Self-sustaining economic model
400–450 litres of milk a day sold to a private dairy company generates consistent income that covers animal feeding, veterinary care, staff salaries and infrastructure maintenance.
Goshala (cow care center)
A Coodu Trust initiative at Velliyani, Karur District, Tamil Nadu — sheltering rescued stray cattle since 2021 while a self-sustaining dairy model funds their care and creates local livelihoods.
32
Rescued stray cows
400–450
Litres of milk daily
15+
Years of dairy development journey
2021
Year established
The project
A shelter that pays for its own compassion
Project mission
Promoting the welfare of stray cattle by providing shelter, nutrition and medical care while creating a sustainable livelihood model for local communities through milk production, employment generation and community education on animal welfare and responsible livestock care.
The Goshala at Velliyani, Karur District is home to 32 stray cows, all rescued from the streets — where they posed hazards to themselves and the public — and brought to the centre for care and rehabilitation. Established by Coodu Trust in 2021, the centre combines animal welfare, sustainable dairy and community development: the herd produces 400–450 litres of milk daily, sold to a private dairy company to create a revenue stream that covers fodder, veterinary care, staff salaries and infrastructure maintenance.
The Goshala also creates direct employment for local youth and women — as farmhands and caretakers, milk collectors and handlers, and administrative staff — and hosts educational visits for school children alongside awareness programmes on responsible livestock care. It is the latest chapter in Coodu Trust’s 15+ year dairy development journey, which runs from RMK/Mahalir Thittam calf rearing (2008–2010) through PMKVY/NSDC certified dairy training (2014–2017) to the TDPCL Dairy FPC (2022–Present).
- Animal welfare
- Sustainable dairy
- Community employment
- Education & awareness
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Stray cattle left on the streets
Abandoned cows roaming the streets pose hazards to both themselves and the public — with no shelter, nutrition or medical care of their own.
Our response
Rescue, shelter and rehabilitation
32 stray cows rescued from the streets now live at the Velliyani centre, where each receives proper shelter, balanced nutrition and regular veterinary attention — improving animal welfare and public safety.
The challenge
Care that depends on outside funding
Feeding, veterinary treatment, staff salaries and infrastructure upkeep are recurring costs that a shelter cannot sustain without a reliable income of its own.
Our response
A self-sustaining milk revenue model
400–450 litres of milk sold daily to a private dairy company generate consistent income that covers animal feeding, veterinary care, staff salaries and infrastructure maintenance.
At a glance
The essentials
- Scheme
- Trust initiativeEstablished and led by Coodu Trust
- Period
- 2021–PresentOngoing operations, self-sustaining through milk sales
- Location
- VelliyaniKarur District, Tamil Nadu
- Beneficiaries
- 32 rescued cowsPlus local youth & women through employment, and community & school children through education
- Partners
- Private dairy companyBuys the 400–450 litres of milk produced daily, creating a sustainable revenue stream
- Part of
- Livestock & allied activitiesThe latest chapter in Coodu Trust’s 15+ year dairy development journey
Outcomes
What the project changed
Community benefits
Direct employment for local youth and women, reduced stray-cattle hazard on the streets, an educational resource for the community and the promotion of animal welfare values.
A welfare dimension to the dairy portfolio
While other Coodu Trust dairy programmes enable farmers to rear dairy animals, the Goshala directly cares for abandoned cattle — demonstrating that welfare and productivity go hand in hand.
Get involved
Support the Goshala
Help us shelter more rescued cattle, strengthen a self-sustaining dairy model and create rural livelihoods — while teaching the next generation compassion for animals.