## Prabhupāda on Cow Care August 2, 1976 - Room Conversation New Māyāpur Farm HIGHLIGHTS: **Work the land...cows and calves together** **Prabhupāda:** The classes should be regularly held. **Those who are engaged in the field work, then let them work, **but woman or others, they should hear in the class. They should attend. **Bhagavān:** There is regular class for everyone in the afternoon after *prasādam*. **Prabhupāda:** That's nice... **Hari-śauri:** You said you had some plan? For the land here? When we came in, you were saying you had some plan for the land. **Prabhupāda:** **Plan is that we have got woods. Cut the woods, make small cottages, and engage them for growing fruits, flowers, grains,** and make the complete arrangement nicely. Water... **Hari-śauri:** Irrigation. **Prabhupāda:** **In this way make it ever green**. **Bhagavān:** There was a question about the cows: **At what point should the calf be separated from the mother?** Because sometimes when the calf is separated, the mother, she cries. **Prabhupāda:** **No, they should not be taken away.** **Bhagavān:** Shouldn't be. **Hari-śauri:** I think in all our farms they do that. **Bhagavān:** I heard in New Vrindaban they took them away very early. **Hari-śauri:** **The problem is that the calves drink so much milk that they become very sick, so they have to separate.** **Prabhupāda:** Therefore they should not be allowed always. Once in a day, that's all. **Hari-śauri:** Oh. **Prabhupāda:** **Not too much allowed, but once. At least while milking they should be allowed to drink little milk, and that will encourage the mother to deliver more milk.** **Hari-śauri:** Oh. At the same time they're milking the cow, the calf can come. **Prabhupāda:** Yes. They can bring it milk. And while milking, the calf may be standing before the mother. **Hari-śauri:** They do that in India. **Prabhupāda:** **So she will not be sorry. Completely separation is not good. And after birth at least for one week the calf should be allowed.** Because after this giving birth the milk is not fit for human consumption. The calf should not be allowed to eat more, but at the same time the mother must see once, twice, then it will be all right. Of course, we are born in big, big towns, we do not know, but I know this is the process. **In Allahabad I was keeping cow, there was facility.** **Bhagavān:** I don't think our farms are doing like that. In New Vrindaban they do? **Hari-śauri:** What, letting the calves come? I don't think so. You can write a letter to... The whole system's so perfect, it's completely satisfying in every respect. **Prabhupāda:** **And if you make others dissatisfied for your pleasure, that is sinful. You should act in such a way that nobody is dissatisfied. Then there is balance.** Home Grown is Best, August 3, 1976: Room Conversation at New Māyāpur Farm