British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 332

CHAPTER IX.

44. The composition of the animal population varies widely. 'On the one band there is the local Arab stock reared under primitive conditions, lacking pastures and proper feeding and poor in type and quality; on the other hand, the Jewish stock, principally grade cattle of Friesian cross, is maintained under modern conditions.

45. In normal times the dairy industry ranks next to the citrus industry in importance to the agricultural community of Palestine, and most of the Jewish settlements derive a large part of their income from this industry. The estimated total milk yield of the country in 1944, including the milk of sheep and goats, was 120,000,000 litres or 27 million gallons per annum. Of this quantity, some 60 million litres were produced by the Jewish dairy industry from approximately 16,000 milking cows. This figure represents an increase of almost 100 per cent. compared with the output in 1938. Milk yields are dealt with more fally in paragraphs 49 et seq below.

46. The animal industries of Arab stock-owners also constitute an important part of their economy. The value of their sheep and goat flocks lies in the production of meat, particularly of young fat Iambs and kids, and of milk, which is largely used for the manufacture of simple products such as various oriental cheeses, samneh, leben and small amounts of butter. The breeding of cattle, mules and donkeys for draught and agricultural operations is also of importance.

47. During the past ten years there has been considerable development in Jewish sheep and goat husbandry. By careful selection for milk-yield a marked improvement in the local sheep of the Awassi breed has already been made, and the potential value of this breed as a milk producer demonstrated. There is no doubt that, as this work extends, the number of flocks of high-yielding Awassi ewes will greatly increase, and an economically sound and flourishing industry will be built up. This should serve as an example to Arab sheep owners of what may be achieved by selection and by the supply of a relatively small amount of supplementary feeding. There has also been an increase in Jewish goat breeding for milk-production, the Saanen and Damascus breeds being maintained for the purpose.

48. The poultry industry has also undergone remarkable expansion but it is still incapable of meeting the ever-increasing demand for eggs and table birds. Jewish settlements have specialised in White Leghorns, and birds of very high quality has been been produced. The production of eggs has also reached a high level. A census taken early in 1943 gave the total number

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