Bhaktivedanta Manor – Near Watford

This farm has been running a cow protection project since 1973. There is currently a systematic approach for keeping the herd at a steady number and so about 4 calves are impregnated each year. The calves suckle from their mothers in three stages.

First stage – From birth and until about 2 or 3 weeks the calf lives with its mother, drinks whatever milk it likes and the surplus milk is milked by hand for the community.

Second stage the calves are semi-seperated in that they are kept apart from their mothers during the day and night but suckle directly from their mothers udder at milking time. The cow is milked previously on 3 of her quarters and 1 quarter is left for the calf. The calf remains with the mother for about an hour at each milking time.

Third stage – the calf is weaned off its mothers milk at 5 months old but the cow is still milked until she drys up naturally with the average time being about 4 years from the birth of the calf

The male calves are neutered and given a nose ring at one year old. Sometimes the calves are trained from 1 year old however this required dedicated time so the general system is that when the calves are about 3 years old they are put with an older trained ox and they start their working life practically straight away with light cart duties.

The farm has a dedicated team of personnel to administer any veterinary medicine and to give close attention to any sick or old cows.