There is a problem of inhumane treatment of male cows and buffalos in rural areas. As the agriculture becomes more mechanized using tractors and electric / diesel implements, these creatures appear less in demand (for plowing etc.) resulting in their becoming redundant.

Thus while the female calves are cared for quite well right from their birth in the hope of raising milch-cows, the male calves are totally neglected and abandoned (sometimes even starved) because farmers do not see much use for them later.

This problem of redundant bulls and calves simply cannot be ignored. Their neglect and abuse poses a serious moral / ethical dilemma. The idea of not treating them properly or using them just for the purpose of meat and leather exhibits a very inhumane and callous side of humans. Ethically it seems wrong to get rid of these animals (fellow-creatures) quickly whenever humans don’t see much use for them. In any case, it is a serious issue with many conscientious people, including the animal lovers, vegetarians and those who don’t eat beef.

To avert this neglect, mistreatment and abuse of animals, something needs to be done immediately. New ways should be discovered to put them to more humane use in stead of just killing them or using them for their meat and leather.

Note that in rural areas there is a shortage of power and the transmission of electricity is not reliable. Moreover, as the fossil fuels (coal and oil) become scarcer and more expensive in future, this situation will get worse. Thus while bulls and other male animals may not be necessary to work on farms anymore, they still can be used as a substitute for other forms of energy and even produce electricity by running a generator.

Furthermore, there currently is a plan to divert, block and dam even the small streams of water in mountainous regions for producing hydroelectric power. If this is implemented and becomes widespread, it will result in curtailing the flow of water and drying up of numerous streams and small rivers. The most obvious and immediate effect of all this will be to affect and kill many species of mountain-region flora and fauna which currently survive on these waters. Moreover, the diversion and drying up of these streams, which also act as a natural waterway and drainage system for excess water during rains and floods, will lead to their clogging and closing, making them unsuitable as drainage during the next flood situation. This uncontrolled and unusual flooding in the hilly areas could then lead to tremendous harming of life and property.

Needless to say, all this killing of flora and fauna and flood damage to general life and property can easily be avoided if there is less emphasis on hydroelectric power produced by blocking and damming the small rivers and streams. In stead, it will be wiser to explore other sources of power (such as by using the bulls and other animals) for producing electricity in rural and small urban areas.

For example, a person can install the generator in the center of a shed (station) and have it connected (through a gear drive and a beam) to the yoke holding several bulls (2 or 4). The bulls go round and round in a circle (around the generator) inside the shed and directly drive the generator-rotor producing electricity, which can be stored using the rechargeable batteries and used later.

Electricity produced by animals will have the promise of being environmentally cleaner and safer than that from nuclear fission reactors and more reliable than that through solar power generation. This rurally produced electricity -- requiring considerably shorter power grid and supply lines, thus leading to savings in money and materials -- will be stored using rechargeable batteries and used at will to light households, cook food, run machinery and equipment (even the computers), operate water pumps and irrigation sprinklers, and perhaps power the future electric automobiles. In other words, the bulls, sitting idly and of no use to their owner / farmer currently, will produce electricity for multi-purpose applications.

This greater productivity of bulls will add to their value and improve their condition and treatment. They will be considered a big asset to their owner bringing him financial benefits over extended period of time. As a result, he will see no need to abandon, neglect, harm or kill them. Moreover, he most likely will take good care of them right from the beginning even when they start as small young calves.

Even though the above method to produce electricity using animals seems feasible, it still needs more study requiring considerable manpower and money to assess its full merit. Perhaps someone else (at a university etc.) can carry out this investigation further by using appropriate resources. Further research and development work on this project (using bull-power to produce electricity) may also be carried out by farmers and the people associated with dairy industry, religious institutions and gow-shalas (cow shelters). Note also that there is a need to invite and explore other ideas (in addition to the electro-mechanical system suggested here) to improve the welfare of these unwanted and mistreated animals.

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By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email: [email protected]
Date: Sept. 7, 2006

link to: Related topics by the author