2LearnCamelus dromedarius
Dromedary camel
The dromedary is the one-humped camel of North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, kept for milk, meat, transport and racing. It is adapted to desert heat and can go a long time without drinking. It is a large, long-lived animal that needs experienced…
Keeping
How it is kept
Kept for
- Dairy
- Meat
- Draught work
- Mature weight
- 300–600 kg
- Gestation
- 390 days
- Temperament
- Calm with familiar handlers; bulls in rut can be dangerous
- Forage
- Browse and graze coarse, dry and salty plants, with good hay, minerals and salt. They drink a great deal at once when water is offered.
- Housing
- Large, dry paddocks with very strong fencing and shade. They suffer in cold, wet climates.
- Good to know
- Camels need experienced handling, especially bulls in the breeding season. They breed slowly, carrying a single calf for about thirteen months. Check local rules before buying, as some places treat camels differently from other livestock.
Breeds
Dromedary camel breeds
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