The potential of camel production in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world should be utilized. The existing situation must be improved, and this can be achieved in a number of ways, each adding to successful production in times of drought.
Hardy shrubs or grasses should be introduced into areas where other vegetation can only be grown with difficulty or not al all. Research should be carried out to compare grazing with harvesting of these areas. This will help guarantee an ample and nutritious diet for the animals.
Wells need to be sunk or improved in order to make it easier to draw water.
Breeding management should be improved. Proper records should be kept of births, matings and possibly of production. Where the local population is incapable of doing this, outside inspection and help should be given.
Breeding practices should be modernized and improved. Cellection, storage and transport of semen should be subjects for further investigation. It would be of value to have a central sperm bank to serve a large area, if transport is available to reach the various herds. At the time of insemination, examinations, of the animals can be carried out and information can be collected. The local population must be educated to recognize signs of “heat” in the female.
Hand milking, without the presence of the calves, must be introduced. Where possible, milking machines must be used. This will also entail research into the suitability of the various milking techniques.
Stall-feeding should be introduced, as far as possible. This will guarantee more efficient use of feed and water, improved chances of introducing selection techniques, better health control and easier observation and control.
An efficient system of marketing of meat, milk, wool and hides should be established to ensure effective operations both during peak production periods and during periods of drought when the milk becomes vitally important.
A veterinary advisory programme should be drawn up to decide how to control and prevent prevalent diseases. Deworming and spraying or dipping are essential. Regional laboratories for serological research should be set up.
Camel raising can be combined with sheep and goat raising. Actually, if camels are stall-fed, sheep and goat breeding will be much easier and will increase the profitability of the herds. The different habits and often different preferences in feed make the combined husbandry an attractive proposition. Also in this case disease and parasite control are of importance.
Research into various fields of interest is imperative. It is a challenge to our society that we can combine our knowledge and skills to help make the camel a popular animal to breed; an animal which is such an obvious solution to improving human nutrition in the arid zones of the world, where hunger is endemic, and strikes millions of people every year. The main objective is to help the local populations become independent of foreign aid and capable of providing their own food sources in times of drought.
