PERFORMANCE OF HIGH PRODUCING DAIRY-COWS OFFERED DRINKING-WATER OF HIGH AND LOW-SALINITY IN THE ARAVA DESERT

The effect of supplying high producing Israeli Holstein cows with desa linated or salty water on milk composition and production was examined in the Arava desert of southern Israel. Daily water consumption of co ws offered desalinated water was higher by 10.6 L than that of the gro up offered salty drinking water; DMI was similar for the two groups. D aily production of milk and 3.5% FCM was higher for the cows receiving desalinated water than for the cows receiving salty water: 35.2 versu s 33.1 kg and 31.6 versus 29.8 kg, respectively. The percentage of pro tein in milk and the daily protein production were higher for the cows receiving desalinated water than for the cows receiving salty water: 2.89% and 1.01 kg versus 2.84% and .93 kg, respectively. The percentag e of milk fat and the daily fat production were higher for the cows re ceiving desalinated water. These results indicate that water salinity negatively affects milk production. Improvement of water quality by de salination increased production of milk and milk constituents.