The sudden execution of a sacred cow in Letchmore Heath has caused outrage among hundreds of Hindus, who have described it as a calamity with significant consequences.

The killing yesterday (Thursday) of Gangotri, 13, a Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, has been described as "religious sacrilege of the worst kind" by the president of Bhaktivedanta Manor.

The RSPCA has defended the decision to kill the animal, saying it was suffering greatly after being crippled by a bull in a "mating accident" in September last year.

Gangotri, unable to stand since the accident, was issued a fatal dose of barbiturate by RSPCA officers.

The RSPCA was assisted by police after being granted a warrant legally allowing oficers to enter the temple and kill the animal.

Stuart Coyle, head farm manager at the temple, said the unexpected killing was an act of betrayal and deception, describing RSPCA officers pushing aside monks and sneaking into the enclosure.

He said a meeting the previous night suggested they had time to appeal against the decision and that they had no reason to suspect the early morning operation.

He said: "We were under the impression that we would have some time, it's extremely shocking that they came in at 7.45am to kill our cow. The chief RSPCA officer stopped me from going in. They said they wanted to examine her and instead gave her a lethal injection.

"It's like they've come to my house and killed my own child in front of me. I've been farm manager since 1993. The cow has been my life. She was not in old age and was determined to live. It is disgusting. The RSPCA have been plotting to kill her."

RSPCA Superintendent Tim Wass admitted the manor was not told about the killing in advance, as this would make it difficult to carry out the operation.

He added: "It was all conducted in an open, honest and frank manner. There was never any suggestion of us creeping around or deceiving anyone. Waiting for the legal system to tackle a difficult theological conundrum was not an option.

"Three vets, one of them from The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said it was in a heavy state of suffering, it had multiple sores and pressure points, its respiratory rate was three times what it should be. It had no chance of ever standing in the future."

He described the day as both the easiest and most difficult day of his career, insisting that there was no doubt that ending the animal's suffering was the best action.

He said a farmer responsible for an animal with half as many health problems as Gangotri would be open to prosecution and exceptions should not be made on religious grounds.

Mr Coyle disagreed, saying: "There is no way people should be allowed to just kill animals this way. She couldn't walk but lived a happy life.

"If you walked past her you would have thought she was just lying down. She was never a threat to anyone. The RSPCA don't believe in nursing animals. They are a dispenser of death. This is not just a Hindu issue, it is a calamity that will have serious implications."

Temple president Gauri das, said: This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour, we have been deceived by those who had given us their word."Should the cow have been put down? Fill out the form below and have your say.