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In our culture, a cow is not considered "livestock." She is Gau Mata, a mother, a nurturer, and a member of the family. Her male calf was traditionally referred to as the elder son of the house. He was lovingly raised, given a name, and worked with us in the fields.
We cared for him until his last breath.
But today, in the commercial dairy industry, this sacred bond is being torn apart. The moment a calf is born, the question asked is not “Is it healthy?” but “Is it male or female?”
If the calf is female, she might remain to eventually produce milk. If the calf is male, he is frequently separated from his mother within hours. Many are sold for slaughter, abandoned, or left to starve because they are unable to produce milk.
Imagine a mother who carried her child for months, only to have him taken away before she could even lick him clean. Imagine the calf, crying for milk and comfort that will never come.
This is the silent suffering behind much of the milk on our tables.
But we can choose differently. We can support Gau Shalas that care for both cows and their calves. We can spread awareness, so people know the truth. We can stand up for a culture that once saw the ox not as “useless” but as elder son.
The Gausevak Foundation is dedicated to safeguarding indigenous cows, assisting Gau Shalas, and making sure that no calf, whether male or female, is neglected or left behind.
Gausevak Foundation Inc