Milk composition of bedouin camels under semi-nomadic production system

摘要

A study of milk composition of camels from the Bedouin breed was carried out. Milk samples were obtained from semi-nomadic camel herds reared within the Negev desert of the Sinai Peninsula. Gross composition analysis of the milk samples indicated 6.5pH, 2.79 percent protein, 4.81 percent lactose, 3.39 percent fat, 0.77 percent ash, 11.5 percent dry matter, 313.3 mOsmol/ kg osmolality and 47.2 mequiv/l chloride. The effects of month of lactation groups (Group 1 = months 1-4; Group 2 = months 5-8 andGroup 3 = months 9 and over) on milk composition were not significantly different. However, parity groups (Group A = parities 1-4; Group B = parities 5-8 and Group C = parities 9 and over) showed significant difference (p < 0.01 ) for dry matter and chloride values. Parity group B had higher mean dry matter percentage (12.8) whereas chloride values were higher for parity group C (70.3 meq/l).