Failure to maintain appropriate herd records.

II ORGANIZATION OF COW CARE FACILITIES
Recommended
1) Devotees owning their own land and cows
2) Devotees owning some land and cows with access to communal rotational
grazing and harvesting in order to fully provide for their cows.
3) A Cow/Land Trust established to secure cow care.
4) Breeding not to exceed carrying capacity of the land.

Permitted
1) Centralized goshalla operated by a few devotees where there is an abundant congregation to support the goshalla and a Cow/Land Trust to secure the cow care and a training program for new cowherds.
2) Small privately owned family farms working with the Cow/Land Trust.
3) Both following breeding programs maintaining proper proportion of animals to land capacity.

Not Allowed
1) Maintaining a centralized goshalla without appropriate manpower, training, congregational support, and Cow/Land Trust.
2) Breeding without consideration for land capacity.

III SHELTER
Recommended
1) Winter Shelter
a) All cows should have access to shelter from the wind, rain, and snow. An open barn or shed facing away from the direction of the prevailing winds is much preferred to a closed building. Many diseases thrive in the warm, humid environment found in some closed buildings. Drafts should be prevented as much as possible in open buildings.
b) Adjoining outside exercise lot.
2) Clean water, feed, and vegetarian salt available at all times.
3) Summer Shelter
a) All cows should have access to shade from the sun, either in tree shade or housing.
b) All feed must be fed so as to prevent mixture with manure.
4) All shelter should have access to sunlight and ventilation.
5) All shelters should have clean floors with dry bedding to prevent problems such as hoof rot.
a) Use of dry bedding of some type is important. Maintaining cows on dry surfaces helps prevent many foot problems such as hoof rot.
b) Pens should be cleaned daily or fresh bedding added.
c) Pens with hard floors are preferable to muddy lots and should have a sufficient layer of bedding
6) Feed aisles or mangers should be constructed within the shelter so feed can not be pulled into the area where the cows walk. thereby preventing wastage and feed mixing with manure.

Permitted
1) Clean rest areas with rubber bedding.

Not Allowed
1) Failure to provide shelter that protects against the wind, rain, and snow.
2) Failure to provide shade in the summer.
3) Failure to provide sunlight and ventilation.
4) Failure to provide clean feeding conditions.
5) Failure to provide water (also in freezing weather) and vegetarian salt.
6) Forcing cows to lie in sloppy, filthy pens.
7) Forcing calves to nurse on cows which have been lying in manure.
8) Overcrowding.

IV FEEDING
Recommended
1) All cows should have pasturing facilities. Herding and intensive rotational grazing are the recommended methods of pasturing.
2) Diet
a) Milking cows, growing and working oxen, and breeding bulls should be fed grains or high quality supplemental feeds such as silage which should be secured to prevent overeating.
b) Change from one type of feed to another, especially from dry feeds to fresh feeds, should be done gradually so that bloating, which can lead to death, does not occur.
c) Clean water and vegetarian salt should always be available.
d) All feeding should be done under the supervision of the primary cowherd to ensure the health and safety of the cows.
e) There should be sufficient feeding space so that all animals can eat without undo stress from herd mates.
f) Hay or other feed should be available for all animals when natural browsing is insufficient to provide minimal nutritional requirements.

Permitted
1) Pasturing with as much rotation of paddocks as possible.
2) Tethering when sufficient pasturing grounds are not available and under the following conditions:
a) All tethering should be supervised by primary cowherd.
b) There must be sufficient availability of green grass and provision for exercise.
c) The safety and comfort of the animal is the prime consideration. E.G., Care must be taken to guard against a cow being strangled on a rope especially in hilly areas.
d) Adequate water and vegetarian salt must be available if tethered for more than a couple of hours.
3) If cows are being fed bhoga and prasadam scraps (not from human plates) in addition to their other feed then such feeding must be carefully monitored by the primary cowherd due to the fact that cows can become unhealthily fat on scraps, sick, or in immediate danger due to carelessly adding indigestible items such as kitchen utensils.
4) If grazing grounds are inadequate for the number of cows then there must be a plan to eventually provide grazing land or replenish existing land.

Not Allowed
1) Tethering which fails to meet even the Permitted standards described above.
2) Total confinement.
3) Diet
a) Feeding by-products of animal slaughter.
b) Feeding a diet consisting entirely of kitchen garbage and prasadam scraps.
c) Feeding prasadam scraps from human plates.
d) Feeding rotten prasadam and kitchen scraps.
e) Carelessly including in feed articles that are not digestible such as garlands, kitchen utensils, floor sweepings, or burnt food such as burnt chaunces, burnt custard.
f) Feeding moldy hay.
4) Throwing cow's hay and grains on the ground where they can walk on it and pass stool on it.(refer to 3b & 6 of Standard 3 Shelter).
5) Failure to follow 2a through 2e of recommended.

V MILKING
Recommended:
1) Training Cows
a) Cows should be trained by voice commands for the purpose of safety during public events, every day health checks, etc.
b) All cows should be given names.
2) Milking
a) Milking should be done by hand by trained experienced milkers who regularly milk the same cow(s).
b) Cows should be brushed daily, and udder washed before milkings 3) A Calf and Mother

a) A calf and its mother should have as much association as possible, especially in the calf's first week, to acquire the essential colostrum.
b) There must be careful consideration to the eating habits of the calf so that overeating does not occur leading to scours (diarrhea) which can lead to death. Overeating can be prevented by limiting access to the udder of the mother.
c) Weaning must be gradual, totally achieved no sooner than 3 months with the option of 6 months or longer.
d) During the weaning process a sweetened grain with the proper balanced ration for a young calf, first cutting, non stemmy hay, and clean water should be available for access by calf.
e) Caution should be taken against putting calves on pasture too early which can cause bloat (which can be fatal).
f) The primary cowherd should be supervising and instructing the treatment of the calf and mother.

Permitted
1) Training Cows
Cows can be trained to lead by halter or gentle herding techniques. This is for safety and health checks, not working as oxen. However light work is allowed for non lactating cows and must be supervised by the primary cowherd.
2) Milking
Milking should be done by hand.
3) A Calf and Mother
a) Calves may be bottle fed colostrum for the first few days and later on milk.
b) A plan must be presented to correct bottle feeding allowing for new calves in the herd to be with their mothers.
c) Gradual weaning can be prior to 6 months If the calf's coat changes color or it looses interest in milk (ruling out illness).

Not Allowed
1) Ill Treatment
Failure to develop a personal relationship with a cow leading to excessive use of whips, prods, beating, rough treatment, and violence to the animal.
2) Milking
a) Milking by hand in which the following occur: pinch, pull or any other action that may result in the animal becoming disturbed.
b) Milking by machine. This is not acceptable and can only be done in a crisis situation, e.g., lack of sufficient cowherds. A plan to correct the crisis situation must be presented.
c) Failure to provide all calves access to mother's milk either directly from the cow or by milk bottle.
d) Feeding calves milk replacement or by the bucket method.
3) Working cows as oxen except in dire emergency.

VI TRAINING OXEN
Recommended Method:
1) Training oxen should begin at 2-4 months to develop a relationship of love and trust. No work is done at this time due to softness of bones as well as other reasons.
2) Training should be by voice commands or Indian technique of pierced nose with rope halter.
3) All oxen should be given names.

Permitted:
1) Training at a later age but still developing a relationship of love and trust.
Not Allowed
1) Using whips excessively, beating, rough treatment, and violence to the oxen.

VII TRAVELING AND PREACHING PROGRAMS
(Such programs represent ISKCON to the public. If there is an unfortunate incident it is ISKCON that can be sued and attacked, not the individuals handling the animals.)
Recommended:
1) Before traveling, all oxen must be well trained with a proven working reliability by an experienced teamster.
2) All cows and calves involved must be trained to voice commands and/or halter broken.
3) All local laws of health, safety and insurance must be followed.
4) All animals in such programs must have had previous experience in the association of people so as to not be in a state of shock when taken to be viewed by a crowd.
5) The health, safety and general well-being of all animals and people in such programs and people observing such programs takes priority over achieving inappropriate daily distance or preaching goals.
6) There must be fair and considerate treatment of any uncooperative animal. 7) Oxen should be handled by experienced teamsters only. 8) Cows, calves should be handled by persons approved by the primary cowherd. They should have had some previous experience caring for the animal.
9) Daily health check of all animals. A sick animal is one which is: noticeably unwell, has temperature, not eating, or diseased. Appropriate remedial measures must be taken.
10) Transported Oxen
Oxen must be well-provided at all times with the following:
a) Sufficient space to lie down and rest.
b) Sufficient ventilation, sunlight and protection from bad weather.
c) Legally safe & secure transport facilities (doors closed while traveling, vehicles and/or trailers must be a in well maintained condition).
d) Sufficient food, water, and vegetarian salt.
e) Sufficient exercise by being un-trailered at night and when not traveling.
g) Daily brushing.
11) Walking Oxen
In addition to all the above:
a) Appropriate and timely foot care (including shoeing, when needed).
b) Extra rest time and health care.
c) Their load must be appropriate to their strength power, health, and age, and approved by an experienced teamster.
f) Legs and feet of walking oxen should be given special attention during health check.
12) On a monthly basis, the oxen should have a complete health examination by a local government or approved veterinarian.
13) Short concise records of health and temperament of the oxen, local land conditions, weather, distances traveled, and public interest shown to the oxen should be kept on a daily basis.

Permitted
1) If the person handling the oxen is not an experienced teamster he must be in training and under the strict supervision of an experienced teamster.

Not Allowed
1) Training programs consisting of only 1 to 7 days previous to beginning traveling.
2) Failure to provide sufficient supervision of public access to the cows, resulting in abuse to the cows.
3) Initiating a travelling preaching program with bullocks without sufficient provision for a suitable place for retirement and cowherd care.
3) Failure to provide animals the recommended and permitted.

VIII USE OF KRISHNA'S PROPERTY
Recommended
1) Any property (land and cows) belonging to the Deity should be protected by environmentally sound conservation practices designed with the long term fertility and preservation of the soil in mind.
2) Construction of convenient watering places like ponds and tanks and easily accessible shade is appreciated by the cows.

Permitted
1) Land may be burned only when dense growth needs to be removed to increase productivity.
2) Timber
a) Conditions for Timbering
Individual select cuttings of trees may be done for the erection of homes, road right-of-ways, construction of fence lines, crop land, or pasture.
b) Use of Timber Cut
Trees so cut must be utilized for construction purposes or firewood.
c) Replacement
When deemed necessary to forest health and supply, trees cut should be replaced by planting new ones in appropriate locations

Not Allowed
1) Grazing animals who are destined for slaughter on ISKCON/devotee property.
2) Removing sod or yearly burning of crop or grazing land.
3) Clear cutting of trees.
4) Cutting of trees on steep land or land which may be prone to erosion or any other activity that may lead to erosion.
5) Performing activity that may lead to contamination of any bodies of water.
6) Selling or exchanging land used by cows except where the cows will directly benefit or such sales will increase the assets of the cows.
7) Allowing unauthorized passage of people without permission from temple and knowledge of the primary cowherd.

SECTION 2 BREEDING STANDARDS

IX REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING COWS
Recommended
1) Animal Acquisition
a) A cow should not be acquired or bred for furnishing milk without well-defined plans to provide care and lifetime engagement for her resulting offspring.
b) Cows should be acquired from the nearest ISKCON farm.
2) Sufficient Land
Care includes having sufficient productive land to support the offspring. This land should be held in a Cow/Land Trust and maintained by self-reliant, low-impact methods.
3) Engagement of All Stock.
Lifetime engagement includes all male calves born be trained and worked and female calves be trained to voice commands or halter broken. Female cows are not required to be bred, especially if there are no plans to train any resultant bull calves.

Permitted
1) Use of Non-devotee Land
The acquiring of grazing rights, or leasing of land from non-devotees to provide sufficient land for the cows' support.
2) Trust funds and Lifetime Adoption
The establishment of Trust Funds and Lifetime Adoption, in order to adequately provide for a calf throughout its entire life.
3) The Purchase of Feed
Purchase of feed is permitted when existing lands fail to provide enough.
4) Leasing Cows
Arrangements for leasing cows to others is permitted if it can contribute to the overall goal of cow protection, and if the leasor is legally bound to abide by all Cow Protection Standards, including, but not limited to, arrangements made for lifetime protection of both cow and calf.
5) Acquiring Cows From Non-devotees
When the nearest ISKCON Farm is practically too far for safe transport, has no animals suitable for training, or has no need to give cows away, purchase from non-devotees is permitted.

Not Allowed
1) Animal Acquisition
Procuring or breeding of a cow for the purpose of supplying milk without any plan for the care, training and engagement of offspring.
2) Lack of Land and Funds for Animal Care
Failure to provide sufficient land, cowherds, and funds to support the cow and/or offspring.
3) The Purchase of Feed
Purchasing feed without planning for future production by sustainable agricultural methods.
4) Leasing Cows
Leasing cows without the legally binding and well monitored contracts as described in # 4 of permitted.
5) Acquiring Cows From Non-devotees.
Buying cows from non-devotees instead of from local overcrowded ISKCON Farms when practical transportation of cows is possible and animals suitable for training are available.

X SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK
Recommended
1) Choosing Breed
a) Choice should be made on the basis of retaining traits desirable and appropriate for ISKCON devotees' particular needs.
b) Heritage breeds should be considered before more recent breeds.
2) Choosing Desirable Traits
a) Choice should be made taking into consideration docility, longevity, resilience, and the ability to thrive on low-quality feeds.
b) Desirable milking cow traits include, in addition, longevity of milking, ability to produce milk on low-quality feeds, durability, ease of handling and leading, long teats.
c) Desirable working oxen traits include, in addition, the ability to work well, durability, ease of training, and sturdy hoof history in lineage (black hoofs being generally stronger).
3) Geographical Considerations
a) Choice of breeding stock depends a great deal upon local conditions and availability.
b) Breeds that are excellent choices for one area may not be good choices for other areas. For example, the 'Taurean' breeds are good for temperate climates while the 'Zebu' types are better for the tropics.

Permitted
1) Crossbreeding
To use existing stock with an appropriate crossbreeding program, conducted by an experienced breeder, to breed in the desirable bloodlines and breed out the original bloodline.
Not Allowed
1) Choosing exotic breeds that are unsuitable for location and purposes. 2) Breeding done without appropriate knowledge which can result in unusable animals. E.g., most Taurean crossed Zebu cows have proven too unruly to milk.
XI CASTRATION
Recommended:
1) Bull calves of European Taurean breeds should be castrated at 6 months to a year. Indian Zebu breeds should be castrated at 1 year to 2 years.
2) The method of castration should be by emasculation, specifically using the tool bordezio (bloodless castration) performed by a veterinarian, or experienced professional.

Permitted:
1) Cutting by a veterinarian or experienced professional.
2) Use of bordezio by experienced cowherd.

Not Allowed:
1) Banding (using rubber bands around the testicles until they drop off).
2) Performing acceptable methods of castration by inexperienced cowherd.

XI INSEMINATION OF COWS
Recommended:
1) Cows should be inseminated by a bull kept at the farm, rather than by artificial insemination, as requested by Srila Prabhupada. Such bulls must be properly enclosed for safety reasons, as well as to avoid unwanted inseminations.
2) Careful records of breeding must be kept in order to avoid unplanned inbreeding.
3) When a bull can not be kept safely and humanely, use of a community bull or neighbor's bulls is recommended.

Permitted:
1) Artificial Insemination may be used when in special circumstances bulls cannot be properly maintained.
2) Bulls from a neighbor (even though not farmed according to Vaisnava principles) may also be used if they are suitable.
3)Inbreeding may be practiced only under strict conditions by an experienced breeder.

Not Allowed
1) Not restricting a bull in a standard bull pen. Such lack of precaution will inevitably lead to unwanted inseminations. It can also be the cause of life-threatening accidents to cowherds or guests.
2) Keeping a bull without following the same standards given herein for the cows.
3) Keeping a bull without association. At least one ox should be kept with him, to prevent boredom.
4) Keeping the bull in adjacent pastures or stalls to cows he should not breed.

SECTION 3 MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
XIII RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
Recommended
1) Housing and use of ISKCON land contracted to devotees who are seriously committed to protecting cows and working the land.
2) Land Base
Cow programs should be increasing the land base available to cow herding, not decreasing. a) Lands may be sold or exchanged only if there is an offsetting advantage and an increase to the overall program.
b) New land acquired to be given, leased, sold at fair market value to those who seriously committed to protecting cows and working the land. Any income generated from such transferred land should be used to benefit the cow protection programs.
c) The determination of land sales in regard to what is best for the cows should be made by the cows' primary cowherd.
3) Ox-power Produce
Ox-power produce should be purchased from the goshalla at above standard market price by temple and devotees. Milk from protected cows should be sold at a premium, with the amount above the standard market value used to make capital contributions to a Cow Protection Trust Fund.
4) Cow Remains
a) Local government and customs must be respected.
b) When possible it is recommended to honor the dead body of the cow.
c) After all reasonable efforts have been taken to maintain the soul in the body of the cow, when the soul has left the body of the cow, there is no bar to someone recycling the body unless illegal in that country and after consulting with the primary cowherd. (Recycling the dead body of the cow is in accordance with Srila Prabhupada's instruction in the Teachings of Queen Kunti and other sources.)
5) Goshalla Reporting
Managers of goshalla should be accountable for quarterly presenting facts and figures that show the value of the cows, their services provided (i.e. plowing, transport, labor, publicity), their produce and their by-products.
Permitted
1) Milk and Ox-power Produce
a) When cows and cowherds are sufficiently supported by temple, milk and produce can be given to the temple.
b) Milk and ox-power produce bought at market value by temple and devotees.
2) Land Base
Lands may be put into private hands if there is a means easily monitored and managed by which the land will continue to be used for cow protection, i.e. retention of grazing rights, leasing agreements, or the establishment of a fund dedicated to obtaining new land.
Not Allowed
1) Land Base
a) Selling lands for the sake of generating cash flow to deal with non-capital expenditures. This is strictly forbidden except in emergency situations and then only after approval by the Minister of Cow Protection and Agriculture and the approval of the GBC.
b) Selling land currently used by cows that decreases the over all land base available to the cows.
c) Using ISKCON's land to graze animals destined for slaughter. (See Standard 8)
2) Taxing of Goshalla.
3) Milk and Ox-power Produce
Consuming milk and produce without compensation to the goshalla.
4) Cow Remains
a) Using the body of a dead cow by cow protectors for profit making activity to such a point that it encourages negligence that contributes to the cow's death.
b) Neglecting to follow the government's laws and local customs in regards to disposal of the dead cow's body.
5) Goshalla Reporting
Failure to present facts and figures that show the value of the cows, their services provided (i.e. plowing, transport, labor, publicity), their products and their by-products.

XIV LOCAL GBC RESPONSIBILITY
Recommended
1) The GBC Should Quarterly
a) Meet with cowherds and ox teamsters. This meeting should be a minimum of 1 hour and private.
b) Visit every cow facility and traveling program and review records. (See Standard 1)
c) Present written reports to the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture. (Report forms will be provided to the GBC)
2) Investigation of Abuses
When a GBC receives reports of cow abuse in his/her locale, the complaint must be investigated by the GBC and if found true, the situation must be corrected by consultation with local Farm Council and the Ministry.
3) Follow-up by Investigation Team.
Where no action has been initiated after one week following investigation or if the Ministry deems the action insufficient, the Ministry will appoint an investigation team to create a report specifying actions needed to correct the situation.
4) ISKCON's Ministry of Justice Involvement.
If corrections are not initiated within one month following the initial abuse report, the problem will be referred to ISKCON's Ministry of Justice for further action to protect the cows.

Permitted
1) Temple Presidents are responsible to see that local Goshalla Managers send quarterly reports to the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture. The local GBC Deputy/Deputies shall validate these reports by either personally visiting or appointing an accountable and reliable representative to do so

3) Response to Abuses
Permitted standards are the same as recommended standards #2,3,4 above.

Not Allowed
Failure to meet even permitted standards.

XV INVESTIGATION TEAM (IT)
Recommended
1) Selection of IT
The Ministry will collect a world-wide list of devotees to act as a resource pool. Such devotees will be knowledgeable of the standards and have agricultural experience. From this list the Ministry will select an appropriate IT.
2) Travel
To defray travel expense, members of the list who live closest to the problem in question will be chosen first. Members are encouraged to provide travel expense. A fund can eventually be set up to help with travel expense.
3) Membership of IT
The IT should consist of 2 or more devotees not involved in the management of the program being investigated and a professional suited to the particular situation selected by the IT. The professional should not be currently employed by the farm under investigation.
4) Duties of IT
The IT will arrange for group meetings and individual interviews with parties concerned and is responsible for the compilation of reports given to all GBC concerned (Local Commissioner, Global Secretary, Justice and Cow Protection Ministries).

Permitted
Same as recommended

Not Allowed
Failure to follow the above standards in part or whole.

GLOSSARY

Cow by-products:
Leather and bones are by-products from the cow after death

Clear cutting:
To log an area by removing all of the trees at one time.

Concentrates:
Protein supplements and grains.

Cow/Land Trust:
Use of assets and income generated from assets to benefit the cows. Assets including land, capital funds, and income producing investments, placed in trusts to secure the long term viability of cow protection programs.

Exotic Breeds:
A breed that is not historically used in an area.
Experienced Breeder:
Is one who has a minimum of three years working with cows and bulls under guidance. He must know how to interpret breeding charts and be able to distinguish the weakness and strengths of particular animals when compared to other related or non-related animals.

Experienced Teamster:
An experienced teamster is one who has had at least 2 years experience with caring for cows prior to becoming a teamster and has at least one year experience working with oxen both in the field and at preaching events.

Feed:
Any of the following: Hay, grains, concentrates, other fibrous foodstuffs.

Goshalla:
A cow sanctuary, where cows, bullocks and bulls are fully protected, productively engaged, and receive tender loving care for their entire lives.

Heritage:
Traditional, non-hybrid seeds and animal breeds used historically in sustainable, locally viable systems.

Inbreeding:
Breeding within same family line. There are two forms; line breeding where distantly related animals are bred to strengthen a particular trait they have in common and inbreeding where both animals used are within three generations of each other. For example grandsire to granddaughter, cousins, dam to son, brother to sister.

Land Capacity or Carrying Capacity of the Land:
The number of cows the land can support. Supporting the cow adequately means to provide grazing and/or produce fodder for year-round maintenance of a specific number of cows, using local or intensive natural agriculture practices. By talking to local farmers or government agencies, carrying capacity of the land in the local area can be determined. This can vary widely from area to area. If the carrying capacity of the land is 5 acres per cow x 3 bred per year x 12yrs (average life span) =180 acres.

Low impact
Agriculture that uses localized techniques that are sustainable and environmentally viable. Labor intensive rather than capital intensive.

Primary Cowherd:
This refers to the person who the community holds responsible for the practical everyday care of the cows. He/she may be in charge of other cowherds.

Products
Milk, dung, urine are produce from the cow.

Self-reliant
Producing most of what is consumed of the basic essentials.

Silage
Fermented feeds stored in silos or bunkers, most commonly corn.

Stock:
Cows, Oxen, bulls, calves - the herd.

Tether:
To limit a cow's pasturing ability by tying the cow to a fixed spot.