India is a nation of traditions, ancient texts and culture where cow is an integral part of our psyche and system. We revere and worship cows. Gopaalan (taking care of the cows), Godhuli Bela (time before evening when grazing cows are brought home), Gau Mata (mother cow), Godhan (herd of cows) and Gopal (cowherd) are frequently used in all parts of India. Several facts given below show how the cow plays one of the most important roles in our country. Taking care of our cows has taken our nation in the right stride. Any wonders then why India is the largest milk-producing nation in the world. But, one would see below how cows don’t just produce milk. Cows also produce gobar (cow dung) and gaumutra (cow urine) during their lifetime. Both of them have several advantages over other animals’ produce. To begin with, how many benefits of cow dung are known to people? The western world has suddenly woken up to the magic of cow urine and cow dung. In fact, several patents on cow urine and cow dung have been registered in the United States of America and other nations in the west.
We can take some pride in the fact that we always had some awareness about the several benefits of cow dung. Admirably, both cow dung and cow urine are an integral part of rural India culture. Just peep into your childhood to see how deep both these things are ingrained in our culture. Remember how in our childhood, all of us used to drink our pet cow’s milk in our villages and played with calves the whole day. We would also observe how cow dung used to be collected in one big dump to be used later on.
The benefits Of Cow Dung are several, to begin with. It plays a very pivotal role in not just village economies but now urban, niche markets as well. The dairy industry, cattle industry and several ancillary units are related to milk products and other cow-based produce. People employed in cattle rearing sector, milk sector and milk products are directly related to the overall good health of cows, buffaloes and some more mammals. It’s with some proven track record that collectively, cow’s milk, cow dung and cow urine contribute to the betterment of villages in various ways. We would concentrate on the different Benefits Of Cow Dung here.
Here, we are going to find out one more besides the several known benefits of cow dung. Cow dung is a renewable resource that is completely natural. It gets formed like a circular patch when produced by the cows. Cow dung is a mixture of several substances mixed up with water and undigested plant material. Cow dung contains several gases, minerals and nutrients like sulphur, nitrogen, aluminium, phosphorus, iodine, potash, cobalt, iron, potassium, lime, manganese and many others. The benefits of cow dung are many, which we will find out below. Minerals in cow dung help soil as a binder of soil particles. In the farmland soil, if soil particles are bound together, too close for their own betterment, then nutrients in cow dung help these soil particles to separate. This helps in roots being able to breathe as air can enter soil without any difficulty. Now, you understand why cow dung and farmland soil are made for each other. This is one amazing part of the several Benefits Of Cow Dung that we know of, now.
Benefits of Cow Dung in Fuel and Biogas from Cow Manure are legendary so as to speak of. Cow dung cakes (sun dried cakes made by mixing cow dung with straw and water) are used in several nations as replacement material to dry wood to cook food on. For this purpose straw and some water is mixed in cow dung. This mixture is mixed evenly. Later, small balls of this mixture are prepared. The small ball is flattened by patting it between both the palms. It takes the form of a thick flatbread. This cake is then left on walls, terrace, balcony and soil to dry in the sun. After several days of drying this cow dung cake feels firm and is ready to use. Several poor countries who don’t have much wood to cook food use cow dung cakes for this purpose. This should be avoided at all costs. Rich nations should help the poor nations to reduce their burden. But conventional wisdom says that cow dung should be used as natural fertiliser in the farms. Shall we count another benefit from the other known benefits of cow dung?
Here, we are going to discuss a device which directly helps in getting benefits of cow dung, and how? A device which gobbles up all the material from cow dung is known as a biogas digester. Usually, a digester is made by putting cow dung with water in an airtight container. To make bacteria work wonders with this material this container should be kept in an undisturbed and warm condition. Through a tube the produced gas is stored. This biogas is then made to gel with oxygen gas, in order to produce energy. Look at the different benefits of cow dung, again. This wonderful gas can be used to produce electricity for residential consumption. Just imagine friends, your own produced electricity! The regular fossil fuels (petrol, c n g, diesel) that are required to run motor vehicles on ICE (internal combustion engine)[1] technology can be replaced with this gas. For bathing purpose this gas can be used in geysers (water heaters). And wonder of wonders, this gas can be easily used to cook food in our households. Healthy, smart, sustainable and friendly way of cooking. The biogas is mostly a mixture of hydrogen sulphide, methane, carbon dioxide and several other components. One has to be really responsible and extra careful while handling biogas. The methane gas is a major contributor to global warming since it is a greenhouse gas. So, it is imperative on users to make sure that methane is not released into the environment, intentionally or due to sheer carelessness. And, then only we would be able to maximise the Benefits Of Cow Dung In Fuel And Biogas From Cow Manure.
The various benefits of cow dung, sometimes need to be seen in a completely different light. After understanding the unsustainable tendency of concrete based erection and construction, global experts started to look around for more holistic and organic templates for construction purposes. And this is where India, and most surprisingly, our humble cows came into focus. If we really wish to understand the several benefits of cow dung, we should look inside our houses, literally. India’s traditional house construction methods are more in tune with nature. Initially, huts and houses in India were made with taking natural light, trees, direction of the wind and water bodies into consideration.
Construction materials like mud, cow dung, bamboo, water were all earth based and found locally in abundance. And finally, these global experts came to a conclusion that compared to concrete this traditional way of house building was durable, eco-friendly, cost-effective and energy efficient. So, don’t we need to avail of several benefits of cow dung, then? Bhunga houses from Gujarat are a prime example of this technique. Cow dung, straw, soil and clay are amalgamated together to make the main ingredient. You visit the interiors of Ladakh or interiors of Kerala you’d find cow dung as part of the main ingredient or part of the eco friendly sustainable bricks. The surprising part is that the experts have started to point out that for a better and stable future let us go back to our past. So, the glorious and an amusing race is on to find out how our forefathers lived, what kind of clothes they wore and how did they do farming? The more deep we get into our past the more we discover that we were perfectly aligned with the nature.
Our food, clothes, houses, mode of transport, business, trading, family life and society were more in perfect sync and in tune with nature. We coexisted happily. And any wonder in discovering that since we ate healthy then we were physically and mentally healthier. So the traditional houses in hinterland were minimal but long lasting. These houses are cool in summer from inside and warm in winter season. Talk of benefits of cow dung, again.
So, what really creates the magic in these houses? This is another one in the long list of benefits of cow dung list. Cow Dung As A Building Material does all the good work here. Cow dung works as an excellent thermal insulator as well as a good binder. The fibres present in cow dung help in maintaining fine, smooth floor. They stop cracking in floors too. And, to top it all, cow dung has fantastic water resistant qualities. So, houses in several parts of the world like China, Turkey, India, Bhutan and some African countries have cow dung as the main ingredient for the construction material along with lime, mud, sawdust etc. Or else they use cow dung as main material to make bricks. Did you know about these benefits of cow dung?
Let us find out about one more addition to the several ways of getting benefits of cow dung. Fertilization is a tradition from ancient times to help plants in producing foodgrains, fruits and flowers at their highest levels. Cow dung has been used as cow manure for a long time. Cow dung as cow manure and farming go hand in hand. Before urea and other chemical fertilisers came into mass use, we had our humble cow manure. Its popularity has not diminished yet, but the quick result deliverance claims of chemical fertilisers have taken precedence over our natural fertiliser. Let us take a look at it more closely.
For beginners, cow dung is available all over, all throughout the year. It has several nutrients of a high standard and is easy to use. Cow manure, due to its high water content, helps in keeping the soil moist. It has several nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, which help in the growth of plants. But one thing needs to be kept in mind, though. All types of cow manure cannot be used on all kinds of farms. It’s not like one size fits all. The aged cow
Manure can be used at all farms except vegetable farms. If it is applied in vegetable producing farms, vegetable plants can get burnt, or they could get all dried up. If it is not aged, it is better to age it for six months before using it. The process of ageing cow manure is pretty easy. Dig a deep pit in soil, put the entire fresh cow and buffalo manure into it, add some soil to it and leave it covered for six months. The bacterias inside will do all the work, and the cow manure will age nicely with time. There are several Benefits Of Cow Dung in Cow Manure As A Soil Fertiliser, as we will read below.
Many benefits of cow dung are already known to us. Cow manure helps in the improvement of uneven soil beds. Cow manure helps the circulation of air in the soil. It helps soil granules to bind with each other tightly. It aids in water soaking and retention of water in the soil. It helps in mitigating soil erosion. Cow manure helps in the growth of roots of plants. Plants get bicarbonates, carbon dioxide and carbonates from this wonderful organic fertiliser. Plants get more nutrients from cow manure. Plants get abundant manganese and calcium particles for their healthy growth. Plants that lack certain nutrients and minerals from soil get these supplied from cow manure. The alkali content grows up in the soil where required by the use of cow manure. The far-reaching effect of the healthy use of cow manure can be seen in the following ways. And, the list of benefits of cow dung is also going up.
Let us help you in getting another benefit from several known benefits of cow dung. It is quite easy to prepare natural fertiliser using cow dung. All you need is cow/Buffalo dung, sawdust, cow urine, unusable pulses, soil, Gur (jaggery). Put cow/buffalo dung inside a big plastic drum. Add one-kilo gram of soil into this mixture and stir it well with a wooden or bamboo stick. Add jaggery and cow urine into it. After this mixture is mixed properly, add two litres of water into it. Now pour pulses powder and sawdust over it. Don’t forget to shake it, stir it and mix it once every day. Now, for the next twenty days, keep this drum away from the sunlight. Your eco-friendly, natural, organic fertiliser is ready to use. And, you are about to get the several benefits of cow dung.
Cow manure increases the number of helpful bacteria in the soil. These helpful bacteria aid in breaking nitrogen into nitrate ions which are devoured by plants. They also make other bacteria present in the soil, proactive. So, it is like one set of bacteria pushing other set of bacteria to work hard! They help in the acceleration of picking up the right nutrient from the soil to the plants. And, finally, the various Benefits of Cow Dung in Cow Manure as a Soil Fertiliser can be felt in the overall improvement in ecology and environment. It is the most effective, eco-friendly and sustainable way of increasing the productivity of the farms, resulting in the increase of the quality and quantity of different farm produce.
We are going to discuss one more benefit besides the several known benefits of cow dung. Look carefully, around yourself and, you would notice our pet mammals trying to ward off flies and mosquitoes by whipping their tails at them. If you move to Indian villages around the evening, you will notice smoke coming outside of the houses, huts and places where cows and buffaloes are tied to a pole. This is because dried cow dung cakes and dried plants and leaves are burnt in the evenings and nights on a daily basis. It is believed that smoke emanating from it repels insects, including mosquitoes. These natural and herbal repellents are far better than the factory manufactured chemical-based repellents which are harmful to people with asthma and other breathing diseases. Be it the mosquito coils or electric ones, in the long run, they are harmful. Now, experts have found out that cow dung contains formalin, ammonia, menthol, indol and phenol, besides several other useful materials. So, using cow dung as a repellent works wonders for animals too. And, they are environment friendly too. The benefits Of Cow Dung is clearly visible as these minute particles work as an effective repellent to mosquitoes, wasps, grasshoppers, flies and other insects. The skin of these pets also remains clean and clear of any fly or mosquito. And, inside their houses, residents also can rest peacefully, knowing fully well that their pet mammals are safe and resting. Cow urine is also used during religious and betrothed ceremonies.
We Indians have been aware of the several benefits of cow dung since the earliest times. Since early ages, mud floors and exterior of our walls in our houses have been washed and cleaned with cow dung mixed water. Outside our huts, one would have seen cow dung coating over mud walls. During puja (worship) and solemn occasions, the sacred spot is cleaned with cow dung mixed water. This is a sacred tradition in India. But is it only because of traditions, or is there more to it? Cow In fact, the art of Mithila painting or Madhubani painting is also believed to have originated on the mud walls of the houses in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar and Nepal.
Cow dung is used as a purifier in our nation. It is believed that cow dung plays an important role in nurturing our environment. Some other art patterns and other forms of paintings can be discovered on cow dung coated mud walls in other parts of our country. It proves beyond doubt that the traditions and practices in our rural societies and forest dwellers were based on the known positive properties of cow dung to our people from ancient times. Cow dung on walls not only worked as a disinfectant but also kept the mud and thatched walls warm in winters and cool in the summer season. The western world has got interested in all the benefits of cow dung in recent times. But if they had studied our ancient texts and observed our cave paintings, wall paintings and murals minutely, they would have understood the importance of cows in our day to day life. The Use of Cow Dung as Disinfectant and Insect Repellent has been going on in India from ancient times.
The benefits Of Cow Dung are so many that it is difficult to squeeze them into one article. When biogas is produced, some cow manure residue is left. This cow manure residue is used to make fibreboard instead of the usual sawdust. Initially, this fibre containing cow manure is sterilised. Next, the resin is mixed with this sterilised cow manure to make fibreboard. Fireboard is used as construction material and to produce furniture. In India, we use cow dung as repellent and disinfectant, whereas in some other countries, it is used as a material to construct houses that talks about the durability and sturdiness of cow dung. These are some of the other benefits of cow dung.
In other parts of the globe, the benefits of cow dung have permeated to paper industry as well. Common paper or mostly industrial packing paper is produced from cow dung paper pulp. In a mechanised process through several stages of pulping, washing of material, steaming and dewatering, this cow dung paper pulp is obtained. This latest technology has cheered the paper industry as this process is low cost, environment-friendly, proper waste utilisation and offers a completely new source of paper pulp. This sustainable revolutionary new technique has reduced the pressure and demands on both timber, as well as forests, honestly speaking. And, to tell you frankly, added one more benefit to other benefits of cow dung.
Can you believe, friends, that cow dung has entered into an unimaginable products basket. Who could have thought that the benefits of cow dung would be seen in the incense industry too? Cow dung is used to make dhoop (incense) pyramids. Agarbattis (incense sticks) too are being prepared from cow dung. So, gradually industrial demand for cow dung is going up. It augurs well for the future of people employed in rearing cows and buffaloes. Benefits of cow dung have been seen in the personal hygiene industry too. Cow dung is used to prepare bathing soaps, face creams, toothpastes, shampoos and several other products to help people feel better about themselves. And reportedly, consumers who have used these cow dung based beauty products and accessories have praised these products. At the moment, these cow dung based beauty products might appear vain and niche products. But, trust me, these products will become household products with time. And, if womenfolk take a huge liking to it, no power in this world can stop these products from taking the markets by storm. If India accelerates on the first-mover advantage on beauty products based on cow dung, we will be ruling the global markets in years to come.
It is said that India is a nation that takes pride in the fact that we worship our pets. So, we should also tell this world of the different benefits of cow dung. We have a culture for taking great care of our pets and birds. Any wonders then, there are several organisations and companies which are working in agro-based industries or cow-based products. Milk, ghee (clarified butter), butter, curd, cream, lassi (curd based refreshing drink), chhaas (curd based refreshing drink), cow urine and cow dung are some of these products. Swadeshi VIP is doing a stellar job in spreading the word around for producing several top-notch cow-based products. Through its great and admirable performance, it is inspiring other companies and startup ventures.
The benefits of cow dung can be understood through various products and industries depending on cow dung as its primary raw material. India, the largest producer of milk in the whole world, can teach a thing or two to this world by setting a great example. We can be the world’s largest biogas producer as well as we rigidly set out to implement our well laid out plans. We should strive to be the world’s largest exporter of milk products. In the same way, we should set out to be the largest manufacturer and exporter of cow dung based products. The benefits of cow dung can be shared with consumers globally only if we are self-reliant on this front. India has pledged to reduce its carbon footprint. This can be done only by harnessing solar power, wind energy and biogas production to its optimum level. We are a land of abundant sunshine throughout the air. We are blessed with bountiful rains every year. Our flora and fauna are thriving. Our forest cover is increasing, admirably. The repercussions of these good developments should be seen in our farmlands. The benefits of cow dung can be explored maximum only if we are able to take better care of our cows, bullocks, buffaloes and gaushalas (house for cows). This can be done only if we take a pledge to look after our godhan (herd of cows) in a holistic manner.
Some new companies and startups are doing a fantastic service to this nation and this world by highlighting the unknown benefits of cow dung. Cow dung can work miraculously for India’s peasantry by enhancing their income. Experts on cow dung can also interact with people in the cow business on a regular basis in order to advise them on the focused use and conservation of cow dung. And with these interactions, they can also understand better the real problems being faced by farmers and cowherds. Industries based on cow manure and cow dung can also explain pinpointed facts on the various benefits of cow dung to the people involved in the day to day business. When the level of awareness about the unknown and known benefits of cow dung goes up, it would also increase the number of people employed in this sector. The day our production and the manufacturing capacity of industries based on cow dung goes up, people would themselves come forward and take a keen interest in understanding the various benefits of cow dung.
The day when we raise our position globally in becoming the largest producer and exporter of cow dung based products would be a fine day. Not only for people working deeply in this business but for nations working with limited resources. We would be able to share our expertise and technical know-how with the poor nations who actually need it. And then, those poor nations would also come to terms with the several benefits of cow dung that we know of right now. It is where the role of the private sector becomes really important. They need to join hands with the government and the media to spread information about the many benefits of cow dung.
It’s high time that India harnesses the true potential of this hidden gem waiting to be discovered. It is time to be open, loud, repetitive, regular, focussed, disciplined and vocal about informing the difficult to count the benefits of cow dung. Swadeshi VIP is performing this role admirably while setting a high benchmark for one and all.
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