Contribution of Indian Cow in Rural Economy

Abstract

From a source of milk to a provider of labor and religious inspiration, cows often play prominent role in Hindu society. There are different views about the exact origin of the Indian cattle breeds and as to whether or not they were brought into India by the Aryans or existed in the country even prior to that. Cow has been a corner stone of Indian agriculture for centuries and has served as source of nutrition for farmer’s families through milk and milk products, as well as providing draught animal power for both agricultural operations such as ploughing and tilling the land, as well as for transportation of goods. Nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the cow, with contributions in all aspects of life, including farming and manure, food and nourishment, transport, fuel (burning of dried cow dung cakes) and medicinal usage of cow dung and cow urine.