From Israel To Buy N.Z. Dairy Cows

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1949, Page 6

From Israel To Buy N.Z. Dairy Cows

Press Associartion)

(Per

AUCKLAND, July 19. To examine the prospeets of buying New Zeaiand dairy eattle for Israel, Dr S. Hirseh, leeturer in animal husbandry at the agricultural f aeulty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, arrived from San Eranciseo by Pan-American clipper. He is the first offieial represeutative of the young state of Israel to undertake a mission iu the Dominion. Dr. Hirseh said that with immigrahts still enteriug Israel at the rate of 1000 a day,' there was, an urgent need to build up the e.ount'ry 's dairy herds^ and provide , an adequate quantity of milk and butter. Twenty-five years ago Pa! estine had no more - than 1000 good grade animals and -although the herds had now been increased to 22,000, they were still too small to supply the ever increasing population. "At the moment we are less concemed with improving quality by the importation of outstanding pedigree stock, as we are with seeuring a l'apid "ncrease in the overall numoer of cows," he continued. "The Friesian and Jersey breeds are considered most suitable and in a month in New Zeaiand I hope to study herds of these types , and to make reeommendations for the purchase of suitable stock. " Dr. Hirseh, who has already visited South Africa on a similar mission, said the cattle would be distributed among the immigrants who had settled on the land. Many of these .farmers had only limited experience and for this reason it was considered that imported cows should be of good grade rather than purebred. Moreover every animal must be worth ifs existence. The country was too small to support even a single seruD cow. • • ,