The first successful domestication of the dromedary dates back 5 000 years in the Arabian Peninsula. This docile animal could adjust quite easily to living in a courtyard, a stable, or even a cave despite coming from the desert. Moreover, dromedaries instinctively walk one behind the other.

Dromedary Breeding

There are 51 main breeds and over 100 secondary breeds or varieties. There are 3 dromedary categories: large, medium and small-sized. A small or medium-sized dromedary could pass under the tallest ones.

Importance of Breeding

Dromedary breeding is essential in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Djibouti and Somalia. It is important in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Niger, Sudan, Chad and Tunisia. In Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, Israel and Pakistan, dromedary breeding is only significant for part of the population.

Types of Breeding

Extensive breeding is traditional pastoral breeding, consisting of seasonal migrations imposed by climate. Herds are driven to where pasture is available. Intensive breeding is modern and produces camel milk and dromedary meat. Semi-intensive breeding allows for the exploitation of small to medium-sized dromedaries kept in oases. The herds are used to draw water, extract olive oil through grinding, transport agricultural products, pull harrows or ploughs, etc.  Diseases A suffering animal can be recognized by its behavior: it isolates itself from the rest of the herd, becomes silent or emits persistent complaints, stretches its neck on the ground, breathes in fits and starts, its mouth is foamy and gaping… For sprains, stiff necks, joint disorders, diarrhea, abscesses, inflammation of the glands, certain fractures and infectious diseases, camel herders burn the affected part of the body with red-hot iron to increase white blood cells locally. Dromedary ailments are numerous: external parasites or ectoparasites, internal parasites or endoparasites, pyogenic diseases producing pus and suppuration, rabies, rinderpest, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, etc.

Dromedary Training

A well-trained dromedary is capable of responding to its owner's call, baracking (crouching position allowing the camel herder to mount it) on its own when solicited by voice, following a direction when its master gives the order (recognizing right and left, departure, stop and return), recognizing treat time, walking on its knees on command, breaking its ambling gait to advance like a horse, lifting a paw so the owner can step on it to mount, jumping an obstacle, dancing to an imposed rhythm…  

Understanding Behaviors

It should be known that a dromedary never walks straight and avoids obstacles (stones, plants, terrain irregularities, etc.) in its path. That's why it follows the traces of its predecessor and the trails traced by caravans. It fears everything unfamiliar to it: city people, airplane or helicopter noise, etc. It also fears any feline odor and the roar of a lion (even imitated by humans). Despite thick skin, it is sensitive. It sees far thanks to its elevated head and can detect water and pastures from dozens of kilometers away. 

Getting Obedience

It takes between one and one and a half years to train a dromedary, to teach it to mount, dismount, walk, and not fear noise. You must know its character to train it better. The camel herder uses voice (verbal commands) and whistles to give orders to the camel. 

Ways of Riding

There are three ways to ride:

• In front, the cross-shaped pommel directed forward. This is the Tuareg saddle or withers saddle.

• Above, the rounded pommel. This is the Moorish saddle or back saddle.

• Behind the hump. This is the Arab saddle or croup saddle.

Products from Dromedaries

The dromedary is a very useful animal, combining the qualities of cattle and a horse. It performs physical work, produces milk and meat, and serves healing purposes, etc. Every part of its body can be exploited! 

Food Products

Dromedary milk is highly consumed in countries where camelid breeding is important. This milk is rich in vitamin C and contains antimicrobial factors. Apart from that, every part of the dromedary is valuable! Dromedary meat is increasingly popular with no less than 300 000 tonnes produced worldwide. It is similar to ostrich meat, while young dromedary meat is compared to mutton. Blood, hump and bones are greatly appreciated by nomads.

Materials

The wool of young dromedaries is harvested to make fabric similar to cashmere. Some breeds produce up to 3 kg of wool, while others have none. The hair is used to make blankets, clothing, carpets, ropes, and also warm and waterproof tents. Urine and excrement are used for therapeutic purposes: treatment for sinusitis, flu…  

Labor

The dromedary begins to be trained for riding from age 3 and is ready at 6 years old. Young camels are trained to carry heavy merchandise over long distances in semi-arid deserts. Over time, trained dromedaries have served caravaners, warriors, farmers, athletes (dromedary racing) and tourists (camel trekking).  To learn more about this fascinating animal, follow the link below:  https://savoirspartages.cirad.fr/nos-realisations/compilivres/le-dromadaire-pedagogique