Healing the World: Israel Longhorn Project

Part of healing the world, is mental and spiritual, but we must never forget the many projects around the world that work to physically heal the earth, which has far-reaching, positive effects. Please take the time to check out the Longhorn Project.

"The Negev’s extreme heat and lack of water create difficult agricultural conditions. Farmland in Galilee is being overrun. Growths of non-native thorn bushes, shrubs and low trees leave farms fallow and create fire hazards that threaten the entire area.

Advocate Robin Rosenblatt, speaking today for the American Israel Texas Longhorn Ecological Project, declared with hopeful confidence that an economical solution to Negev’s hostile and the Galilee’s damaged environments has been found, and it comes right out of the American Old West ---Texas Longhorn cattle. He wants to bring the critters from America to Israel.

These hardy creatures are highly adaptable to harsh environments. They feed on shrubs, tree leaves and cacti and they can function well in feedlot or range conditions. They have excellent calving and mothering capabilities. They protect their calves from predators and cattle thieves. Longhorn cattle are also highly disease resistant and their average yearly loss rate is as low as 3%.

To date, Israel has acquired cattle from America and Europe that are not suited to the region’s semi-desert environment. They suffer from a variety of preventable problems including poor mothering skills, birth complications, high losses to predators and cattle thieves, and poor disease resistance – in short, high death rates and low reproduction rates. In some Galilean locations, losses run as high as 30% of the annual calving crop. Israeli cattle producers have tried and failed to improve their cattle’s’ adaptation to the environment.

Rosenblatt said this research project could benefit Israel, the Middle East, Africa and US cattle producers. Texas Longhorn cattle may represent the solution to restoring the natural environment of the Galilee and developing the Negev. The research, if successful, could also help to boost Israel’s lackluster meat production, decrease fire hazards, increase open space for indigenous animals and tourism, and foster business with United States ranchers. Eventually, benefits would accrue to third world nations who are experiencing similar problems.

The Israel American Texas Longhorn Ecological Project is endorsed by the Texas Longhorn Heritage Foundation and operates in conjunction with scientists from Israel’s Department of Agriculture. This project is the only nonprofit that its business model is structured to be completely self-sustainability, once we get our startup funds."

ISRAEL LONGHORN PROJECT

501 (c) 3 Non-profit # 74-3177354

Robin Rosenblatt

815 Hill St. # 5, Belmont CA 94002;