November 10, 2006

Ohio-Israeli collaboration to yield quality beef cattle

A project funded by Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative involves sharing of agricultural ideas and technology between the two countries.

In collaboration between the Cleveland-based Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative of the Negev Foundation, Ohio State University, and the Beef Cattle Breeders Association of Israel would work to improve the quality of beef produced in Israel.

The project specifically involves the export of superior bull semen from Ohio to Israel and the insemination of Israeli cattle. The resulting calves would provide Israelis with an alternative to the mostly imported beef they now consumed.

This initiative was one of four bi-national research and development projects that were being funded by the Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative, said Dr Sarah Horowitz, program director of the organisation.

The American team also shared new technologies to make artificial insemination for cattle herds simpler and efficient.

Some new products have been developed to help breeders synchronize a cattle herd's estrus cycle, pointed out Gene Steiner, a livestock management consultant with GSM, Mason, OH. With the new technology, it was possible to inseminate most of the cows in a single day, resulting in early-season pregnancies besides bigger calves, he said adding the bottom line was to generate more dollars from the calf crop.

Incidentally, for the first time in the history of Israel's cattle industry, cattle genetics from Ohio were being used to inseminate Israeli cows, said Sam Hoenig, president of the Negev Foundation who was part of the historic project.