Essential animals
Camel racing and products
Camels and dromedaries are essential animals in many cultures, especially in arid regions. They provide a variety of crucial products and services for local populations. The dromedary is one of the few domestic species used for all possible productions: milk, meat, leather, manure, transport, agricultural work, saddling, racing…
They are used to produce
Belts, leather, milk, oil, blankets, rugs, jewelry, wool, bags, tents, threads, soaps, medicinal products, kefir, cosmetics, yogurt, cheese, creams, ropes, milk powder, meat, sausage, shoes, saddles, …
and so many other things…
Camel Racing
Although “dromas” comes from the Greek word for “runner,” attesting to the dromedary’s natural running abilities, few studies have objectively measured the physiological and welfare impacts on dromedaries used in races organized by humans. That’s why the FFC, in its commitment to animal welfare, encourages and supports all research efforts in this direction.
The dromedary can run at 40 km/h over distances of a few kilometers (3 to 5 km), but what also characterizes the species is its endurance. Dromedary races can cover 100 to 200 km per day.
Dromedaries can run faster than their cousins, the Bactrian camels (27 km/h).
Wool Production
In dromedaries, wool production is generally lower and shearing is not widely practiced,
except in Central Asia, particularly in
Turkmenistan, where shearing is mechanized. In
India, shearing is still done manually. More often, the fleece is collected by
manually plucking the fibers that naturally come loose during seasonal changes.
African breeds produce around 1 kg of fleece, sometimes less, with certain breeds being almost « hairless » (such as the Guban breed in Somalia). In North Africa, there are more « woolly » breeds that can yield up to 3 kg of fleece.
The hair of young dromedaries is especially prized for its superior quality compared to that of adults. Around the age of 2 years, a young camel can produce up to 3 kg of fleece.
In Asia, wool production is more integrated into the economic sectors than in Africa, even though per-animal output can still be low, particularly in India and Pakistan (around 1 kg, with possible maximums of 5 kg). For example, India produces around 400 tons of dromedary wool, a significant portion of which is exported.
In Central Asia, and particularly in Mongolia, productivity is higher, supply chains are more dynamic, and the processing is more diversified (carpets, clothing, decorative items). However, since the independence of the Central Asian republics, a slowdown in wool activity has been observed, due to the decline in camel populations. These industries, once state-controlled (with production in collective structures), have undergone difficult restructuring with privatization, and current production levels have not yet reached those of the late Soviet era.
Dromedary wool resembles cashmere. It is a relatively fine fiber (9 to 40µ in diameter) but is less spinnable than sheep’s wool due to its smoother texture. The fleece on the shoulders is finer and longer than that on other parts of the body. Density is higher in young camels, but overall wool production tends to increase with age and is higher in males (with denser and longer fibers).
Processing the fleece requires cleaning and degreasing. After shearing or manual collection, dromedary wool contains only 75–85% fibers, with the remainder made up of grease (4–5%) and especially sand and dust (15–25%). The spun fibers are used to make clothing, blankets, tents, and carpets.