Introduction The camel population of Sudan is estimated at 2.903 million head (MOAAR 1998), ranking the country worldwide second only to Somalia (FAO 1986). Most camels are raised within pastoral systems in the western (Kordofan and Darfur) and eastern regions of the country, Kordofan alone having some 1.05 million head--in other words, about 36 percent of the total camel population in the country (Sakr 1998). The Kababish, Hawaweer, Kawahla and Shanabla tribes of north Kordofan are the main communities whose members herd camels. They spend the rainy season in their home territories, moving in November to January to the gizo grazing area in the northeast corner of the region. From there they move south, through their home territories, into south and west Kordofan, where they stay until the onset of the rains in June, when they move back to their home territories (see Figure 1) (El Tahir et al. 1999). [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Camel's milk constitutes an important part of the diet in pastoral societies in arid and semi-arid regions (Holter 1981a,b; Yagil 1986). Nawito et al. (1967) reported that in north Kenya under desert conditions, camel's milk contained 3.8 percent fat, 3.5 percent protein and 3.9 percent lactose. During subsequent lactations, the levels of protein and fat were elevated and those of lactose and pH witnessed a decline (Sheriha 1986). However, limited information is available on camel milk production and its chemical composition under pastoral systems in north Kordofan, Sudan. This study attempts to elucidate seasonal and parity effects on camel's milk yield and composition. Materials and Methods Study Area The study was conducted on camel herds belonging to a Kababish tribe in north Kordofan--an area that lies between latitudes 11[degrees]:15' and 16 [degrees]:30'N and longitudes 27-32[degrees]E. Mean daily temperature here is about 26.5[degrees]C, with peaks of above 40[degrees]C during the hot summers (April-June) and an average minimum temperature below 15[degrees]C during the winter months (El Tahir et al. 1999). Most of north Kordofan falls within the arid and semi-arid ecological zones. The soils are sandy, interspaced by silty depressions and characterised by stabilised and disturbed sand dunes. The dominant overstorey vegetation species are Acacia tortilis, Maeura crassifolia, Leptadinia pyrotechnica and Acacia seval. The grasses are mainly Panicum turgidum, Aristida spec. and Cymbopog spec. Low lying areas and seasonal water courses carry Acacia seyal, Faidherbia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica and Ziziphus spina-christi (El Tahir et al. 1999; Technoserve 1987). Data Collection, Classification and Analysis Data collection started in August 1997 and continued up to July 1998. Daily milk yields of thirty-six she-camels, from three different herds (twelve head each) were monitored. The camels studied were in different parities: eight were primiparus, while seven, six, six, five and four camels were in their second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth parities, respectively. Milking started ten days postpartum, continued at weekly intervals throughout the year and was done by hand twice daily, in the morning and evening, with an interval of approximately twelve hours. Two quarters of the udder were milked, leaving the other two for the calf. Teats assigned for milking were tied with a soft cloth tape to prevent suckling--a procedure locally known as surrar. Milk obtained was measured with a graduated measuring cylinder of 1,000 ml capacity. The data collected were classified according to four seasons: rainy season (August-October); winter (November-January); warm, dry summer (February-April) and hot, dry summer (May-July). All the camels examined spent a period of two months (October-November) at the gizo grazing area (Figure 1). Milk Sampling, Stotzlge and Chemical Composition Forty-four she-camels, ranging from primiparus ones to camels in their sixth parity, were selected from the above-mentioned three herds. …
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Jan 1, 2011
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