Ādi 17.159

In the Vedic scriptures there are concessions for meat-eaters. It is said that if one wants to eat meat, he should kill a goat before the goddess Kali and then eat its meat. Meat-eaters are not allowed to purchase meat or flesh from a market or slaughterhouse. There are no sanctions for maintaining regular slaughterhouses to satisfy the tongues of meat-eaters. As far as cow killing is concerned, it is completely forbidden. Since the cow is considered a mother, how could the Vedas allow cow killing? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu pointed out that the Kazi's statement was faulty. In Bhagavad-gita there is a clear injunction that cows should be protected. Krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam: "The duty of vaisyas is to produce agricultural products, trade and give protection to cows." (Bg. 18.44) Therefore it is a false statement that the Vedic scriptures contain injunctions permitting cow killing.