This is second article in a series of five articles on dairy farming in Israel. The article highlights the breeding aspects that led to upgradation of breeds and consequently tremendous increase in milk production in Israel. The success story of modern dairy cattle improvement in Israel started in the early twenties with the import of Friesian bulls from Netherlands and Germany to upgrade the indigenous cows of Damascus and Baladi breeds. Based on reports of milk recording service carried out by Israel Cattle Breeders' Association (ICBA) working since 1930, an official register of 41 cows was compiled in 1941. These cows had produced atleast 50,000 kg of total milk or 1875 kg fat in their lifetime. The register of 1952 identified 200 such cows. Bythat time an F_1 cross cow (Stavith, born on 7.12.1932 sired by Hercules, a dutch bull and a Damascus cow, Esther 1) produced 1,02. 498 kg milk with 3.32 percent fat in 15 lactations. Stavith was hand milked for 4566 days (80.5 percent) out of a total lifespan of 5671 days.
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