Advances in dairy Research
Open Access

Abstract

Studies on Camels Feeding and Utilization of Camels Milk in Buttana Area, Gaderif State, Sudan

Osman AM, Abdelkreim M, Abukashawa SMA and Ibrahim MT

The study was conducted in different locations in Butana area (Gadarif, Showak (Sharif Hassab Allah, Umgargoor, Alsobagh). a set of detailed structured questionnaires were used to collect information from a total of sixty camel owners in different locations in Butana area. The interviews were conducted over single visits to each owner. The objective of this study is to assess the uses of camel milk and their feeding in Buttana area, Gaderif State, Sudan. The results showed that most of she-camels produced from 2 to 3 litre milk/day during the lactation period of 10 months. The majority of camel owners used calves to stimulate milk let-down and they milked she-camels twice a day. The milk let-down in the presence of the calf is the main method adopted by camel owners (96.7%).The majority of owners consumed the produced milk, while few of them sold the produced milk and took the milk for calves. The study showed that the main source of camels feed was the pastures and the camels preferred to consume trees, bushes and grasses. The main source of water is river, wells and natural water net. The results showed that most of camel owners (85%) reared their camels in the pastures and animals preferred trees and shrubs (81.7%). The milking frequency in the present study ranged between 2 to 3 times in a day. The results revealed that the first serious constrain was the presence of camel diseases, followed by lack of feed, lack of water, financial problems and lack of security. The study concluded that the mean values of camel milk yield and component were affected by feeding.