Review on Production, Quality and Use of Camel Milk in Ethiopia

Abstract

The camel rearing sub-sector has been an integral part of agriculture in Ethiopia. It has been contributing to the household food, income and poverty alleviation and national economy through export. The country has huge camel resources that made it the sixth leading country in camel population in Africa. However, only little is known about camel or only limited researches have been done on camel. Hence, a little information has been gathered on different aspects of the camel. This is a review of various research results that are from published and unpublished papers over a long period of time and various reviews in the course of the camel and its milk. It has been revealed that the highest percentage of camel population exists in eastern part of the country namely Afar, Somali and eastern part of Oromiya Region. When camels are exposed to more arid and heat area, especially if drinking water is scarce, produce milk that has much higher water content than normal. Thus, it would appear that the lactating camel loses water to the milk in times of drought. This could be a natural adaptation in order to provide not only nutrients, but necessary fluid to the dehydrated camel calf. Pastoralists claim that camel milk is superior to the milk of other species.