Potentials of Sudan Camels(Camelusdromedaries) as DairyAnimals

Abstract

This study was conducted in Khartoum State between January-2010 and June- 2013 to assess the productive and reproductive traits of camels as milk production animals. Thestudy covered camel milk properties and nutritive valuetomake available data base for future planning for research in camel milking efficiency.The methodology followed was included questionnairesin eleven camel farms. Nine farms in Khartoum North and two farms in Omdorman. The questionnaire provided information about ( farms, herd owners, herds, herd men, milking, nutrition, watering, housing and marketing) . Two farms of similar system of management and had late stage pregnant she camels of different parity orders were chosed to the experimental work. The first farm (Major Dr. Alaas) is located at Alkadaro, the second farm (Major. Mahjoob) located at Alizba.Seventeen she-camels were chosen from 131 lactating she camels, 132 dry she camels, 131 young females, 72 young males, 8 heifers, 7 adult males and 11 breeder males.One hundred and eighty one milk samples were collected from seventeen individual camel (Camelusdromedarius), representing lactation period (after 5 days of parturition).Using StatSoft, Inc. (2011) STATISTICA (data analysis software system) version 10 to analyse the data.Percentage for description of the questionnaire. Taking the farm and the period from day of start of the experiment to day of calving as covariates, the data were subjected to analysis of covariance to test the significance of effect of camel’s type on she- camel milk production traits as well as the lactation curve. Matrix of coefficients of correlations of lactation performance traits and lactation curve components ofBushari,Arabi and Anafi. Matrix of coefficients of correlations of lactation performance and milk composition traits of Bushari, Arabi and Anafibreeds.The survey showed that 81.8% of camel farms were located in Khartoum North and only 18.2% located in Omdurman, 54.5% of farms had milk production as the only purpose of investment .The herding types of camel only and camel with cattle were 36.4%, while herding camel and others represented (27.2%). Among the camel owners, all of them were more than 40 years old, professionals were 63.6%, investors were 27.3% and amateur were 9.1%. Non -educated camel owner constituted 36.3%, university and post graduate were 27.3% each and the rest were secondary school graduates (9.1%). The majority of the herd men (54, 5%) were educated, while 45.5 were illiterate. Seven camel breed eco-types were kept in Khartoum State, these were: ( ArabiBushari , Rashaidi,Anafi, Kabashi, KinaniandShukri).That herd size ranged from 12 up to 216 camels with mean (44), the most frequent herd size was (11-20) (36.4%). All surveyed farms supplemented their camels with concentrates. About (73%) of the farms used green fodder like Abu70 and berseem. National water net was the most frequent water source (54.5%), followed by wells (36.4%) and canal (9.1%),(54.5%) of farms did not add additives to the water and (36.4%) added bicarbonates and common salt. 100% of milking let down stimulation was done with the presences of the offspring and each she-camel was milked by one milker. Milking all the udder represented (45.5%), high frequency was (81.8%) for she camels milked twice. The study revealed high frequency for lactation period was12 months at (54.5%). The high frequency average daily milk yield/she-camel was recorded (4 kg/day) at(54.5%).Camel milk had been processed to Gariss at (63.6%) of the farms while only one farm (9.1%) processed ice cream from camel. Milk marketing in the farm was the most frequent (54.5%). On the other hand selling milk with 6.5 Sudanese pound / Kg camel milk was the most frequent price at (45.4%). The total revenue form milk marketing ranged from 0.972up to 30.912 thousand SudanesePound. The study found 6 farms out of 9 were selling the camel milk in the farm gate. The studied milkproduction traits of the three types of Sudanese dromedary shecamels. Bushari, Arabi and Anafi she-camels showed that they were similar for offspring birth weight as percent of dam weight(7.2 ± 1.20%), total milk yield (1932 ± 955 kg) and lactation period (53.3 ± 14.2 weeks). For the milk yield persistencyindex (66. 8 ± 14.4%), Bushari she camels excelled their Arabi and Anafi. Regardinglactation curve components, Bushari, Arabi and Anafi types of camels had similar initial yield scale (45.4 ± 20.8 kg/week),rate of increase to the peak yield (0.304 ± 0.238 kg/week), week of peak yield (7.6 ± 2.92 week), predicted peak yield (63.5± 24.3 kg/week) and persistency of peak yield (4.6 ± 1.17 weeks). Anafi she-camel had lower rate of decrease from thepeak yield (0.021 kg/week) than Bushari and Arabi camels (0.037 and 0.052 kg/week, respectively) those were similar.The study estimated the average calving weight 490+ 15.6 kg and thecalf weight (35.2+ 2.42) kg. The total milk yield correlated positively with all lactation curve component but correlated negatively with constant c and totalbody changesThe milk composition of the studied Bushari, Arabi and Anafi she-camels showed that there was no significant differences (p>0.05) between the three she camels in moisture, total solids, ash, lactose, Ca, Mg, Na, K and energy value. The mean for total moisture was (89+ 0.27%), the mean for total crude protein was (2.5+ 0.08%), theBushari breed was significantly higher than Arabi and Anafi in crude protein (2.73%). The mean for total fat in this study was (3+ 0.2%). Arabi breed is significantly lower in fat (2.37%) than Bushari and Anafi breed. The total milk yield correlated positively with all milk composition components but correlated negatively with moisture, lactose and total body changes, while the lactation period correlated negatively with all the milk composition traits. There was no significant effect of herding type, camel breeds, owner relationship with animals,and herd men education on herd composition percentages in thesurveyed farms