Camel –A versatile animal

Camel –A versatile animal

•Increasing human population in the world has arisen the issue of food security

• In order to combat with this issue, there is need to explore a new world of resources.

•Camel can serve the best useful addition to the food supply chain in terms of milk , meat and other products.

Types of camel

Dromedary Bactrian

Bactrian Camel

Dromedary Camel

Camel in Pakistan

• In Pakistan camel population attain one million head with almost 20% of lactating camel produces around 0.6 million ton of milk annually (Raziq et al, 2008).

• Such a huge amount of milk is not well documented and never channelized.

Camel breeds in Pakistan• Balochistan: Brahvi, Kachhi, Kharani, Lassi,

Makrani, Pishin and Rodbari

• NWFP: Gaddi, Ghulmani, Khader and Maya

• Punjab: Bagri (Booja), Brela (Thalocha), Campbelpuri and Marecha

• Sindh: Dhatti, Kharai, Larri (Sindhi) and Sakrai

Camel Population

World wide camel population 19 million Half camel population is in horn of Africa Pakistan camel population About 1 m

Balochistan 37% Punjab 33% Sindh 23% NWFP 7%

Camel Breeds of Punjab

• Mareecha (Mahra)• Bagri (Booja)• Brella (Thalochi)• Mountainious• Cambelpuri

District wise distribution of Camel Camel-A versatile animal

Bahwalapur 11328Bhakkar 19339Rajanpur 18338Mianwali 8796Layyah 16344Khushab 8594Jhang 8289Attock 8443DG Khan 11745

Major breeds of Camel in Punjab

• Milk- Barella• Dual- Marrecha

Characteristics of major camel breeds of Punjab

• Marrecha camel is also known as Bekaneri camel in Rajasthan India.

• This breed of camel is well adapted to the sandy desert and is well fit for working in desert ecosystems.

• It is estimated that these animals can travel 100 to 125 Km a day at a high speed of 20-25 Km per hour.

• This breed is also used for load carrying. • The coat color varies from light sandy to dark

blackish. Female she camel can give milk up to 10 liters a day.

Marketing of Camel Milk and Meat• Milk and meat are the principal products of

the camel. • The camel milk produced in the far-off

mountainious and desert areas cannot reach the urban markets and is utilized locally.

• However, camel milk is sold in big cities as pure milk, or mixed with milk of cows and

buffaloes, especially when the supply of cows and buffaloes milk does not meet the market demand (Yaqoob and Nawaz,2007).

• Meat is usually a by-product of a camel system and the demand for camel meat appears to be increasing among societies not herding camels that come mainly from old males and females that have served usefully in

other functions in earlier life. • Only a limited number of castrated males are raised

especially for slaughter. • The camel meat annually produced in Pakistan is 50,000

tons valued at Rs. 250 million (Khan et al., 2003).

Camel Breeding and Research Station, Rakh Mahni, District Bhakkar

• Establishment 2004-05 to 2008-09• Cost Rs. 187.032 Million• Total area 9173 Acres

• Main Objective: To explore the productive and reproductive aspects of camel

Original Cost : Rs. 153.193 million

1st Revised Cost: Rs. 169.746 million

2nd Revised Cost: Rs. 187.032 million

Gestation Period: 60 months

Year 2004-05 to 2008-09

A. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

•No institution is available in Pakistan to undertake research on camel.•Camel Converts lower quality desert vegetation into milk and meat.•Export potential to Middle East countries not explored•Very little basic research information is available on camel.

B. RATIONALE

Physical Target and AchievementsParticulars Targets Achievements

Civil Work

Office Block Completed Office BlockFour labs Completed Four labsGarages Completed GaragesStore Completed StoreService station Completed Service stationWorkshop Completed WorkshopTwo Residences (BS-18) Completed Two Residences (BS-18)Three Residences (BS-16,17) Completed Three Residences (BS-16,17)Eighteen Residences (BS-1-14) Building under

finishing phaseEighteen Residences (BS-1-14)

Overhead Residences (20000 gallons) Completed Overhead Residences (20000 gallons)

Electric connection WAPDA Mahni 3 Km Completed Electric connection WAPDA Mahni 3 Km

Subserviable pump i.e. boring of tubwell Completed Subserviable pump i.e. boring of tubwell

Approach road (5 km) Completed Approach road (5 km)

Laboratories

• Reproduction Physiology• Breeding and Genetics• Nutrition• Milk/Meat

General Information of camel at CBRS

Camel Strength• Bulls 5• She-camels 68• Male Young stock 4• Female Young stock 16• Male sucklers 25• Female sucklers 21• Total 139• Fertility 25.8%

General Information - Camel Herd

• Mortality 1.9 %• Marrecha Camel- Productive Traits Studied at CBRS• Birth weight 40 kg• Weaning weight 70 kg • Adult weight 650 kg• Milk yield 3000 lit (410 days)• Calving interval 710 days• Milk composition is also studied

Research Work Completed With CBRS (Under Publication)

• Identification and botanical classification of desert plants and camel fodder in surroundings of camel breeding and research station, Rakh Mahni.

• Hormonal biomarker with reference to lactation and pregnancy in camels.

• Hormonal stress biomarker of pregnant and non pregnant camels.

Research Work Completed With CBRS (Under Publication)

• Hematological profile of camels: Influence of pregnancy and stress.

• Influence of lactation and pregnancy on milk composition of female camel.

• Prevalence of Surra (trypanosomiasis) and relative efficacy of two different treatments.

• The analysis of soil, plant, animal relationship with reference to mineral nutrients.

Ongoing Projects

• Serum enzymes and hormonal profile of Mareecha camel during rutting season.

• Semen collection by artificial vagina and lector-ejaculator in camels.

• Effect of reproductive hormones in induction of ovulation in female camels.

• Biochemical indices of male and female camels during breeding and non-breeding season.

Abstracts (2nd ISOCARD Conference .12-14 March, 2009,

Djerba, Tunisia)• Milk composition and enzymes profile of female

camel (Camelus dromedarius) injected with oxytocin.• Dynamics of cystic fluid, serum biochemicals, amino

acid and mineral profile in Echinococcus granulosus affected camels (Camelus dromedarius).

• Serum biochemical health parameters status of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in different physiological conditions.

Abstracts ( 2nd ISOCARD Conference .12-14 March, 2009, Djerba, Tunisia)

• Biomarkers of health and mineral status in pregnant camels (Camelus dromedarius).

• Effect of repeated doses of oxytocin on the lactoperoxidase system of milk in female camels (Camelus dromedarius).

• Relationship study of mineral status with reference to soil, water, serum, urine and faeces at different physiological stages in camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Suggestions and Recommendations

• Collaborative research with CBRS and other academic institutes mainly the agriculture universities.

• Registration of camel herds• Establishment of Camel Health Centre (Cholistan and

Rakh Mahni) with main focus on Surra and Mange• Selection and application of modern breeding

techniques• Organized marketing

Physical Target and Achievements

Particulars Targets Achievements

Purchase of Camel 80 70

Installation of Tubewell (Engine) 2 2

Installation of Tubewell (electric driven) 2 2

Installation of Mechanical Weigh bridge(1000 kg) 1 1

Installation of Mechanical Weight bridge (500 kg) 2 2

Installation of Mechanical Weight bridge (2000 kg) 1 1

Construction of paca water course 7000 meters 7500 meters

Research Trials -- 11

Research Publications -- 6

Bottlenecks

• Shortage of technical staff• Lack of basic facilities• Insecurity of farm staff• Illicit occupation of farm land• Interference into the farm affairs• No special/hard area allowance

PROPOSED ACTION PLAN FOR CAMEL BREEDING IN PUNJABOBJECTIVE STRATEGY PROGRAM TARGET/ TIME

FRAMEACTION

BYROLE OF STAKEHOLDER

Improving Production

Selective Breeding

Registration of Camel herds

20 herds in 1st year followed by 5/ annum

DLFCB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS : Registration and selective breeding at MahniSUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration and assistance in registration.

Population recording 300 Camel 1st year followed by 40/ annum

DLFCB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS : monthly recording of camel CB&RS and in fieldSUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration and monitoring in filed recording

Identification of camel breeds.

Recording production would be done monthly for all Camel of the farmers.

DLFCB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: Identification Camel.SUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration in Identification of Camel breed

Establishing Progeny testing programme

Registered camel herds will be added to the existing program

DLFDBICB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: Implementation of PTP at CB&RS Mahani in camel nucleus and in the field.DBI: Collaboration in semen collection and storage.SUPT. CB&RS: collaboration in selection of breeding camel and semen of camel.

OBJECTIVE STRATEGY PROGRAM TARGET/ TIME FRAME

ACTION BY

ROLE OF STAKEHOLDER

Improving in Reproductive Efficiency

Reducing age at first calving and reduction in calving interval

Reproductive performance

Government herd and registered private herds through improved extension services.

DLFDBICB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: Reducing age at 1st calving and calving interval leading to better reproductive efficiency in camel and provision of breeding management package through field staff.DBI: Collaboration in extension service.SUPT. CB&RS : Collaboration in extension service

Field sexual health programme

Private registered herds through improved extension service

DLFDBICB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: postpartum reproductive management.DBI: Collaboration in extension service.SUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration in extension service.

Feeding and Management

Private registered herds through improved extension service

DLFDBICB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: postpartum reproductive management.DBI: Collaboration in extension service.SUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration in extension service.

Objective Strategy Program Target/ time frame

Action by

Role of stakeholder

Breed Improvement

Maintenance of Nucleus herds

Establishment of breed specific herds in public and private sector

Identification of camel breed herds/ farms

DLFCB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: Maintenance of camel nucleus herd through better feeding and management at MahaniSUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration in identification camel breeds.

Expansion of Mareecha Camel

Organizing competitions in Camel shows

Cash awards and other incentives

DLFCB&RS

SUPT. CB&RS: Conduction of camel shows to highlight interest of the breeders of camel.SUPT. CB&RS: Collaboration in Camel shows.