Beef exports and trafficking of Cattle

[Singh]

Holy Cow ! India Is the World's Largest Beef Exporter

India, homeland of the sacred cow, is on pace to become the world's leading beef exporter in 2012.

This graph is based off data from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. It forecasts that India, shown in blue, will be ship roughly 1.5 million metric tons of beef, passing reigning export champion Australia. It's a remarkable rise from just three years ago, when the famously bovine-friendly country exported less than half that amount.

Here's how this has come to pass. Indian beef isn't really beef as we Americans know it. It's water buffalo, which the country's exporters sell at low cost to the meat-hungry but price-sensitive consumers in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Indian federal law bans cow slaughter, as well as the killing of milk producing buffalo. But the males and unproductive females are still fair game for the abattoir. So we're not quite talking about American prime grade Angus here -- either from a gastronomic, or theological point of view. But the USDA still counts it all as beef, and economically, it competes in the same markets.

Business - Jordan Weissmann - Holy Cow! India Is the World's Top Beef Exporter - The Atlantic

 

[Ray]

Re: Holy Cow ! India Is the World's Largest Beef Exporter

Good for India.

Buffalo milk is not good for the modern health conscious Indian.

But why waste a buffalo?

Send it as food to whoever likes to eat buffalo meat!

 

[Razor]

Re: Holy Cow ! India Is the World's Largest Beef Exporter

India, homeland of the sacred cow, is on pace to become the world's leading beef exporter in 2012.

This graph is based off data from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. It forecasts that India, shown in blue, will be ship roughly 1.5 million metric tons of beef, passing reigning export champion Australia. It's a remarkable rise from just three years ago, when the famously bovine-friendly country exported less than half that amount.

Here's how this has come to pass. Indian beef isn't really beef as we Americans know it. It's water buffalo, which the country's exporters sell at low cost to the meat-hungry but price-sensitive consumers in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Indian federal law bans cow slaughter, as well as the killing of milk producing buffalo. But the males and unproductive females are still fair game for the abattoir. So we're not quite talking about American prime grade Angus here -- either from a gastronomic, or theological point of view. But the USDA still counts it all as beef, and economically, it competes in the same markets.

Business - Jordan Weissmann - Holy Cow! India Is the World's Top Beef Exporter - The Atlantic

There is nothing surprising here. India has the largest cattle population, about thrice that of the US. And India's lead in the beef export market is smaller in comparison to its lead in cattle population. Also note that the US has a large internal market for beef.
Source: Cattle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/business/assets_c/2012/05/India_Leads_Beef_Exports-88580.php

 

[aeroblogger]

Re: Growing beef exports and trade hits India's sacred cow.

If the current penalties for cattle slaughter/export aren't successful as deterrents, penalties should be increased.

 

[ejazr]

Re: Growing beef exports and trade hits India's sacred cow.

If the current penalties for cattle slaughter/export aren't successful as deterrents, penalties should be increased.

Its Buffalo meat that is being exported, not Cow meat.

AFAIK, the law prohibits only slaughter of Cows mostly although some states ban even buffalos like in J&K.

 

[Tolaha]

Re: Growing beef exports and trade hits India's sacred cow.

If the current penalties for cattle slaughter/export aren't successful as deterrents, penalties should be increased.

Even when most of the sales are being made by Hindu families who may be going through abject poverty? We should be more worried about families having to sell their kids off or forced to send their kids to labour, rather than worry about the sale of cattle, in my opinion. We used to have scores of cattle earlier. They used to be well taken care of, until they passed away, irrespective of their health condition or 'value'. But not everyone can afford to treat their cattle with kindness. There are people with far more pressing demands and we need to respect that rather than deter it!

 

[Sabir]

Re: Growing beef exports and trade hits India's sacred cow.

No, cows milk can be consumed by infants.

Buffaloes milk is not digestible as far as infants are concerned.

Cows milk is the closest to Mother's milk is what is said!

Wrong....Most of the infants cant even digest Cow milk. But once they are habituated, it is very good for them. Same thing is true for Buffalo milk also- just add little more water. For infants goat milk is the best option, but getting it in cities is difficult.

 

[sukhish]

Re: Growing beef exports and trade hits India's sacred cow.

Wrong....Most of the infants cant even digest Cow milk. But once they are habituated, it is very good for them. Same thing is true for Buffalo milk also- just add little more water. For infants goat milk is the best option, but getting it in cities is difficult.

goat milk is the best option. cow milk is not digestible.

 

[parijataka]

Over half the beef consumed in BD is from smuggled Indian cows

Indian cows are smuggled into Bangladesh and their beef exported, Bangladesh is known to have very less cattle! Every third head of cattle in BD is an Indian cow.

Indian cows killed for Bangladesh beef

The fact that a country which reveres the cow is among the world's largest exporters of beef might seem contradictory to an outsider.But that contradiction is resolved once you realise that the beef we are talking about here is buffalo meat. Not cow.

That does not, however mean, that we do not consume cows ourselves or that we have any qualms about illegally exporting thousands of them each week to Bangladesh for slaughter.The slaughter of cows has been an emotive issue in the country long before independence.In fact, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, which marked the end of Mughal Rule and the beginning of the British Raj, was sparked by rumours that the rifle cartridges used by sepoys, or soldiers of the East India Company, were greased with beef and pork tallow, which simultaneously offended both Hindu and Muslim sensibilities.Hundreds of thousands people died in the violence that followed, before the British disbanded the East India Company and replaced it with direct rule from London.

Post-independence, several attempts were made to impose a countrywide ban on the slaughter of cattle, but in vain."Since slaughter is a State subject, the actual processing of meat for exports as well as for domestic demand follows the laws of the individual States, which are at variance with each other. The country needs to have a consistent and uniform slaughter policy across different States to make the industry competitive," says the 11th report of the Planning Commission.

So we have States like Gujarat, where not just slaughter, but buying, selling or transporting beef is a criminal offence. In States like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, buffalo –not cow– slaughter is allowed provided the animals have what is called a 'fit for slaughter' certificate.And then we have West Bengal, Kerala, and the north-eastern States where the slaughter and consumption of cattle is legal.

India has the world's largest cattle population, and almost a quarter of it is cow population. According to Spectrum Commodities - Commodity Brokers - Futures And Options and Online Trading Services, "India leads the world in cattle production with an average of 44,196 thousand head (TH) produced per year. However, at 11,673 TH slaughtered per year, India ranks only sixth in average annual slaughter. Combine this with the fact that India exports only 21 TH and imports only 18 TH, we see that most of the cattle production in India is not for beef, but rather for dairy."

But that export figure obviously does not factor in the massive illegal trade in cows that takes place across the India-Bangladesh border."An estimated 1.5 million cows, valued at up to $500 million, are smuggled out of India annually, which some analysts say provide more than 50 per cent of beef consumed in neighbouring Bangladesh," says a recent CNN report, titled "Growing beef trade hits India's sacred cow."

The route is pretty simple: Cows from faraway States like Punjab and Haryana, as well as from the 'Cow Belt', are shipped—at times in brtal conditions– by train for the regular and large cattle fairs that take place in the border districts of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. All of them have extremely porous borders with Bangladesh, despite the fencing that ostensibly is supposed to check the large-scale smuggling of people and cattle.

Of course, the BSF and Bangladesh Rifles are on the take. Most of the people killed along those borders each year are in fact cattle smugglers who didn't grease the right palms. Meanwhile, the tanneries and abattoirs that dot the Bangladeshi side of the border speak for themselves.

According to some reports, Indian cattle is a Rs 2,000-crore industry in Bangladesh. This includes not just meat, but leather, fertiliser (ground cattle bones) and meat export. That's right. Indian beef, exported by Bangladesh. In fact, every third head of cattle in Bangladesh is of Indian origin.

Stopping this trade would thus have a serious impact on the Bangladeshi economy. During a trip to Bangladesh a few years ago, a senior local Customs official candidly confessed to me that stopping the influx of Indian cattle, particularly cows, would have a serious impact not just on the economy, but rising beef prices could even spark riots, given that it is the staple meat of the country.

Which is why any Indian talk of further buttressing the fencing along the border with sensors and other hi-tech devices causes heartburn in Bangladesh. On the Indian side, venal politicians have no qualms making money from cows.

In 2005, BJP MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi publicly accused the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav –known for his rustic love for cattle — of being bribed by smugglers to lift the ban on the transport of cattle. According to her, as many as 300 animals were stuffed into each railway wagon (the law allows only 10), and taken to Kolkata. While those that died en-route were sold to local leather and meat dealers, the rest were smuggled into Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh has thin cattle population of its own, but its exports of beef run into lakhs of tonnes," she said.

Let us forget the moral and religious issues here. Let us forget that the cow is revered by most of the Hindu majority and is often described as gau mata, or a 'mother.'

Let us instead look at Article 48 of the Directive Principles of our Constitution. Here's what it says: "The state shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle."

Whether we like it or not, that's what the founding fathers of our country wanted. In fact, the Directive Principle separating the executive from the judiciary comes much later. Of course, the directive principles also talk about imposing prohibition, but that's another story.

As the Bangladeshi Customs official told me, Hindus will not "kill the holy cow, but they have no qualms about making money by letting others kill them."

 

[KS]

Re: Over half the beef consumed in BD is from smuggled Indian cows

As the last line says, If the Hindus themselves are going to sell the cow knowing fully well it is going to end up in someones tummy, then there is no point is blaming the BD wallahs.

 

[Singh]

Hey Ram

 

[ashdoc]

I don't know, but this whole thing of slaughtering animals to feed humans, makes me sick to my stomach. specially cows. I mean born and brought as a vegetarian, I just don't like this kind of animal slaughter in mass. that's one reason I support Karnataka chief minister decision to ban slaughter of cows.
I don't know how to educate people on this issue, till then I think ban is a good idea.

i would like your opinion on this thread here , though the original thread is closed ( )----

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/religion-culture/37913-procedure-animal-sacrifice-kali-mata.html

 

[Virendra]

If cows must go to Bangladesh, they must go through legal channels so that India can make a profit. However, all this overflowing tears about cows is rather sickening.

I don't know about today's pizza eating world as we're spoilt by choices. But in ancient times Cow was indeed revered as a holy animal, sometimes as a mother.
I think it was so because the cow dung, cow milk and other milk products that they obtained from a cow were too valuable and usable in those times.
It would've formed an important part of local economies as well and that is from where the tradition of keeping cows in household took root.

I think there is nothing wrong in being sentimetnal about the beef and cow slaughter if .. and only if we as a society did enough to protect and nourish them.
We have failed in taking that stand and so we have no rights to accuse others to being insensitive.
We should first do enough at our end to protect cows and then expect other to fall in line.

I don't think it makes more sense to kill a cow and feed a few dozen meat eaters for once; instead of having an alive cow who would feed thousands in her entire life.

Plants are living organisms, just like animals.

True. But they are not the same in every aspect.
Animals are sentient species who feel pain and emotions, while plants are not sentient. They cannot feel pain.
One might consider sedating the animals, but that argument won't be required because we are not killing plants for food anyway.
Using animals for meat can be done in only one way - kill them and eat them. However if we let them live and use their by-products, that is a better deal I believe. Specially in case of Cow.
Same way with vegetation :
We can pluck apples from an apple tree, the tree is still pretty much live and will reproduce apple at the same place again and again throughout its life time. So no permanent loss, the apple was just a by-product.
Then come the crops. We grow the crops on our own, by our efforts end to end - from seeds to final crop. We use only the grains to feed ourselves, the remaining part is used by animals for feeding themselves and by the earth for moisture/nutrients etc.

I recommend you read the Mahabharata where Saint Agasthya attains enlightenment after seeing a butcher! You need that enlightenment as well.

Are you referring to Kausika Rishi? I remember Agasthya from Ramayana but not Mahabharata.
Can you give me the context to help find it. I'd like to read the narrative. Indeed butchers can' t be pure evil just because of their occupation. They're people after all. But the enlightenment story I found about Kaushika is not that butchering animals is always a good and justifiable act.
Kaushika's real lesson from the butcher was of respect and dedication towards parents, care towards family and performing one's duty/dharma.
The vedic or ancient times were not all hunky dory. There were people who lusted after various things, meat is just one of them. So yeah there were butchers in ancient times too but not of cows.
Moreover, presence of butchers in ancient times tells us nothing except the fact that one man's lust/desire (to eat meat) compells the other to benefit by facilitating it (provide meat by butchering). It becomes a business/livelihood.

It is clearly stated in the scriptures (Upanishads) that everything, plants as well as animals, are provided for us humans by Lord Vishnu and we have every right to exploit and consume them

Source and quote please.
For now I would put up mine :
Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee
Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah
(Those who permit slaying of animals; those who bring animals for slaughter; those who slaughter; those who sell meat; those who purchase meat; those who prepare dish out of it; those who serve that meat and those who eat are all murderers.)
~Manusmrithi 5.51

Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam
Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram maataram cha
(O teeth! You eat rice, you eat barley, you gram and you eat sesame. These cereals are specifically meant for you. Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers and mothers.)
Atharvaveda 6.140.2

Ya aamam maansamadanti paurusheyam cha ye kravih
Garbhaan khaadanti keshavaastaanito naashayaamasi
(We ought to destroy the people who eat cooked as well as uncooked meat, meat involving destruction of males and females, foetus and eggs)
Atharvaveda 8.6.23

Anago hatya vai bheema kritye
Maa no gaamashvam purusham vadheeh
(It is definitely a great sin to kill innocents. Do not kill our cows, horses and people)
Atharvaveda 10.1.29

Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi
(O human! animals are Aghnya – not to be killed. Protect the animals)
Yajurveda 1.1

Pashunstraayethaam
(Protect the animals)
Yajurveda 6.11

Dwipaadava Chatushpaatpaahi
(Protect the bipeds and quadrupeds)
Yajurveda 14.8

Ghrtam duhaanaamaditim janaayaagne maa himsiheeh
(Do not kill cows and bulls who always deserve to be protected.)
Yajurveda 13.49

Aare gohaa nrhaa vadho vo astu
(Cow slaughter is a heinous punishable crime)
Rigveda 7.56.17

Sooyavasaad bhagavatee hi bhooyaa atho vayam bhagvantah syaama
Addhi trnamaghnye vishwadaaneem piba shuddhamudakamaacharantee
Cows are Aghnya (not to be killed under any circumstances) and may keep themselves healthy by use of pure water and green grass, so that we may be endowed with virtues, knowledge and wealth.
Rigveda 1.164.40, Atharv 7.73.11, Atharv 9.10.20

The Vedic Lexicon, Nighantu, gives various synonyms of Gau [cow] and some are - Aghnya. Ahi, and Aditi. Yaska the commentator on Nighantu, defines these as-
Aghnya the one that ought not to be killed
Ahi the one that must not be slaughtered.
Aditi the one that ought not to be cut into pieces.

Aghnyeyam saa vardhataam mahate soubhagaaya
(Cow – The aghnya – brings us health and prosperity)
Rigveda 1.164.27

Suprapaanam Bhavatvaghnyaayaah
(There should be excellent facility for pure water for Aghnya Cow)
Rigveda 5.83.8

Yah paurusheyena kravishaa samankte yo ashwena pashunaa yaatudhaanah
Yo aghnyaayaa bharati ksheeramagne teshaam sheershaani harasaapi vrishcha
(Those who feed on human, horse or animal flesh and those who destroy milk-giving Aghnya cows should be severely punished.)
Rigveda 10.87.16

Vimucchyadhvamaghnyaa devayaanaa aganma
(The Aghnya cows and bulls bring you prosperity)
Yajurveda 12.73

Maa gaamanaagaamaditim vadhishta
(Do not kill the cow. Cow is innocent and aditi – that ought not to be cut into pieces)
Rigveda 8.101.15

Antakaaya goghaatam
(Destroy those who kill cows)
Yajurveda 30.18

Vatsam jaatamivaaghnyaa
(Love each other as the Aghnya – non-killable cow – loves its calf)
Atharvaveda 3.30.1

Dhenu sadanam rayeenaam
(Cow is fountainhead of all bounties)
Atharvaveda 11.1.34

Aa gaavo agnamannuta bhadramakrantseedantu
Bhooyobhooyo rayimidasya vardhayannabhinne
Na taa nashanti na dabhaati taskaro naasaamamitro vyathiraa dadharshati
Na taa arvaa renukakaato ashnute na samskritramupa yanti taa abhi
Gaavo bhago gaava indro me achhaan
Yooyam gaavo medayathaa
Maa vah stena eeshata maaghanshasah
(1. Everyone should ensure that cows are free from miseries and kept healthy.
2. God blesses those who take care of cows.
3. Even the enemies should not use any weapon on cows
4. No one should slaughter the cow
5. Cow brings prosperity and strength
6. If cows keep healthy and happy, men and women shall also keep disease free and prosperous
7. May the cow eat green grass and pure water. May they not be killed and bring prosperity to us)
~28th Sukta of 6th Mandal of Rigveda in the glory of cow.

अग्रतः सन्तु मे गावो गावो मे सन्तु पृष्टतः |
गावो मे पार्श्वतः सन्तु गावां मध्ये वसाम्यहम् ||
(May cows be in front of me; may cows be behind me;
May cows be on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows.)
A Sanskrit subhashita from Hari Bhakti Vilas 16.252

Pisacha — pisita meaning meat, asa meaning eater — the meat eater
May be irrelavant here but - Gestation period of a cow is 285 days, close to a human mother's 266 days.

I don't dispute killing an animal if you're in dire need and there's no other food to eat. To stay alive you did what you had to. But to cause the slaughter of animals, specially the ones like cows just for the sake of desire/yearning is not right.
As an intelligent specie we have to draw the line somewhere so not only us humans but also the animals and other life forms could live protected. That is our unique responsibility for being an intelligent specie.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[sob]

I agree wit PM. the reality is that a good percentage of the population in the world does eat cow beef, and we have on of the largest useless bovine population in the world. If it can be gainfully employed for the good of the nation and this smuggling network be clamped down then there should not be any problem.

I see people in delhi feeding cows everyday, but when the same cow dies due suffocating on the plastic bags littered by the pious hindus, there is nobody to take care of the caracas. Till the time the disposal team from MCD comes, the caracas just lies there.