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Breeding camels as a business - we open our own farm. Two-humped and one-humped camel You are from Kazan

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07.11.2017

(lat. camelus, the camelid family) - large mammals artiodactyl animals adapted to existence in a dry and hot climate (steppes, deserts, semi-deserts) - were domesticated by man in the period of about 2000 BC. e. In nature, camels are represented by two types: camel(lat. camelus dromedarius) or dromedary, Arabian, dromedary and Bactrian camel(lat. camelus bactrianus), also known as Bactrian.

In the past, herds of wild dromedaries were widespread in North Africa and the Middle East, while Bactrians lived mainly in the eastern parts of Central and Central Asia, Mongolia and the adjacent territories of China, Kazakhstan, Buryatia, Uzbekistan, where a sharply continental climate prevails (dry hot summers and cold, snowy winters). Unlike the one-humped camel, the two-humped camel has survived in wild populations, albeit very small (several hundred heads found in nature reserves in China and Mongolia). The life expectancy of camels is 40-50 years.



In addition to the number of humps, Bactrians differ from dromedaries in larger sizes (height at the withers up to 210 - 230 cm, with humps - up to 270 cm), weight (up to 800 - 1000 kg) and coat density (average pile length is about 7 cm). It is thanks to the dense fur protection that Bactrian camels are able to exist in harsh climatic conditions. The coat of dromedaries is much less dense and shorter, but it helps to protect the animals from the scorching sun and keep them from losing moisture. Camels are perfectly adapted to existence in a hot and arid climate. At the same time, they serve as a reliable means for a person to cross a desert area. No form of transport can replace camels in such conditions. Their extreme endurance allows animals to stay on the road for a long time, carrying not only riders, but also heavy luggage (the total weight of the load can be from 200 to 400 kg).



The body temperature of camels ranges from +34°C (at night) to +41°C (during the day). Camels can eat any herbaceous food unsuitable for other animals, including thorns (sand locust, saxaul, camel thorn), saltwort, wormwood, onions, brambles, astragalus branches, ephedra bushes, etc. Their lips and oral cavity are not sensitive to thorns. Camels digest dry food much worse, so it is necessary to provide them with fresh herbs from time to time, in which there is moisture. It is known that camels can go without food for a very long period (about a month) and even consume salt water. The loss of up to 25 - 30% of moisture by the camel's body does not affect the well-being of the animal, which can go without water for 8 - 15 days, but at the first opportunity it restores the balance by drinking more than 100 liters of water in the shortest possible time. Long and thick eyelashes protect the large eyes of camels from dust and sand getting into them, and the special shape of the nostrils helps prevent the loss of moisture released in the form of steam during breathing and protect the airways from sand or dust storms. The magnificent vision of these animals is able to distinguish objects located at a distance of about 1 km, and a subtle sense of smell captures the smell of water and fresh greenery of oases in the desert, more than 40-60 km away.



Camels are grown not only as a means of transportation in desert areas, but also as a valuable source of food - milk and meat. Camel milk is distinguished by its rich vitamin and mineral composition. The amount of iron in it is ten times higher than in cow's milk, and vitamin C - three times. It is a white, easily foaming liquid of thick consistency with a sweetish or sweet-salty taste. Can be stored fresh for about 5 days. Camel milk contains amino acids that promote hematopoiesis, therefore it is used as a healing and strengthening agent for anemia, pregnancy, and in the postoperative period.




Sour-milk products (cheese, cottage cheese, curdled milk, butter) made from camel milk are known for their dietary properties. Freshly sour milk quenches thirst very well, helps with diseases of the stomach and pancreas, and various forms of tuberculosis are treated with it. Both milk and products of its processing are recommended for diabetes mellitus as insulin replacement agents that help lower blood sugar levels. One Bactrian camel produces from 500 to 800 kg of milk per year. The milk yield of dromedaries is much higher (1000 - 1200 kg or more).



Camel meat is gaining more and more popularity in the world. Due to the low fat content (1.2 - 2.8%), its consumption does not lead to the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The meat of young camels (not older than 2.5 years) is very much appreciated by gourmets, it is served in some restaurants in Europe and the East as a delicacy (steak, goulash, pate, camel sausages, etc.). When prepared properly, it has a delicious taste. In older animals, the meat is fibrous, stiff and wiry, so it is used only chopped (in sausages).

The use of camel meat is very common in Australia, where a rationed shooting of the natural population of animals is periodically carried out. As the number of feral camels grows uncontrollably every year and requires more grazing areas, their herds cause significant damage to the Australian wildlife landscape. Camel meat is healthier than beef, its calorie content does not exceed 160.2 kcal. It is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, PP, has a high content of natural antioxidants. It can be baked, boiled, stewed, fried, dried and smoked. Camel goes well with herbs, vegetables, rice, mushrooms, seafood.



The fat found in the humps of a camel is highly valued in cooking, cosmetology and folk medicine. It is used as an external wound healing agent, to soften and restore the skin. Internal use of camel fat is recommended for coughs, bronchitis, inflammation, fever. This product improves immunity, protects against the development of cancer, helps reduce sugar levels. It is also known as a strong aphrodisiac.


To all the listed products that can be obtained from an amazing animal camel, you must add camel hair. High quality, unsurpassed insulating properties, hypoallergenicity, antistatic properties, strength and lightness have earned her extraordinary popularity all over the world.


Even the waste products of camels do not remain without use. Due to the extreme dryness, their excrement is used as an efficient biofuel. Urine, which is a thick, dark, syrupy liquid, is used as a folk remedy in the treatment of hair loss, improves their condition and growth, and helps get rid of dandruff. It contains natural antibiotics, so it is used to disinfect wounds. Camel urine is used to treat hepatitis, edema and critical changes in the liver (cirrhosis), as well as to lower blood sugar levels.

The importance of camels in human life is enormous. This is not only an exotic mode of transport, a means for transporting goods, but also healthy food, valuable wool, and a source of medicinal components. Today, camel breeding can turn into a very promising and profitable business. It should be borne in mind that animals do not take root well in humid climatic conditions and in mountainous areas. From the main areas of cultivation and breeding of camels, either milk production or meat production is chosen. In the first case, preference is given to dairy breeds of camels (high milk yields are inherent in representatives of dromedaries). Bactrian camels (Bactrians) have greater muscle mass, large size, and therefore are better suited for growing as a meat breed. Bactrians also give more wool. Unlike dromedaries, they can adapt to cold climates. Hybrids of dromedaries and Bactrians (nar, iner) are in great demand among livestock breeders. These are large, strong and hardy animals, combining the best parental qualities.


There is a successful experience of growing camels not only in their natural habitats, but also in the Trans-Volga and Astrakhan steppes, in Altai and even in Holland. The main thing is to provide the animals with dry rooms protected from cold and precipitation. Hay, straw, reed, etc. can be used as bedding. In hot weather, camels are given water twice a day, in cold weather - once. If it is not possible to carry out free grazing of camels (in winter), then plant residues, vegetable and crop processing products, grain, and hay can serve as food. In addition, each adult animal additionally needs salts and minerals (about 70 kg per year).

One camel gives birth to a camel every two years. The cub feeds on mother's milk for 18 months. In the initial period of life, he especially needs warmth and protection from drafts. Animals that have reached the age of seven are considered adults. Camels are sheared once a year, in spring, after molting. They are used in various jobs, including for the transport of goods. As a beast of burden, the camel is superior to horses and mules.

Establishing a camel farm is not a typical business. However, these are quite hardy animals capable of enduring harsh climates. Favorable conditions for these animals are desert areas, such as:

  • deserts;
  • semi-deserts;
  • steppes.

The most profitable business will be for residents of Kazakhstan. However, with proper organization, profits can also be made in the northern regions of other countries.

What can you get?

Despite the exotic nature of animals, camels are of great benefit. Their maintenance costs the owners no more than raising the usual cattle, and the products brought by camels annually gain demand in the market. It is also worth noting the low competition in this business.

Considering such animals as a consumable product, several advantages can be noted:

1. Camel fat is highly valued.

It is used in cooking, for the production of cosmetics and even in medicine. This is due to the characteristics of the animal organism. The ability to accumulate useful substances for long journeys in the desert allows camels to retain all the necessary trace elements for a long time.

2. Adults can gain weight up to 500 kg.

That's quite a lot of meat. In some restaurants, this product is considered a delicacy. With proper preparation, camel meat becomes an expensive and tasty product. Therefore, the demand for their meat is quite high.

3. Wool.

Today, camel wool clothing is highly valued on the market, since things are almost 100% natural and environmentally friendly. Their wool is highly paid, so you can make a big profit from its sale.

It is also worth noting that camels live up to 30 years. With the reproduction of these animals, the business will quickly expand and become more profitable. In addition, the exotic nature of the animals allows you to make additional profit from the sale of photographs and camel rides around the city or on the farm. Another option is to sell the camels themselves to zoos or circus shows.

How to open a business?

The organization of animal breeding is associated with many nuances. Since food products and wool for clothing are sold, permission from veterinarians and sanitation services will be required. In addition, it is necessary to carry out registration in the form of a peasant farm. This is the most beneficial form of registration. Collecting the necessary documents can cost about $200-600.

Animal farming requires a piece of land. Initially, you can buy 10 individuals and rent a plot of 10,000 sq.m. Such space is necessary for the construction of structures of various types. The main ones include:

  • spacious pens for animals;
  • awnings;
  • warehouses for food;
  • fenced area for walking and more.

It is preferable to equip the farm in dry climatic zones. However, if you wish, you can choose any area, the main thing is to provide heating in the pens for the cold season. The monthly rent of the site will require approximately 50-200 dollars. The low cost is due to the interest of states in the development of the agricultural industry.

The largest costs relate to the construction of structures. To create all the necessary conditions, it will be necessary to build covered pens, conduct heating, create comfortable conditions for animals to live, install feeders, build facilities for shearing, milking, install warehouses for food, and so on. The total amount is about 30 thousand dollars.

Buying camels and feeding

Today you can find animals not only abroad. It is more profitable to buy camels in your own country, since you do not need to draw up documents for transporting animals abroad. Now there are many camel farms. Young individuals are sold at a price of 2-2.5 thousand dollars. At the same time, prices for imported camels start at $3,000.

Feeding should be discussed separately. It is best to set up a farm close to grain farming sites. This will significantly save on the purchase of feed. An adult individual annually eats about 500-700 kg of grain, about 5 tons of hay and 50-100 kg of mineral salts. Taking into account the price of these products, the cost of feeding one camel is 1100-1300 dollars a year, or 11-13 thousand for a herd of 10 individuals.

The total profit from the sale of wool, milk, fat, meat per year is about 30 thousand dollars, and in cooperation with chains of cafes and restaurants over 60 thousand dollars a year. Taking into account reproduction (1 camel every two years), payback will begin in about 1-1.5 years.

At the same time, animals are unpretentious, can gain weight up to 500 kg, live up to 30 years, and camel products are in growing demand. The competition in this area is very low, which opens up excellent opportunities for profit and without problem market development.

Opening a business, registration, search and arrangement of the site

The implementation of a business idea begins with registration, the optimal form is a peasant farm (farm). After that, you can start searching for land for a camel farm. For a small herd of 10 individuals, up to 1 hectare will be required. Such a site is enough for the construction of corrals and the placement of other buildings. The preferred area is with a dry, arid climate, the steppe zone, although the animals feel fine in colder regions, the main thing is to ensure that they are kept in covered, heated rooms in the winter season. The cost of renting land depends on the region, but taking into account the fact that this will not be an agricultural land, you can count on costs of 45-60 USD.

Construction will cost $30,000 (equipment of covered buildings, heating systems, preparation of pens, purchase of feeders, arrangement of several separate rooms for shearing, milking, food storage, etc.).

What to feed camels

If a camel farm is opened next to a crop (grain) farm, you can significantly save on the purchase and transportation of feed.

One adult camel eats about 600 kg of grain crops ($0.15-0.2 per kg), 4-5 tons of hay (0.2 c.u./1 kg), 75 kg of mineral salts (1.5 $ per 1 kg). Animals are watered 2 times a day, so the farm must immediately be provided with an uninterrupted supply of clean water. Thus, the total cost of food for 1 camel is 1250 dollars. Or about $12,000 for the whole herd.

Buying animals

You can buy camels both in our country (a few farms already offer young animals for sale) and abroad. In the first case, you will have to pay about $ 2100-2200 for a breeding young individual, in the second - from $ 3000 and more, depending on the breed + transportation costs. For the purchase of 10 heads - 22,000 c.u.

camel farm workers

A herd of 8-10 camels can be served by 1-2 employees. The salary fund will be no more than $ 5,000 per year. Many novice farmers do on their own or involve family members in the business. Veterinary services are provided as needed, accounting is outsourced.

Camel Farm Income Sources

There are several sources of income for a camel farm. First of all, it is the sale of warm, valuable and rare camel wool, products from which are elite and expensive. From an adult, you can get up to 7-10 kg of wool per year, the sale price is from 10-20 USD. for 1 kg. The second is the sale of camel milk, which has healing properties and belongs to rare, gourmet products. The cost of 1 liter can reach 30 dollars and more, and milk yield from a camel can be more than a thousand liters per year. The meat of these animals is not as in demand as wool and milk. And yet, some farms also sell it, the average price for 1 kg is $ 20.

Selling young animals and breeding animals or leasing them to private and municipal zoos, circuses, nature reserves is another source of profit from a business idea.

You can sell a camel for an amount several times higher than the cost of its maintenance, but it is worth remembering that females have low fertility (1 cub every 2 years).

Lack of competition, small expenses for keeping animals, allow camel farms to earn quite good money. Profit from the sale of wool and milk, even a small farm can reach 30 thousand USD. per year, with established contacts with restaurant chains and delicatessen outlets and the supply of meat to them, as well as the sale of young animals - more than $ 60,000 per year.

Especially for KHOBIZ.RU

Among the sandy "mountains" of the desert, a majestic ship "floats" ... What do you think - who are we talking about? Well, of course, about the camel. Since ancient times, this animal has been called just that - “ship of the desert”. And there is no longer an animal in the world that can endure the scorching sun, while carrying a heavy load. Bactrian and single humped camels are truly unique animals of their kind.

Appearance of a camel

At present, two species of these animals have survived on our planet: camels with one hump (dromedaries) and two-humped camels (bactrians). Outwardly, they differ not only in the number of humps.


Dromedaries have a more slender build. They have long legs, thanks to which they are able to run very fast. The growth of an average one-humped camel reaches 2.5 meters, and the weight at the same time ranges from 300 to 700 kilograms. The coat color of dromedaries is predominantly ash-yellow.


In addition to the presence of two humps, the distinctive features of Bactrians are considered to be thick wool, higher height (up to 2.7 meters) and weight (up to 800 kilograms), as well as a color that has a gray-yellow tint.


What are camel humps? Contrary to popular belief that the animal has a large supply of water in the hump, it is worth saying that this part of the camel's body consists of 100% adipose tissue. And the appearance of the humps speaks directly about the physical condition of the animal. If a camel is in excellent shape, full and healthy, then its humps stick up when the animal is emaciated or sick, then the hump may sag or completely disappear.


Where do dromedaries and bactrians live?

The habitat of one-humped camels is considered mainly Africa. But they can also be found in the central part of Asia. More than 100 years ago, dromedaries were even brought to the Australian continent.


Bactrians are inhabitants of the Asian part of the Eurasian continent. They live in Mongolia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kalmykia.


It is worth noting that in the wild, camels are becoming less and less common, since they are massively domesticated by humans (especially Bactrians).


Camel behavior and lifestyle

Deserts and semi-deserts with their low trees and thorny bushes are ideal for camels to live and inhabit. Camels are sedentary animals, although it is common for them to make long journeys within their territories. In the daytime, they prefer to lie down, chewing gum, and when night falls, they go to bed.

Listen to the voice of a humped camel

Camels are very good swimmers, despite their height and weight.


A feature of Bactrians is their frost resistance. Due to their thick coat, they perfectly tolerate low temperatures (up to minus 40 degrees), but heat and drought are very destructive for them. What can not be said about dromedaries: they prefer the hot sun more than the cold.


What do camels eat, two-humped and one-humped camels

Camels are ruminant herbivores. They are unpretentious in food and can feed on the most meager plants, such as bitter herbs, thorny branches, etc. Thanks to its fat reserves in the hump, the animal can do without food for about a month!


camel breeding

The mating season for these animals begins in the winter months (December - February).

Bearing offspring lasts a year, and sometimes several months more. After birth, baby camels feed on mother's milk. A few hours after birth, the cubs are already on their feet and follow their mother. Full maturation of the offspring occurs in the fifth year of life. The life expectancy of these animals is about 40 - 50 years.


Natural enemies of the camel

Usually, none of the animals attacks adults. But the same cannot be said about small camels: they are a favorite object

Since ancient times, a camel has been a companion of a southern nomad - an unpretentious hardy inhabitant of deserts and semi-deserts. Until now, these animals play a huge role in the life of many peoples. They are used as riding, pack and horse-drawn transport; camels provide people with valuable wool, milk and meat. Meanwhile, this is one of the most amazing and unusual creatures of our planet.

Camel species

Camels belong to the genus of herbivorous mammals of the artiodactyl order. Scientists attribute them to a separate suborder of corns, in which camels and their distant relatives - vicuñas and llamas, living on the South American continent, are the only representatives.

These are large, taller than human animals with a long flexible neck, thin legs and a soft fat hump on the back. Only two species have survived to this day:

  • One-humped camel, or dromedary;
  • And the Bactrian camel, named after the ancient state of Central Asia, Bactria, where the unpretentious "ships of the desert" were first tamed by man.

The camel is a unique example of the adaptation of living organisms to environmental conditions. These hardy, surprisingly unpretentious animals feel great in the arid, sharply continental climate of deserts and semi-deserts, calmly enduring both huge temperature drops and prolonged dehydration.

They are distinguished by a dense, elongated body with a small, elongated head. The structure of the flexible neck, curved with the letter "U", is such that the desert dweller can easily pick off leaves and soft branches from fairly tall trees or pick up food from the ground without bending his long legs. Their ears are small, rounded, and in some breeds they can be almost invisible due to the long thick coat. The tail with a small stiff tassel is rather short compared to the body and does not exceed 50-58 cm in length.

The whole body of a camel is covered with thick curly hair, which perfectly protects both from scorching rays and from low winter temperatures. The color of the pile can be different: from light sand to dark brown. Occasionally there are even black animals.

The hump, located on the back of a camel, serves as an excellent protection from the burning southern sun and is a kind of food storage. Its top is covered with longer and stiffer hairs than the rest of the body, and often has a color that differs from the main color. The shape also plays an important role: for example, in an emaciated animal, the hump sags and resembles an empty wineskin. But it quickly rises and acquires density, as soon as the camel eats and gets enough water.

Nature took special care of the camel's head. Large, widely spaced eyes for a better view have a third eyelid that protects from dust and sand, and are surrounded by long thick eyelashes. Deep brow ridges also provide additional wind protection. At the same time, the eyesight of humpbacked mammals is excellent: they can see a person from a kilometer away, and they can see a large moving object, for example, a car, even from 4 to 5 kilometers away.

Camels are famous for their excellent sense of smell. So, they feel the sources of water in the desert for 50 - 60 km. This is largely due to the structure of the nose. Narrow nostrils are covered with a special fold, due to which moisture, which inevitably evaporates during breathing, flows into the mouth; this keeps the animals from dehydration, but does not dull their sense of smell.

The nasal openings of a camel have such a structure that they are able to close almost completely, protecting the airways from sand and from the loss of excess fluid. It is thanks to this feature that camels are among the few mammals capable of surviving a dust storm without damage, which in the desert has a truly monstrous destructive power.

The jaw of a camel deserves special mention. There are 38 teeth in the oral cavity, including 4 rather sharp fangs - 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. In addition to them, the lower jaw has 10 molars and the same number of incisors, and the upper jaw has 12 molars and 2 incisors. A camel can easily bite through a hard thorn or a dry branch, and its bite is much more painful than a horse bite. The fleshy lips of these animals - a flat lower and forked upper - are designed to tear off tough food and have a rough, durable skin.

It is known that camels have a sharp, rather unpleasant odor. Contrary to popular belief, this "aroma" is not sweat. Camels practically do not sweat at all (in an arid climate, excess moisture loss would be wasteful). But on the back of the head of these animals there are glands with a sharp-smelling secret, with which the males mark their territory, wiping their heads and necks against the trees.

Outwardly, both a two-humped and a one-humped camel may seem disproportionate and even fragile due to thin legs, but this is only an appearance. An adult individual calmly withstands many hours of crossings in the desert and is able to carry a load equal to half its weight. Forked hooves with a large horny claw allow free movement on rocky and sandy surfaces, and in winter they serve as an excellent help in obtaining food: with the help of them, camels dig out edible branches and thorns from under the snow.

These animals are distinguished from other artiodactyls by a characteristic feature: dense skin growths - calluses - in those places where the camel comes into contact with the soil while lying. Thanks to them, animals are able to lie without harming themselves even on hot midday sand or rocky ground (and in some parts of Asia and Africa, the ground temperature in summer reaches 70⁰ Celsius). Similar formations are located on the chest, elbows, knees and wrists of a camel. The exception is wild, non-domesticated individuals: they completely lack elbow, chest and knee calluses.

Thus, these mammals have rightfully earned their name of the “ship of the desert.” True, all their amazing features have a downside: the list of places where camels live is not so great. In a humid climate, neither a one-humped nor a two-humped camel can exist, falling ill and dying very quickly.

The question of where camels live is quite complicated. On the one hand, due to their endurance, these animals are able to live in areas characterized by arid, sharply continental climate. They are found in deserts and semi-deserts, at altitudes up to 3300 km above sea level. On the other hand, now the number of wild camels is rapidly declining, and their distribution area is becoming smaller. The reason for this was human activity: almost all open sources of water in the desert have long been occupied by people, and haptagai, due to natural caution, are extremely reluctant to approach a person. The wild Bactrian camel has been protected as an endangered species included in the Red Book for several decades. Now there are only a few regions where you can still find Bactrians in their natural, non-domesticated form:

  • southeast of Mongolia, trans-Altai part of the Gobi desert;
  • western, arid regions of China, in the first place - in the vicinity of the long-dry lake Lop Nor, famous for its salt marshes.

In general, the habitats of wild camels are 4 not too large, isolated areas of deserts and semi-deserts.

As for dromedaries, it is impossible to meet them in the wild. The wild one-humped camel finally died out at the turn of the New Era and today is bred exclusively in captivity.

The list of places where camels tamed by people live is much wider. They are used as a means of transportation and draft power in almost all areas close in natural conditions to the desert.

So, a one-humped camel is found today:

  • in the north of the African continent, in all countries up to the equator (in Somalia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia);
  • on the Arabian Peninsula;
  • in the countries of Central Asia - Mongolia, Kalmykia, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, on the territory of the United Arab Emirates and Yemen and in other countries up to the northern provinces of India.
  • in the desert regions of the Balkan Peninsula;
  • in Australia, where dromedaries were brought by settlers in the 19th century instead of horses that could not withstand critical temperatures and extremely low humidity;
  • and even in the Canary Islands.

The Bactrians can boast of no less range. The Bactrian camel is one of the most common representatives of livestock throughout Asia Minor and in northern China, in Manchuria.

According to rough estimates, the population of dromedaries in the world now reaches 19 ml; Of these, nearly 15 million live in North Africa alone.

Camels are rightly revered by many peoples almost like sacred animals. After all, not only trade depends on them, but in general the life of people in many parts of our planet.

Name etymology

Linguists have been arguing about the origin of the name of this unpretentious representative of the desert fauna for more than a century, but not a single theory has yet been recognized as the only true one. The difficulty lies not only in the fact that in different countries the "ship of the desert" is called differently, but also in the too large abyss separating modernity and the ancient world. Over the past 4,000 years since the camel was domesticated, the language of different countries has undergone tremendous changes, borrowed words have become “indigenous”, and then become obsolete. However, some assumptions can be made.

The camel has been known to people living in arid desert regions since ancient times. In the life of a Bedouin, he played the same role that the horse plays in the life of a steppe nomad. A comrade in arms, transport, a carrier of burdens... And also - nutritious milk, wool for clothes, shelter from a sandstorm, meat in a hungry year - all this is a camel. It is not surprising that each nation gave its own name to its faithful companions. So, in the Kalmyk steppes, the majestic humpbacked giant is still called “burgud”, in northern Africa - “mekhari”, and in Farsi this animal is denoted by the word “ushtur”.

The Latin name of these animals sounds like "Camelus", and goes back, according to the most common theory, to the Arabic name "جَمَل" - "gamal" in the transcription familiar to us. All Western European versions of the camel's name come from the Latin term: in English-speaking countries it is called "camel", in Germany - "Kamel", the heirs of the Roman Empire the Italians use the word cammello, and almost the same - "camello" - the Spanish version sounds. The French went a little further - their "ship of the desert" is called "chameau".

Much more controversy rumbles around the Russian name of this animal. There are three versions of the origin of the word "camel":

  • According to the first, the term is a heavily distorted borrowing from the Latin language. The Romans, who had colonies in Africa and Asia, knew many large riding animals unfamiliar to European residents. One of them - elephantus, denoting an elephant, got into the Gothic language and eventually adapted to ulbandus. The Slavs, unlike the Goths, who settled in the lands from present-day Germany to the Balkan Peninsula, lived much further north, and mistakenly used this term to define the large double-humped transport of their southern neighbors.
  • The second version can be considered an addition to the first, since it can explain how the Western "ulbandus" could transform into the Russian "camel". The Old Church Slavonic transcription of this word did not have the letter "r" and sounded like "velbǫdъ". This form of the name is used in many ancient Russian texts, for example, in the Tale of Igor's Campaign. The two semantic roots of "welblud" are translated into modern as "big, great" and "walk, wander, roam". This is a completely viable theory - the camel is indeed considered one of the most enduring mounts, capable of walking up to 40 km or more per day.
  • According to some linguists, the word "camel" came to Russia from Kalmykia, where the word "burgud" is still used.

What do camels eat and what do they eat?

Everyone knows that camels are one of the most unpretentious animals in terms of food. They are able to digest even those foods that other mammals do not touch and can live for a long time without food. The list of what camels eat is quite large. It includes:

  • grass, both fresh and sun-bleached;
  • leaves of trees, especially poplars (during the cold season, this is the basis of the camel's diet);
  • hedgehog;
  • camel thorn (so named because other animals are not able to digest its tough fiber);
  • ephedra
  • sand acacia;
  • sagebrush;
  • parnolistnik;
  • steppe bow;
  • saxaul branches;
  • and some other types of shrubs.

The diet largely depends on where the camels live. So, at home, these mammals are happy to eat grain, hay, silage, fruits and vegetables, as well as any other plant foods. The key to such unpretentiousness lies in the structure of the camel's digestive organs. Its stomach has three chambers and is capable of digesting even the most rough and, at first glance, nutritionless food. At the same time, animals swallow food without chewing, and after a few hours they burp the semi-digested mixture and chew it slowly.

Camel spit, contrary to popular belief, does not consist of saliva, but of partially digested chewing gum.

The single-humped camel is considered more selective in terms of nutrition than the double-humped camel. Thus, during the hungry period, Bactrians are quite capable of eating the skins and even bones of animals, while dromedaries are forced to make do with exclusively plant foods.

It has been observed that a strict "diet" affects these amazing creatures much better than a rich diet. In famine years, the survival of the population in winter is much higher than in periods when there was enough food in the summer. All camels endure hunger and thirst without prejudice to themselves. An adult animal can go without food for up to 30 days, accumulating nutrients in its humps and subsequently existing at their expense.

Equally phenomenal is the ability of these mammals to withstand thirst. In the absence of any source of moisture, a one-humped camel can live for 10 days if it does not expend energy on running or carrying heavy loads. During the active period, this period is reduced to 5 days. The Bactrian camel is less enduring in this regard: for it, the period of abstinence in hot weather is limited to 3, maximum 5 days.

In many ways, these unique qualities are associated with the structural features of the blood. In camels, unlike other mammals, erythrocytes are oval in shape, which makes them better retain moisture. "Desert ships" can withstand dehydration up to a quarter of their own weight (while for other mammals, a fluid loss of 15% is already fatal). These amazing creatures can even get moisture from food. So, juicy grass supplies camels with enough fluid, and on fresh pastures they can do without water for up to 10 days.

However, there are other reasons for such phenomenal endurance:

  • Both Bactrians and dromedaries lead an inactive lifestyle, thereby consuming energy very slowly.
  • Camels practically do not lose moisture in the process of life. The vapor exhaled from the nostrils is deposited and flows into the oral cavity. The intestines process the waste of the body, almost completely absorbing the liquid (this is the reason why camel feces are often used as fuel for a fire by desert dwellers). Camels begin to sweat only if the body temperature rises above 40⁰ and there is a real threat of death from overheating, and this happens extremely rarely.
  • The body of a camel is designed in such a way that during a season rich in food and water, the necessary substances accumulate in his body, gradually being consumed until the time when the animal cannot replenish its reserves again.

domestic camels

For many regions, these animals are not only the best means of transportation, but also the only livestock that can easily withstand difficult climatic conditions.

Camel wool plays a huge role in the economy. It is valued much higher than goat or sheep, because due to the large mass fraction of fluff (about 85%) it warms perfectly in the cold. From a dromedary, you can get from 2 to 4 kg of wool per year; but the average annual cut from Bactrian reaches 10 kg.

An impressive share of the diet of many peoples living in desert areas is occupied by products made from camel milk - cheese, butter, sour-milk drinks, such as Turkmen chal or Kazakh shubat. A camel gives from 2 to 5 liters of milk per day; however, this number largely depends on the breed of the animal. So, the annual milk yield from Bactrian rarely exceeds 750 - 800 liters. But for dromedaries, 2 tons of milk per year is the norm, not to mention arvans, from which you can get 4 or more tons per year.

The fat content of camel's milk is higher than cow's, and reaches 5.5% in Bactrians. In dromedaries, this figure is slightly lower - 4.5%. It is rich in many trace elements, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and the content of vitamin C in it is even higher than in cow or goat milk. Due to the low content of caseic acid, it is well absorbed, has a frothy appearance and has a sweetish aftertaste.

In ancient times, camels were often used as fighting animals. In battle, the four-legged warrior carried two riders: in front - a driver, and an archer in the back. And in the case of hand-to-hand combat, the camel itself turned into a rather dangerous weapon, because it was able not only to kick, but also to use its teeth. And on the main square of the small town of Aktyubinsk, Astrakhan region, there is a monument to two camels named Mishka and Mashka: it was they who carried the gun mount, which was one of the first to start shelling the Reichstag in May 1945.

Camels have long been used as mounts and horse-drawn animals. They are able to freely carry a load the size of half their own weight. Outwardly, these imperturbable "ships of the desert" give the impression of slow and phlegmatic animals. However, this is not so much due to their nature, but to the need to retain moisture, which is consumed much faster during activity. The camel is indeed a very calm animal, and it is not so easy to make it run, wasting precious energy. But they can walk at a measured pace without getting tired for hours, covering a distance of up to 50 km a day, and with constant prodding, up to 100 km.

In some countries, khiml, the size of a bale that a camel can carry, is the official measure of weight. It is equal to 250 kg.

In many Arab countries there is a national sport - camel racing. For example, in the UAE, such competitions are held every week from April to October, when the rainy season continues. On the roads here you can see the usual warning sign for local residents: “Caution! Camels!

Wild and domesticated camels: differences

The ancient ancestors of modern camels were widespread in a large part of Eurasia, in North America and the Arabian Peninsula. It was there, according to scientists, that these hardy creatures were first tamed by man around the 2nd millennium BC.

To this day, only the two-humped camel has survived in its wild, original form; the dromedary is found in the natural environment exclusively as a domestic, secondarily feral animal. Actually, the very existence of wild camels was officially confirmed only at the beginning of the 20th century, during the Asian expedition led by Przhevalsky. It was he who discovered the existence of wild Bactrians, called "haptagai".

The haptagai camel has several notable differences from its domesticated ancestor:

  • their hooves are narrower than those of a domestic camel;
  • the physique of wild camels is lean and dry, with a more elongated muzzle and short ears, and height and weight are slightly less than those of a domesticated animal;
  • not such a roomy hump makes wild camels more vulnerable during a drought or a famine year;
  • but the easiest way to distinguish a haptagai is by clean, without the slightest trace of calluses, legs and chest.

Now wild camels are on the verge of extinction: their total number in the world barely exceeds 3,000 individuals.

Haptagai camel lifestyle

Camels in the wild lead a wandering lifestyle, constantly migrating from one source of water to another. Usually they roam in small families, from 5 to 10 - 15 individuals. They include one adult male and several females with cubs. Adult males usually roam alone, occasionally joining the herds and leaving during the rutting season. Large herds can be found only at a watering hole, where the number of camels can reach several tens of thousands of heads.

Like domestic camels, haptagai are diurnal animals. At night they are not active, but during the daytime they are in constant motion.

Despite constant migration, the places where camels live are clearly demarcated. These animals do not leave their natural range, keeping close to springs and oases. As a rule, in the summer they roam in the northern regions, and with the onset of cold weather they go further south. At this time, they can be found in tree-rich oases, in the foothills, where it is easy to find protection from the wind, as well as in shallow ravines.

Camel species that have survived to this day are not very diverse and include only two points: the two-humped Bactrian and the single-humped dromedary.

The single-humped variety of the “ship of the desert”, unlike its larger relative, is considered not so much a horse-drawn animal as a running animal. The very name "dromedary" or "Camelus dromedarius" comes from ancient Greek as "one who runs", "running". It has a lower height (no more than 190 cm, rarely - 210 cm) and is inferior to its two-humped relative in weight, due to which it is able to develop a much greater speed.

But in terms of cold resistance, the one-humped camel is more vulnerable. He does not tolerate cold in the desert because of not too thick wool, which protects well from heat, but does not warm well.

Another distinguishing feature of dromedaries is a short shaggy mane that starts from the back of the head and turns into a beard ending in the middle of the neck. The same "decorations" are on the back, in the area of ​​​​the shoulder blades. The coat of these animals, as a rule, has a sandy shade of different saturation, although occasionally there are brown, gray-red and even extremely rare, white individuals.

The one-humped camel has other names. So, in many countries it is called "Arabian" - by the name of the area where these animals were first tamed. It was from the Arabian Peninsula that the unhurried giants with one hump began their triumphal march around the world.

The second name of this species comes from the ancient state of Bactria, located in Central Asia (the first information about these animals is found in the documents of that region). Bactrians are much more massive than dromedaries, their height reaches 230 cm, and the saddle between the humps is approximately 170 cm from the ground. The distance between the bases of the humps ranges from 20 to 40 cm.

The two-humped camel has a long neck, due to the strong bend of which the head and shoulders of the animal are located at the same height (which is not typical for a one-humped representative of these mammals).

The wool of Bactrians is very thick, dense, allowing them to easily endure extreme cold. In winter, its length reaches 7 cm on the body and 25 cm on the tops of the humps. But with the onset of heat, the two-humped giants begin to shed, which is why they look rather untidy in the spring - until the period when the hairline grows back.

Camel breeds

Despite the fact that at present there are only two species of these unpretentious animals, several varieties are bred in the world that have many differences from each other. So, only in our country there are 4 breeds of camels:

  • Mongolian;
  • Kazakh;
  • Kalmyk (the largest in the world - it is bred mainly for the sake of wool and meat);
  • and the Turkmen arvana, famous for its wool.

Of these, only the long-haired Arvana is single-humped. But in the Arab countries, the number of breeds is approaching 20:

  • Omani;
  • Sudanese;
  • majaim;
  • azael;
  • mania, famous for its excellent running qualities;
  • al-hajin (also used at the races);
  • other.

Despite the large number of names, the differences between the Arabian camel breeds are insignificant. So, both the Sudanese and Omani varieties, and manias are used in horse racing and are not inferior to each other.

Camel hybrids

Endurance and usefulness in the economy of camels is so great that attempts to cross and breed new species do not stop until now. Unlike many other animals, hybrid camels are quite viable.

Mestizos include:

  • "Nar" is a large, weighing up to 1 ton, hybrid of a single-humped arvan and a two-humped Kazakh camel. A distinctive feature of this breed is one large, as if consisting of two parts, hump. Bunks are bred primarily because of their milking qualities - the average milk yield from one individual is 2,000 liters per year.
  • "Kama". This hybrid of a dromedary camel and a llama is notable for its low height, on average from 125 to 140 cm, and low weight (it does not exceed 70 kg). This baby does not have a standard hump, but it has an excellent carrying capacity and is often used as pack animals in hard-to-reach places.
  • "Iner", or "Iner". In order to get this one-humped giant with magnificent wool, a female of the Turkmen breed of camel and a male Arvan are crossed.
  • "Dzharbay" is a rather rare and almost unviable subspecies, born from the mating of two hybrids.
  • "Kurt". A not too popular one-humped hybrid of a female iner and a male camel of the Turkmen breed. Despite decent milk yields from one individual, they are rarely bred due to the low fat content of milk and unsatisfactory wool performance.
  • "Kaspak". But this hybrid of a Bactrian camel and a female Nara (often called Nar-Maya, adding a feminine suffix to the breed) is very popular. It is grown mainly because of the large milk yield and impressive meat mass.
  • "Kez-nar". A hybrid of a camel of the Turkmen breed and a kaspak, considered one of the largest both in size and in terms of milk yield.

camel breeding

Reproduction in camels occurs in the same way as many artiodactyls. The rutting period of these animals is quite dangerous, both for the camels themselves and for people. Sexually mature males become aggressive, and in the fight for a female, they attack an opponent without hesitation. Violent battles often end in the death or injury of the losing side: during the battle, animals use not only their hooves, but also their teeth, trying to knock the enemy to the ground and trample. Males participate in the rut, starting from the age of 5 (in females, puberty occurs much earlier - already at 3 years old.)

Camels mate in winter, when the rainy season begins in the desert and there is enough water and food for the animals. Moreover, in dromedaries, the rut begins a little earlier than in Bactrians. After a gestation period, which lasts 13 months for one-humped and 14 for two-humped individuals, one, less often two cubs are born, which in a few hours fully stand on their feet and are able to run after their mother through the desert.

Camels vary in size. A newborn bactrian camel weighs from 35 to 46 kg, with a height of only 90 cm. But a small dromedary, with almost the same height, reaches a weight of almost 100 kg. Both one-humped and two-humped camel species feed their cubs for 6 to 18 months. And parents take care of their offspring until the cub is fully grown.

camel speed

Camels are famous for being excellent runners. The average speed of a camel is even higher than that of a horse - from 15 to 23 km/h. Cases have been noted when a dromedary (which in some literary sources is poetically called a “desert runner”) developed a speed of up to 65 km / h.

Unlike the high-speed dromedary, the Bactrian camel is not capable of a fast forced march due to its more impressive mass. It is also capable of moving at a speed of 50 - 65 km / h, but runs out of steam much faster than a one-humped relative. Therefore, on the Arabian Peninsula, in Central Asia and Africa, Bactrians were more often used as horse-drawn vehicles. So, on the coat of arms of the Chelyabinsk region, where the trade route to Iran and China once passed, it is a two-humped giant loaded with bales that is depicted.

How much does a camel weigh?

These mammals are quite tall: 190 - 230 cm at the withers, and males are always slightly larger than females. Body length can vary from 230 to 340 cm in dromedaries, and from 240 to 360 cm in their two-humped counterparts. The question is how much a camel weighs. So, on average, the weight of an adult varies from 300 to 800 kg in different breeds. However, there are individual giants, whose mass reaches 1 ton. The largest representative of this family is the Bactrian camel, and the smallest is the Kama, a hybrid of a dromedary and a South American llama. The maximum weight of this crumb does not exceed 70 kg.

Until now, the dispute about how long camels live has not subsided. The lifespan of domesticated animals ranges from 20 to 40 years. However, among khaptagai - wild camels - there are individuals reaching the age of 50 years with an average life expectancy of about 4 decades.

What's in a camel's hump?

There is a widespread opinion that the camel's hump is a kind of wineskin, which is filled with water and from where the animal subsequently receives the necessary liquid. Actually this is not true. “Ships of the desert” are really capable of saving liquid for the future, but in the growth on the back, just, it accumulates the least in its pure form.

The answer to the question of what a camel has in its hump is more prosaic and, at the same time, surprising. This physiological reservoir is filled with fat, which performs two functions at once: it protects the body from overheating and accumulates nutrients, due to which the animal can exist for a long time without any food sources at all. An adult is able to lose up to 40% of its weight without damage to health and quickly recover as soon as it finds food.

In the case of prolonged thirst or hunger, fat is again decomposed into components, releasing the energy and water necessary for life.

By itself, the process of splitting fats has long been known to nutritionists and underlies most methods of getting rid of excess weight. However, the adaptability of camels to environmental conditions amazed even scientists. Recent experiments have shown that 100 g of fat during splitting give an average of about 107 g of liquid.

Camels are able to store liquid for future use not only in the hump, but also in special cavities of the stomach. Having reached the watering place, the desert walker is able to drink more than 100 liters of water at a time. So, there is a documented fact: a camel, deprived of food and drink for 8 days during the summer drought, lost 100 kg of weight. Having reached the watering place, he did not break away from the water for 9 minutes, having drunk 103 liters during this time. On average, a one-humped camel is able to drink from 60 to 135 liters at a time, and a two-humped camel can drink even more.

The hump performs another important function: it regulates heat transfer. This is due to the climatic conditions of the places where camels live. In the desert, the difference between night and daytime temperatures can reach 50 degrees. The fat pad saves its owner both from the scorching heat (the heat in the Gobi or Sahara desert in summer can reach 40 - 45⁰), and from night frosts, often dropping to -10⁰ even in summer. The sun's rays in the summer are so hot that an egg left in the sand is baked hard-boiled in half an hour or an hour, and most mammals are at risk of heat stroke and, in the most serious case, death from overheating. What a one-humped, what a two-humped camel is spared from such a risk. The thickness of the fat layer is so great that the body temperature of the animal remains within the normal range. And with the advent of night, the hump begins to act as a heater, cooling down, during the dark time of the day, to an acceptable 35 - 40⁰ and again providing coolness during the day.