D Isam Adawi Abdalla
University of Gezira, Sudan
Title: Effects of type of nutrition on the chemical composition of camel milk and urine
Biography
Biography: D Isam Adawi Abdalla
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of camel nutrition on their milk and urine chemical composition. A total of 30 she camels were selected from 6 herds from two different areas. All camels were Arabian type. The she- camels were in their first to third lactation time and in their second to eighth month of lactation. The camel herds at Elmanagil area were put in naturally grazing regime which was grasses plus browsing on shrubs and trees of different types, mostly Acacias, at the time of sample collection. Those at Tambool area received normal concentrate rations containing sorghum grains, ground nut cakes, wheat bran, and dry roughages in the form of sorghum stalks and Abu 70 hay inside their fens. Milk and urine samples were collected from each camel and subjected to chemical analyses. Results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in minerals content of both milk and urine of the two treatments. As for minerals like Ca, K and Mg levels in urine were found to be higher than those in milk, while Na level was higher in milk compared to that in urine. The mineral contents in the urine of the camels of Elmanagil area were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the urine collected from camels of Tambool area. There was a significant (P < 0.05) differences in fat content between the two treatments. Fat content was significantly higher in the camel milk produced in Tambool area. Therefore, natural grazing and browsing of camels on trees is strongly recommended because they produce higher levels of Ca, K, Na and Mg in their milk and urine than their counterpart group of camels which were fed on concentrates.