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General information - the 1998 dairy herd book (click for some historical data).
 98,500 registrated dairy cows (>95% of total cows), monthly recorded; annual production 1.125 billion liters; liquid quota system, regulated and re-calculated annually according to average fat and protein percentage in raw milk and fat/protein demand and consumption.
2 types of dairy sectors:
 708 registrated "Moshav" family-farms (including few agric-schools), 2X, 40-50 milking cows/farm, producing ~43% of the national quota.
208 registrated "Kibbutz" cooperative dairy farms, 3X, 300-400 milking cows/farm, producing ~57% of the national quota.
1999, annual production data: 11,029 kg/cow, 3.30% fat, 3.08% protein; culling rate, 35% - click for figure
The farmer is getting paid for both fat and protein (~1:3, respectively) and is getting fined (5%) for liquid. A "target price" for "standard milk" (3.316% fat; 3.065% protein) is guaranteed (~0.35$) and is updated quarterly according to costs of production.
The Israeli climate:
Hot and humid: summer, 30oC along the coast and in the mountains; rises to 40oC in the inland valleys and southern deserts.
Dry: short and limited rainy season in the winter, November - March (500-1250 mm in the north; 0-25 mm in the far south).
The minimal precipitation needed for cultivating winter forage crops is ~300 mm. Drought is not infrequent (~twice per decade).
Location of dairy farms:
Dairy farms are spread all over Israel in any mild/extreme weather conditions, within the four geographical regions: three parallel strips running from north to south - the Coastal plain (west), the Mountain ranges (center) and the Jordan and Arava Valleys (east); and the Negev desert, comprises 50% of land area.
As a result of the extreme summer conditions, both DMI and production decrease by 15-20%, and conception rate also decreases.
Intensive efforts are being made to relieve the heat stress during the summer, mainly through the use of showers combined with ventilation (evaporative cooling), both at the feeding bunk and the milking parlor yard.
In "Kibbutz Kaliya" a settlement near the dead-sea, the daily range of summer temperatures is 22 to 450C. Yet, in 1998, annual milk yield with this herd of 276 cows reached 10,757 kg/cow, 3.26% fat and 3.16% protein.
In "Kibbutz Yotvata" dairy farm, located in the "Arava" desert, 30 miles northern to Eilat (the southern gate of Israel), 302 dairy cows produced in 1998 10154 kg/cow/year, 3.13% fat and 3.07% protein. A milk processing plant is attached to the dairy farm (or maybe, vice-versa?, J ); what a great view in the middle of the desert!….click here for more information.
Water for forage crop irrigation:
Is short and expensive, mainly recycled water: partially purified sewage water and rain-reservoir water.
Most of the forages are grown in the winter:
Wheat for silage is the main forage for milk cow TMR (70-80% of total silages; Click for pictures 1 2).
Price is 140-180$/ton DM silage at the bunker.
Wheat is seeded in November and harvested in April, at milk-dough stage (maximum digestible DM yield/hectare), having high NDF (55-58%), low protein (7-8%), medium NDF digestibility (45-50%).
Most wheat varieties are bi-functional, suitable for both grain and forage-crop production, nevertheless, some varieties more suitable for forage production, are being developed at present (late matured, having higher CW digestibility).
Wheat and oat hays are the main forage used in dry cow TMR, and wheat straw is the main forage in heifers TMR and part of the forage in dry cow TMR.
Small amounts of winter legumes:
Vetch, clover, and peas for hay production: 13-14% CP, 45-50% NDF.
Legumes are being used primarily for crop rotation; their proportion in milk cow TMR is low (5-7%); quality is medium; price is high, 150-200$/ton (click for picture).
Main summer (April-October) forage is:
Well-eared corn for silage, irrigated only with recycled water, comprises 30-40% of total silages in milk cow TMR (160-200$/ton DM silage at the bunker; click for a picture).
Small amounts of medium quality alfalfa hay for calves, irrigated with marginal water sources (in Jordan valley-mainly brackish).
Small amounts of tropical grasses, for hay production irrigated with sewage water (panicum and some sorghum type grasses).
Forage crop production:
Out of total land area of 28,000 sq.km, 50% is semi-arid. Click for more information on Land area, area used for agriculture (all sectors), forage crops and irrigation usage.
In 1999 Israel experienced one of the severe drought we have ever had before; click here for some relevant information.
Preservation methods:
The main method is ensilage. In general, the ensilage process and technology is highly maintained and provided a high quality silage.
Both wheat (milk-dough stage) and corn (black layer stage) green forages are excellent source material for ensilage:
High WSC (water solubles carbohydrates) concentration.
Low BC (buffer capacity).
Optimal initial DM content: 33-38%, according to spring (April, for wheat) and summer (August, for corn) at-harvest weather conditions.
Optimal particle size and physical compactability features.
Silages are packed only in concrete bunkers.
Silages comprise above 90% of the forages in milk cow TMR.
The rate of hay incorporation into milk cow TMR is low, ~5-10%.
Approximately 50% of the TMR ingredients are imported:
All cereal grain, mainly barley and corn, comprising 25-35% of TMR.
High CP meals: corn gluten, canola, cotton, sunflower, peanut, feather, fish.
Some dry, high-protein, high-NDF by-products: DDGS, corn gluten feed.
SBM is locally produced as a "by product" of the oil industry, using imported soybeans.
Local by products:
Massive use of local highly digestible by-products, substituting some of the starch in cereal grains, compensating for the low forage diet, and contributing to normal rumen function:
Wet citrus pulp, mainly fresh in the winter, some ensiled in the summer, 14-20$/ton (as fed); its proportion in milk cow TMR is 5-8%, and 10-15% with heifers TMR.
Wheat bran, brewers grain, wet corn gluten, .
Vegetables (surplus production, i.e. potatoes, carrots).
Other by-products are being used:
Liquid whey (4-5% DM, ~0.03$/ton, as fed) and concentrated whey (10-20% DM): more than 50% of the total whey production by dairy plants is utilized for feeding the milk cows, heifers, and steers.
Whey is formulated as a part of the TMR, but is not incorporated within it. It is delivered to troughs, and consumption is regulated (up to 2 kg DM/cow, and is substituting mainly barley). Here is more information on whey composition and whey utilization by dairy cattle in Israel (MS Word, in Hebrew).
Cotton seeds (5-10% of TMR, ~200$/ton).
High NDF low digestible cotton hulls.
Some small amounts of molasses from the soy industry, and CMS provided by yeast industry (some is imported).
Bakery waste, tomato pulp, grape pulp (a winery by product) contribute small amounts and used mainly for heifers TMR.
TMRs usage:
Most dairy farms are using TMR as their sole feeding system for milk cows, dry cows, heifers and baby calves.
TMRs are being produced at "on-farm" feed center or are purchased from a "near-by" feed center (0-250 km), some according to client specification and formulation.
TMRs are being delivered from the feed centers to the dairy farm by:
Trucks, which have special hydraulic chambers for different TMR or different customer (long distance).
Special uploading wagons (medium distance).
Self propelled mixing wagons (short distance).
Mixing wagons (MW):
All new MW are routinely checked and confirmed for mixing uniformity (Extension Service).
Most types of MW are made in Israel (R.M.H, Lachish Industries.).
Few are static MW, most are mobile via a tractor or self propelled.
Most of mobile-MW are horizontal, some are vertical.
The most popular horizontal MW is the type having a "non-continuos" auger.
Global market grain-price plays a significant role in TMR formulation:
Grain percentage and barley:corn ratio.
The price of imported and local by products, and their rate of usage.
The price of local forages, and their rate of usage.
In general, milk cow TMR is characterized by:
Low forage diet: 30-36%, depends on forage type (corn vs wheat silage), particles size, hay proportion, and hay and silage quality.
Low forage NDF (16-18%) and high non-forage NDF (32-38%) diet.
16.5-17.5% CP (according to season and level of production), 30-36% of it as UIP.
35-40% NSC.
4-6% crude fat (according stage of lactation, fat sources, forage level, etc..)
% DM: 50-60% (moister sources are mainly silages and by-products).
~0.5% NaCl, ~1% Ca, ~0.5% P and additional vitamins and macro and micro elements, supplied by premix.
Any formulation of TMR and/or concentrate mix is available from feed centers and/or feed mill, according to the dairy farmer's specific formula.
Intensive R&D and extension "on-farm trials", dealing with dairy cattle feeding, nutrition and management are being performed, with close collaboration with the dairy farmers.
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