Stray Cattle Research Articles

Questions in the Sacred-Cow Controversy [and Comments and Reply

Contrary to Marvin Harris's hypothesis, desiccation and population increase in India following 1000 B.C. are highly unlikely to have been the origin of the Hindu ban on cow slaughter and beef eating. In many places in present-day India,wild and stray cattle are serious problem to farmers. The sacred-cow concept contributes to a significant waste of beef and inefficiency in cattle breeding. Homes for old cows are basically religious institutions that divert funds from other needs of the nation. Indian cattle to compete with man for food, and most experts believe that there are significant numbers of surplus cows in terms of available feed and bullock-replacement needs. Such surplus cows make economic contributions, but religious belief, expressed in social and political action, cannot be over-looked as a factor contributing to their survival. As John Bennett has noted, the technoenvironmental model used by Harris seems unsuited to use for India. Especially deficient is Harris's ignoring of religion as a ...