Top Israeli Dairy Partners With Maker Of Antibiotic Alternative For Cows

Yotvata, one of Israel’s largest dairies, has invested in bio-pharmaceutical company Mileutis, which developed an all-natural alternative to antibiotics for cows derived from their own milk. 

The collaboration between the Negev-based dairy and the Ness Ziona-headquartered company is aimed at improving milk quality and making the industry more sustainable. 

It will also see the introduction of an innovative management system that does away with the routine use of antibiotics for the herd. 

The project is being led by Yotvata Dairy, Yotvata Dairy Farm and other dairy farms that supply milk to Yotvata. Yotvata Dairy is partially owned by the Strauss Group, one of Israel’s largest food companies. 

Yotvata says the move comes after a successful clinical trial using Mileutis’ antibiotics replacement Imilac, involving more than 500 cows in seven large dairy farms in Israel, which showed that the substitute treatment can increase both milk yield and milk quality.  

“We are thrilled to take the next step in improving the dairy industry for all stakeholders – consumers, dairy farmers, and, of course, the cows,” said Mileutis co-founder and  CEO David Javier Iscovich. 

“The agreement with Yotvata is another milestone towards our vision of leading the dairy industry into a sustainable future, which is facing significant challenges,” he said. 

“In recent years, we have been implementing the ‘Sustainable Dairy’ program in the dairy farms that work with us, which emphasizes sustainability as well as the well-being and health of the cows,” said Yotvata Dairy CEO Ram Srugo, of the Strauss Group. 

“The launch of the new Yotvata Dairy Farm with Mileutis will help us improve the welfare of the cows and implement a crucial part of the sustainability goals in dairy farming. For our dairy farmers, this will be a significant breakthrough in the quality and yield of milk, with positive implications for the health of the herd. It will also have a positive impact on protecting the environment and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”