Israel Flamenbaum, State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Extension Service

Israel is located to the east of the Mediterranean Sea. Israel’s climate is considered subtropical and dry. The climate is characterized by moderately cool, rainy winters (November–March) and hot, dry summers (June–October) with no rainfall. Summer is warm and humid along the coast (daytime temperatures average 30 o C and the relative humidity is from 50 - 90 %), but hot and dry in the inland valleys and southern desert (daytime temperatures average above 40 o C and the relative humidity in between 20 and 40 %).

The Israeli dairy sector consists of 115,000 Israeli-Holstein cows on 1,100 dairy farms. These farms are distributed mostly on the coast and in the hot valleys. Based on the Israeli herd book data (DHI), which includes nearly 90 % of the dairy cattle, the 2008 average annual milk production was 11,460 kg per cow, with 3.71 % fat and 3.20 % protein.

The Israeli dairy sector is divided into 2 main subsectors. Cooperative, relatively large dairy herds (above 300 cows per unit), representing 62.2 % of the cows with recorded production, that predominantly participate in DHI milk recording. All cooperative dairy farms milk 3X and their average milk yield in 2008 was 11,862 kg/cow, with 808 kg of fat + protein/cow/year. Approximately 75 % of the relatively small family dairy farms (40 - 100 cows per unit) participate in the DHI system and represent 37.8 % of the cows with recorded production. Nearly half of the family dairy farms milk 3X and the remainder milk 2X. Average milk yield in 2008 for family dairies was 10,794 kg/cow and the average production of fat + protein was 737 kg/cow/year.

Dairy farmers in Israel are well-organized and supported by professional institutions related to the Ministry of Agriculture, universities, milk marketing board, and farmer’s cooperative companies who supply clinical veterinary care (“HACHAKLAIT”) and AI services (“SION”). Israel Cattle Breeders Association (ICBA) owns the local DHI services, based on automatic data flow from the computerized milking equipment. These on-line reports, elaborated on by the DHI, with a special Dairy Herd Management program (NOA), enable Israeli dairy farmers to make operational decisions and manage their farms efficiently.

In the early stages of development of the dairy sector, special production conditions led Israeli dairy farmers to establish a unique and unconventional production concept. This concept was characterized by special and intensive feeding and management practices with cows living in total confinement and on relatively large dairy farms. The strategic decision, made years ago, was based on the belief that, under Israel’s special conditions, a maximization of milk production/cow would be the most economically viable. Climatic limitations forced dairy farmers to develop and implement new technological solutions and special management practices to attain high milk yields in the hot and humid summers.

All Israeli dairy herds use AI. Until approximately 10 yr ago, all heifers and cows in Israel were inseminated mostly with Holstein semen from Israeli bulls, through the Israeli AI cooperative “SION”. Ultimately, a small proportion of the cows in Israel are inseminated with imported semen, mostly NRF and Montbeliard. Almost all dairy herds use electronically controlled milking equipment, most of it, manufactured by two Israeli companies (AFIMILK and SCR). Based on the parameters collected through electronic monitoring during milking, daily milk production is recorded and heat detection is determined from data captured with “Leg-tags” (AFIMILK) or “Neck-tags” (SCR). All dairy farms use electronic heat detection data, when inseminating their cows and only part of them supplement that data with visual observation 2-3 times a day. An increasing proportion of the farms, typically the large ones, rely completely on electronic heat detection when inseminating their cows. Studies conducted nearly 20 yr ago compared heat detection efficiency and conception rates obtained, between heats detected visually or electronically and found no difference between these 2 detection methods. A comparison of reproductive parameters before and after the incorporation of electronic heat detection “leg tag” equipment in 26 large dairy herds in Israel showed an improvement of heat detection parameters when using electronic heat detection (6 days fewer open), but no difference in conception rate (Raz, 1995). In another Israeli experiment, a “neck tag” electronic device detected 96% of the heats recorded during 4 visual observations per day (Rosenberg, 1999).

Israeli herds reach fairly satisfactorily reproductive results despite the harsh climatic conditions in summer, the special and unconventional feeding system, the relatively small percentage of forages fed, and the extremely high productivity of the cows.

From the data presented we can see that conception rate of heifers averaged 63%. Nearly 30 % of the heifers were first inseminated at ≤ 13 mo of age and their conception rate to first insemination (68 %) did not differ from those first inseminated at an older age. Only 2 % of the inseminated heifers were inseminated after 18 mo of age. Among pregnant heifers, 20 % conceived at ≤ 13 mo of age; 75 % of them conceived by 15 mo of age, and only 7 % after 18 mo of age. Conception rate of heifers declines with number of insemination. Nearly 60 % of the heifers conceived to the first insemination and approximately 80 % had conceived after 2 inseminations. Roughly 65 % of the estrous cycles were within the normal range of 18 – 25 d following the previous insemination. Only 10 % of the estrous cycles were hormonally induced, while the rest were naturally occurring. Just 12 % of heifers, palpated 45-60 d after insemination, were found not pregnant. The relatively good conception rates of heifers enables Israeli farmers to manipulate their herd’s pregnancies to increase calving in the spring and early summer, so they can close the gap on the summer milk shortage.

More information read in the magazine «Milk and Farm» № 3 (10), June 2012