Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T14:11:09.470Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A preliminary report on the energy intake and growth rate of early-weaned camel (Camelus dromedarius) calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. A. Degen
Affiliation:
Isan Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
E. Elias
Affiliation:
Isan Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
M. Kam
Affiliation:
Isan Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
Get access

Abstract

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) inhabit and are well suited to semi-arid and arid areas of north Africa, south-east Asia and India. Little attention has been given to their husbandry although they are an important livestock species in some areas. One of the limiting factors in camel production is the 2- to 3-year interval between calvings. In this study, three female calves (birth weight 32·5 kg) were weaned onto artificial milk 30 days after birth and the she-camels (400 to 500 kg) were mated 10 to 14 days later. Between 30 and 120 days of age the calves received mainly artificial milk and between days 120 and 180 they received concentrates and lucerne hay. While the calves sucked milk, intake averaged 6·9 l/day, metabolizable energy intake (MEI) averaged 19·5 MJ/day and average daily gain (ADG) was 0·87 kg. Ratios of conversion of milk intake (l/day) and MEI (MJ/day) to body-mass gain (kg/day) were 8·0: 1 and 22·4: 1, respectively, and to total body solids gain (kg/day) were 22·3: 1 and 62·7: 1, respectively. From days 30 to 120, ADG was 0·67 kg, and from days 120 to 180 ADG was 0·61 kg. The calves averaged 155 kg at 180 days and ADG to that age was 0·68 kg. All three she-camels conceived 10 to 14 days post weaning.

This study demonstrated that camel calves can be weaned early and that high growth rates can be achieved. In addition, she-camels can be mated shortly after parturition so that calving intervals can be reduced to 15 months.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Arthur, G. H. and Al-Rahim, A. T. 1982. Aspects of reproduction in the female camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia. Veterinary Medical Review 1/82: 8388.Google Scholar
Arthur, G. H., Al-Rahim, A. T. and Al-Hindi, A. S. 1985. The camel in health and disease. 7. Reproduction and genital diseases of the camel. British Veterinary Journal 141: 650659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burgemeister, R. E. 1975. [Husbandry of Camels in North Africa.] Office Alemand de la Cooperation Technique (GTZ), Eshborn, Federal Republic of Germany.Google Scholar
Cristofori, P., Aria, G., Seren, E., Bono, G., Aaden, A. S. and Nur, H. M. 1986. Somalia: endocrinological aspects of reproduction in the female camel. World Animal Review 57: 2225.Google Scholar
Elias, E., Bedrak, E. and Cohen, D. 1985. Induction of oestrus in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) during seasonal anoestrus. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 74: 519525.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elias, E., Bkdrak, E. and Yagil, R. 1984. Peripheral blood levels of progesterone in female camels during various reproductive stages. General and Comparative Endocrinology 53: 235240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elias, E., Cohen, D. and Steimetz, E. 1986. A preliminary note on the use of milk substitutes in the early weaning of dromedary camels. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 85: 117119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, J. O. and Powys, J. G. 1979. Camel husbandry to increase the productivity of ranchland. In Camels. Provisional Report, International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, No. 6, pp. 241250.Google Scholar
Farid, M. F. A., Shawket, S. M. and Abdel-Rahman, M. H. A. 1979. Observations on the nutrition of camels and sheep under stress. In Camels. Provisional Report, International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, No. 6, pp. 125170.Google Scholar
Field, C. R. 1979. Ecology and Management of Camels, Sheep and Goats in Northern Kenya. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Knoess, K. H., Makhudum, A. J., Rafio, M. and Hafeez, M. 1986. Milk production potential of the dromedary, with special reference to the province of Punjab, Pakistan. World Animal Review 57: 1121.Google Scholar
MacFarlane, W. V., Howard, B., Maloiy, G. M. O. and Hopcraft, D. 1972. Tritiated water in field studies of ruminant metabolism in Africa. In Isotope Studies on the Physiology of Domestic Animals, pp. 8394. International Atomic Energy Authority, Vienna.Google Scholar
McKnight, T. L. 1969. The Camel in Australia. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, Australia.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1979. Origin, history and distribution of domestic camels. In Camels, Provisional Report, International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, No. 6, pp. 2134.Google Scholar
Mitchell, H. H. 1962. Comparative Nutrition of Man and Domestic Animals. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Nagy, K. A. and Costa, D. P. 1980. Water flux in animals: analysis of potential errors in the tritiated water method. American Journal of Physiology 238: R454–R465.Google ScholarPubMed
Robbins, C. T., Podbielancik-Norman, R. S., Wllson, D. L. and Mould, E. D. 1981. Growth and nutrient consumption of elk calves compared to other ungulate species. Journal of Wildlife Management 45: 172186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. 1964. The camel. In Desert Animals, pp. 3370. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Shalash, M. R. 1979. Utilization of camel meat and milk in human nourishment. In Camels, Provisional Report, International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, No. 6, pp. 285306.Google Scholar
Walker, D. M. and Norton, B. W. 1971. The utilization of the metabolizable energy of diets of different protein content by the milk-fed lamb. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 77: 363369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, R. T. 1984. The Camel. Longman, London.Google Scholar
Yagil, R. 1981. Camel Milk and Camel Products. Report to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome.Google Scholar
Yagil, R. and Etzion, Z. 1980. Milk yields of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in drought areas. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 67: 207209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar