W.S.U. B'NAI in conjunction with HILLEL-WINDSOR JEWISH STUDENTS' ORGANIZATION presents HAYRIDE & DANCE PARTY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 PINEGROVE FARMS, ESSEX COUNTY (Canada) Bus transportation will leave from the 10 Mile J.C.C. at 7:30 p.m. Hot Dogs and Dessert Provided Cash Bar Non-Members — $11 Members — $10 $2 OFF with mention of this ad prior to Feb. 3rd For Information Call W.S.U.-Hillel 577.3459 The yaez: A tasty cross between a goat and an ibex. Matchmaking Scientists End Up With A ‘Itaez' LEORA FRUCHT erusalem — Most farm animals don't attract television crews, scien- tists and curious visitors from the four corners of the earth. But then the four-legged creatures at Kibbutz Lahav are not your everyday farm animals. In fact, this kibbutz in the middle of the Negev desert is the only place in the world where one paricular breed of farm animal can be found. That is the yaez a com- bination of the ibex (or yael in Hebrew) and the goat (or ez in Hebrew). The yaez is found only here, because it is a "pro- duct" of the kibbutz. For the last four years, the Animal Research Institute of Kibbutz Lahav, has been breeding yaezim on a semi- commercial basis with the in- tention of eventually turning this into a new Israel export industry. "The yaez is a neutral-tasting, low fat, delicate meat," says Dan Ratner, director of Kibbutz Lahav's Animal Research In- stitute. "It could in some ways be compared to veal." "In scientifically-conducted taste tests, over 70 percent of tasters preferred the yaez meat to either goat or lamb meat," says Ratner. "The encouraging results of this test (administered in 1983) convinced us to proceed with the breeding on a larger scale," he says. Prior to 1983, the research had been conducted only on an experimental scale. At Kibbutz Lahav it took 11 years of research, beginning in 1972, to iron out many of the problems inherent in crossbreeding different species of animals. But today, — the Kibbutz has a healthy herd of 600 mother yaezim. "It is very unusual — and difficult — to crossbreed a domestic animal with a wild one," says Ratner. As a commercially-bred meat source, though, the yaez has many advantages over both the goat and the ibex. "While goat meat is widely eaten in North Africa, it is not a popular dish in the West because of its very distinct taste — and smell," says Ratner. "The meat of the yaez is neutral in taste and lacks the smell of goat meat, so that it could be apealing in Western countries." As for the ibex, its meat is tasty; but it cannot be bred commercially because it is a wild animal. Today, the semi-commercial- sized herd of 600 produces aproximately 1,100 offspring per year. That amounts to ten to 20 tons of meat, most of which is bought by local butchers and delicatessens which sell it as a gourmet product. "We would like to sell herds of yaezim to other livestock farmers in Israel, so that eventually it becomes a large scale national industry," says Ratner. "We could either ex- port the meat directly, as a delicacy, or sell the breeding material, in the form of frozen semen. That would enable livestock dealers in other countries to breed their own yaezim by artifically in- seminating female goats with the semen of our yaezim," he says. "This would be especial- ly beneficial to countries which have large populations of goats. Now, only the milk of the goats can be sold com- mercially. With our product, the offspring of the goats could be sold as meat. Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results Place Your Ad Today. Call 354-6060 Call for Nominees for THE BERMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE created by Mandell and Madeleine Berman honoring a Jewish communal professional employed by the Jewish Welfare Federation or a Federation beneficiary Presentation Date: Spring 1988, in conjunction with the Annual Institute for Jewish Communal Professionals Eligibility for Nominati,on: All Jewish communal professionals employed by Federation, its agencies, or its beneficiaries, who have been working in the Detroit Jewish commu- nity a minimum of five years. Criteria for Selection: The recipient of the Berman Award must demonstrate the highest profes- sional standards in his/her chosen field. That professional must have: • made a contribution to the general good of the Jewish community • demonstrated leadership and innovation to his/her profession • applied creativity, dedication, knowledge and care to providing services to the Jewish community Nomination Process: Submit nominations by letter to the Selection Committee. Names of the nominees shall remain confidential, and they may be renominated in subse- quent years. Send nominations, marked confidential, to Michael Berke at the Jewish Welfare Federation, 163 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. Deadline for Nominations: March 31, 1988 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 43