State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
July 2, 2013
24th Tamuz, 5773
Announcement 810/13
Press Release
The outstanding health value of the pomegranate – now
available in milk
The pomegranate improves the milk we drink! New research shows that
the pomegranate's rind, when fed to sheep, significantly improves the
milk's quality and enriches it with anti-oxidants.
The research was carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture's Vulcani Institute in light
of the increased demand for pomegranates in Israel and the world.
This research and others were presented at the yearly conference for Cattle and Dairy
Sciences organized by the Agricultural Extension Service of Israel (Shaham), the
Ministry of Agriculture's Vulcani Institute, The Israeli Association of Cattle Breeders
and the National Milk Board and in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Yair
Shamir.
You've most probably already heard about the high health values of pomegranate arils. It
seems that the rind of the pomegranate has even greater health value! Now, when the
growing of pomegranates has become even more significant due to technologies available
for the separation of the arils and their sale packaged, ready to eat, we can also benefit
from the health value of the rind which otherwise would just be a waste product of the
production process and in huge quantities. In Israel today there are some 5750 acres of
pomegranate trees.
Ministry of Agriculture's Vulcani Institute researchers found that the addition of pomegranate
rind to the diet of sheep has a direct influence on the quality of the milk and even increases
its production. Pomegranate rind is known to speed up the healing process of wounds,
stimulate the immune system, prevents arteriosclerosis and is also rich in anti-oxidants.
Maccabim Road, Rishon le Zion, P.O. Box 30 Beit Dagan, ZIP 50250, Tel. 03-9485436, Fax: 03-9485782
State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
Now, the positive influences and the high nutritional value of the pomegranate rind will be
transferred to us through the milk we drink. The sheep will also benefit from the high health
value of the rind.
The research was presented on the 2nd of July at the yearly conference for Cattle and Dairy
Sciences organized by the Cattle Department of the Agricultural Extension Service of Israel
(Shaham), the Ministry of Agriculture's Vulcani Institute, the Israeli Association of Cattle
Breeders and the National Milk Board.
The researchers found that amongst sheep involved in the research, milk yields rose by
6% and this without the amount of food they received being changed. Additionally, it was
found that the quantity of anti-oxidants found in the milk rose by 28%!! This allowed
the sheep to better cope with diseases.
The researchers estimate that the use of pomegranate rinds in sheep fodder will result in an
improvement in the sheep's' health and a rise in the quantity of substances accumulated in
the milk, both of which have a positive contribution to the health of human beings.
The researches findings show that the pomegranate makes a significant contribution both to
sheep and human beings, even when in low concentrations. Additionally, pomegranate rind
has, over the past years, become a form of industrial waste in ever increasing quantities
due to the development of the pomegranate industry. So long as awareness as to the
benefits of the pomegranate and its products increases, so too does the amount of
pomegranate rind which now has a market and makes a sizable contribution.
This research and other data, new research and a great deal of information about this
agricultural branch were presented at the yearly conference for Cattle and Dairy
Sciences organized by the Cattle Department of the Agricultural Extension Service of
Israel (Shaham), the Ministry of Agriculture's Vulcani Institute, The Israeli Association
of Cattle Breeders and the National Milk Board and in the presence of the Minister of
Agriculture, Yair Shamir. The conference took place with the participation of all the
Maccabim Road, Rishon le Zion, P.O. Box 30 Beit Dagan, ZIP 50250, Tel. 03-9485436, Fax: 03-9485782
State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
principals in the branch and those active in it: milk producers, representatives of the
milk industry, instructors, researchers, veterinary surgeons and suppliers will take
place in Jerusalem from the 2.7.13 and run for three days.
Maccabim Road, Rishon le Zion, P.O. Box 30 Beit Dagan, ZIP 50250, Tel. 03-9485436, Fax: 03-9485782