I thought the title of this thread is pretty relevant to Indian Chat lately, as most threads are a waste of time and end up discussing one topic, which is both tedious and dull.

Anyway, this thread isn't a rant, it's actually about something highly valuable that was used throughout history that came from cows, and no, I don't mean milk. Cow dung has been extremely useful in the past, as it had not only a number of uses, but was cheap and highly effective.

Some of the most obvious reasons people might think it was used was due to it's fertile properties or as a fuel, which is true, but few would guess people lined their houses with cow dung or cleaned with it.

Methane from cow dung is highly valuable in some rural areas as it's used to provide a renewable and reliable energy source for electricity.

In manufacturing or construction, it's useful as an ingredient to make mud brick houses or as a sealer.

In homes, people lined their houses with dung which acts to insulate heat and acts as a mosquito repellent, due to it's bacterial properties.

Similarly, some would use the dung to clean with, as it has natural antiseptic properties, as well as it's ability to soak oils and fats makes it useful.

Now that's some of the uses, it has many more. The smell is also a non issue as when dried it can be washed and the smell is gone.

This site seems to give some pretty interesting info on the uses of cow dung...

http://www.iscowp.org/Nuggets/101%20Uses%2...0Cow%20Dung.htm

So there you have it, cows are greatly respected creatures in India, and these are the kinds of reasons why that is. Sometimes, the most valuable substances can come from the most unlikely places.

many uses cows are great , right?

Pretty much, just thought I'd mention some of the things that people might not know about. Seems my thread's a failure though

My mum says that dung was used to put into the thingie that you cook your food on to make it burn. And also they used to make those thingies with dung to keep themselves warm.... sometimes they'd even jump in them

Cow dung is used to make Biogas. It is an excellent renewable energy resource. Biogas is widely used to make electricity and for cooking purposes. Biogas stoves can be used in rural areas. Biogas is very nature friendly as it is a clean fuel, it doesn't leave any type of harmful residue when ignited, it will eradicate the use of wood for cooking in rural areas as wood causes pollution when burnt so it will also check pollution in a big way. Other uses @AcMilan had already mentioned.

When people get more prosperous they think less about uses of cowdung and other traditional methods. They look for easier ways to do everything. I have seen when prosperity comes in a village, brick and cement houses replace the traditional houses. People like to use tractors instead of using bulls for plowing their fields. Farmers no longer store seeds for the next crop, instead they will go to a store and buy packaged seeds. But I hope the use of dung in making biogas will increase, it holds lot of promise for growing energy needs especially in rural areas.

Bull-$hit.


lol sorry I couldn't resist lol

Correct. Basically, small stoves can use dung as an effective and renewable fuel. How do you mean they'd jump in them?

Vaman is right about biogas stoves and also about how people who are better off becoming more wasteful. It's ironic really that as humanity apparently progresses, our bond with nature is regressing.



I had a feeling someone might come out with that.

but you must admit, $hit has a lot of uses right?