Management of Camel
Name : Salma Mohamed Mostafa
Section : 5
Program : General
Teacher : Prof Dr Ragab Abdallah Darwish
Introduction
The camel, a large pseudo-
ruminant mammal with one or
two humps, thrives in desert
regions of Africa and Asia. The
Arabian camel (Camelus
dromedaries) boasts one hump
and is native to Africa, Saudi Arabia, and
southwestern Asia, while the Bactrian camel
(Camelus bactrianus) with two humps is found
in Central Asia. With reported lifespans of up to
50 years, weighing between 250kg to 680kg,
and reaching over 2 meters in height, camels
are aptly named the 'Ship of the Desert' due to
their distinctive rolling motion resembling a
ship at sea.
Camels, usually dark brown to dusty grey,
occasionally appear in white. Despite their
utility, they are known for their ill-tempered
nature, with a tendency to spit, bite, and kick.
General Characteristics of a Camel:
Possession of at least one hump.
Long curved necks, broad large feet, tufted
tails.
Four teats, large broad 'elastic' pad with
hooves resembling two fingernails-like
toenails on the front of the pad.
Slit-like nostrils that can be closed to
protect against
blowing sand, with
special nasal
cavities moistening
air on the way in,
trapping moisture going out.
Uses of Camel:
Provision of Food: Camel milk and meat are
staples for desert nomad tribes. Camel milk,
richer in fat and protein than cow milk, is
used for various purposes, including making
yogurt.
Hair: Used for textiles, rugs, ropes,
garments, tents, purses, etc.
Traction: Mature camels are employed for
carrying loads, plowing, and working in
caravans for transporting goods across the
desert.
Sports: Camels are used in racing, reaching
speeds of 14-16
km/hour.
Dried dung: Used as fuel.
Adaptive Features of Camel to Desert
Life:
Ability to go without water for up to three
weeks.
Body temperature rises during the heat of
the day, eliminating the need to sweat or
pant, conserving water.
Efficient water conservation through
minimal water excretion in urine and feces.
Flat, broad feet prevent sinking in the sand,
with tough, horny pads for protection.
Slit-like nostrils
can be closed
during sand or
dust storms.
Hump contains fat, not water, sustaining
the camel during food scarcity.
Unique features like double rows of long
curly eyelashes, a third eyelid as a
windshield wiper, and thick eyebrows to
protect against the sun.
Feeding the Camel:
Stomach partitioned into three
chambers.
Natural diet high in salt, requiring access to
a salt block in captivity.
Can eat salty plants, thorns, twigs, leaves,
grasses, and other desert vegetation.
Browses or grazes for 8 hours daily,
chewing cud for an additional 6 to 8 hours.
Water Consumption in Camel:
Known for withstanding thirst for extended
periods.
Can change body temperature to as low as
34°C and as high as 41°C.
Produce small amounts of thick
concentrated urine.
Drink up to 60 liters of water every 10 days
in the dry season, with the ability to
consume 200 liters in one go during
extreme thirst.
Salt Consumption in Camels:
Requires eight times more salt than cattle
and sheep.
Needs 1kg of salt per week.
Camel Breeding and Reproduction :
Female camel attains puberty at four years,
while the male reaches maturity around
five.
Gestation period is one
year, with a one-year
nursing period.
Typically produces one
calf every three years.
Management of Camels:
Practices include grouping camels by age,
allowing grazing and browsing, providing
supplementary feeds, allowing access to
colostrum for calves, and training for
obedience and load-carrying.
Caution required when handling rutting
camels.
Pregnant camels should not be put to work
during the last two months of expected
parturition and at least
three weeks after
parturition.
Conclusion :
Effective camel management involves a holistic
approach that considers the unique
physiological and behavioral characteristics of
these animals. Regular observation, preventive
care, and adherence to best practices
contribute to the overall well-being and
productivity of camel herds.
References :
"Fossilworks: Camelus". fossilworks.org.
Geraads, D.; Barr, W. A.; Reed, D.; Laurin, M.; Alemseged, Z. (2019). "New
Remains of Camelus grattardi (Mammalia, Camelidae) from the Plio-
Pleistocene of Ethiopia and the Phylogeny of the Genus" (PDF). Journal of
Mammalian Evolution. 28 (2): 359–370. doi:10.1007/s10914-019-09489-2.
S2CID 209331892. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-10-03.
Titov, V. V. (2008). "Habitat conditions for Camelus knoblochi and factors in
its extinction". Quaternary International. 179 (1): 120–125.
Bibcode:2008QuInt.179..120T. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.10.022.
Falconer, Hugh (1868). Palæontological Memoirs and Notes of the Late Hugh
Falconer: Fauna antiqua sivalensis. R. Hardwicke. p. 231.
Martini, P.; Geraads, D. (2019). "Camelus thomasi Pomel, 1893 from the
Pleistocene type-locality Tighennif (Algeria). Comparisons with modern
Camelus". Geodiversitas. 40 (1): 115–134.
doi:10.5252/geodiversitas2018v40a5.
Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A
Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University
Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
"camel". The New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University
Press, Inc. 2005.
Herper, Douglas. "camel". Online Etymology Dictionary. Archived from the
original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
Bornstein, Set (2010). "Important ectoparasites of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos)".
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. 52 (Suppl 1): S17. doi:10.1186/1751-0147-52-
S1-S17. ISSN 1751-0147. PMC 2994293.
Burger, P. A.; Ciani, E.; Faye, B. (2019-09-18). "Old World camels in a modern
world – a balancing act between conservation and genetic improvement".
Animal Genetics. 50 (6): 598–612. doi:10.1111/age.12858. PMC 6899786.
PMID 31532019.
