Prabhupāda: Yes. In Arabia they were to eat animal, but to save him from so many dangerous and sinful life—he has to kill so many goats—better kill one life, a camel or a cow. Camel is big animal. So if you kill one animal, camel, it is equal to fifty goats.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What about a cow?
Prabhupāda: A cow is also big animal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they say like that?
Prabhupāda: Yes . . . They don't say cow. They say better kill one big animal. So "Instead of becoming sinful for killing so many animals, you better kill . . ." And that is also sacrificed in the mosque, and that is called koravāni. Restriction is there.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So there's no . . . The karma for killing many goats is more severe than killing one cow.
Prabhupāda: No, no. You become responsible for each and every animal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Irrespective of what kind of animal.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now if you can serve the purpose by killing one animal, why should you take the risk of killing many animals?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Even if that one animal is a cow.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Animal is animal. And we say protect cow from economic point of view, kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam (BG 18.44). Without saving cows you cannot get good food. Not from the animal point of view. You require milk and milk preparation.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And the cow dies anyway.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Cow is going to die naturally, anyway.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Then, if you want flesh, take that dead body and eat.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Why don't they see this, that just by killing a cow you don't get more cows. They're going to die anyway.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Everyone is going to die, but they are so voracious, they do not wait up to the death, and they have theorized that "Dead animal is dangerous to health. Now kill while it is in life."
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just see.
Harikeśa: Yes, they think like that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's the reason.
Prabhupāda: Yes, but . . . They have got so many nonsense philosophy. But if that philosophy is supported, when you kill the animal, he becomes dead. (laughter)