About us

What is Sustainable Cow Protection

Cow Protection is a system of food production from cows and bulls/oxen that ensures the cows and oxen are cared for using the highest ethics with a system that ensures the entire herd live out their full and natural life. It is inspired by the sanskrit writings of ancient India that gives clues to the practical methods of milk production in a way that works with a symbiotic relationship between humans and cows.

The premise of cow protection is that milk is a natural food for the calves and for humans with both getting their share. Similarly males cows called oxen are used for working with humans to produce food and provide transportation. In the reciprocation of this natural relationship the cows and oxen are used productively and at the same time they are provided lifelong care and protection. It is food production with no killing of the cows and bulls/oxen

The website comes after 20 years of dedication to the promotion and practical development of cow protection systems within a modern setting.  Bhaktivedanta Manor Farm in letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire was the studying and development area for the system of cow protection outlined in this Website.

Briefly the cows are hand milked, the calves have a suckling regime until they are 5 month old coupled with a system to provide milk for the community. Males are trained for work and start significant work between 3 years and 15 years. Cows are milked over a naturally long lactation averaging 4 years per calf. All non milking cows and retired oxen are maintained for their whole life and given close attention when they are in their later life. Deaths are natural and closely supervised.

Bhaktivedanta Manor has a very high specification farm building designed for cow spaces that are completely suitable for the issues related to cow protection. The author was crucial in the design and determination of the buildings which one newspaper termed the “Hilton for Cows”.

We have extensive experience in developing cow protection systems suitable to the local circumstances, have overseen the training of many oxen and have researched and developed an array of farm equipment applicable for working oxen.

Now we are working as a freelance Cow Protection Consultant and Ox trainer and are ready to share our experiences and knowledge to help those who are looking to develop similar projects and to learn how to train and utilize ox teams.