| Know your Camel |
| 1.Camels lose only 1.3 litres of faecal water whereas cattle lose 20-40 litres of fluid through their faeces. |
| 2.Camel can replenish water deficit faster than other animals. A water deficit of 200 litres can be done in 3 minutes by a 600 kg camel. |
| 3.The urine production is greatly reduced in the dehydrated camel. |
| 4.Camel kidneys have long loops of Henle and can manage salts. Camel can take sea water without any side effects and can excrete sea water with a salt concentration almost double that of sea water. |
| 5.Camels continue to lactate in dehydrated state. |
| 6.Camel has a rapid entry of water into blood than any other animal. |
| 7.Accumulation of fat in hump act as energy reservoir. |
| 8.Camels donot have gall bladder |
| 9.Ballooning of soft palate as observed in male camels is not seen in other species. |
| 10.Alimentary tract is sole source of water in dehydrated state because this water is continuously absorbed from the intestines. |
| 11.Camels can withstand more than 3 weeks without drinking water and continue to eat. |
| 12.Camel stomach has 3 compartments called as compartment no. 1, 2 or 3. |
| 13.There are 19.4 millions camel world wide (FAO, 2003). |
| 14.Camels have a unique class of antibodies referred as Heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) because they lack the classical light chain and are composed of a homodimer of heavy chains. |
| 15.Erythrocytes of camels are ovaloid, fairly flat and non-nucleated. |
| 16. Intravascular haemolysis due to hypotonicity does not appear to occur in camels. |
| 17.Camel mammary gland has 4 teats. Each teat has pair of orifices. |
| 18.Rumen is known as compartment 1 and has a capacity of approximately 100 litres in adult camel. |
| 19.Reticulum is known as compartment 2. |
| 20.Omasum is proximal part of compartment 3 and abomasums is considered as prepyloric part of compartment 3. |
| 21.Female camels are seasonally polyoestrous animals. |
| 22.Camels are coitally induced ovulators and ovulation is reported to occur 3-4 days after coitus. |
| 21.Female camels are seasonally polyoestrous animals. |
| 23.Duration of pregnancy in the dromedary has a range of 370-405 days with an average of 385 days. |
| 24.Prehension occurs by sensitive prehensile lips. |
| 25.In camels, the recycling of urea into the stomach is accompanied by water thus helping to maintain the camel’s vital alimentary pool. |
| 26.Camels have diffuse and epitheliochorial and resembles that of mare. |
| 27.Camels have poll glands 10 cms caudal to the occipital crest. It produces blackish, foul smelling secretion to attract females in rut season. |
| 28.The occurrence of mandibular fracture in camels is highest of all other domestic species. |
| 29.The energy requirement for maintenance of a 450 kg camel is 37MJ. |
| 30.Camel has a very low basal metabolism and exceptional water conserving adaptation.31.Camel milk has a strong similarity with human milk. |
| 32.Camel milk is high in insulin, vitamin C, niacin and omega 7 fatty acids. |
| 33. The absence of betalactoglobulin and the different compositions of proteins in camel milk may prevent allergic reactions therefore may be suitable alternative for infant milk products. |
| 34.Heat inactivation at 72 degree C for 5 minutes on different camel milk parameters including insulin and vitamin C reduces their amount by only 5-8%.. |
