The camel is a unique and special genetic resource and a great gift of the nature to ensure livelihood in difficult situations. Camel! A One in All Creatures. The camel keepers all over the world had evolved a certain type of camel for a specific purpose, i.e. walking ability, adaptation to the certain environment, milk production etc. The Barela camel was mainly evolved for milk and meat to ensure food availability in the dry and hot ecosystems of its habitat.
Barela camel is another important camel breed of the riverine region of Pakistan, especially Punjab. Actually, Berela is the camel of long traveling camel breeders of the region. The originate their travel from Thal desert of Sindh and reach up to Cholistan desert. Barela camel is good milk producing an animal in Pakistan. Many Brela camels are exported to the Gulf region for milk. Some were exported to the Horn of Africa. The genes of the Barela camels are found in wide and far regions of the dryland of the world.CHOLISTAN (A Future Food Basket)
Some are darker than others. The darker type is better in milk than the light fawn
Barela camel is mostly reared in the Lesser Cholistan and on the fringe irrigated areas of district Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan area. The Barela camels have heavy strong built and large body frame. The coat color varies from light sandy to dark brown with short coarse hair. Dark brown colored animals are preferred by local people.
Barela camels have a muscular body with dome-shaped head. The head is heavy, with a well-defined looking. The neck is medium sized with the marked curve. Eyes are bright, round with alert look and are protruding. Nose is thick, lips pendulous and ears are rounded and coarse.
Shoulders are strong, broad and well set to the chest. Hump is very well developed in males and is placed in the center of the back. The chest pad is well developed and its touching ground evenly shows good confirmation. Legs are strong, bony, stout and well separated so that legs do not rub while walking. Hind legs are slightly weaker than forelegs and are inward curved. The foot pads are medium sized and soft. The milk vein is zigzag, wide and prominent. Milking capacity of the female camel is around 10 liters in an ordinary grazing system. The selected and well-fed animals can produce up to 35 kg of milk per day with a lactation yield of up to 12,000 kg.
Reference
- Camel and other Livestock~ A tool for Healthier Food and Rural Development in Cholistan Desert
- The Desert’s Livestock Species Have Tremendous Potential for Milk Production
Reblogged this on Camel, food security and climate change and commented:
Herds of Berrela camels are a bit smaller, with an average of 26 animals. The majority of the camels are female. Lactating females range from 23-27% of the herd but depend upon the status of the year (dry or wet). The colors range from blackish brown to light brown while the majority is deep brown, and sometimes white specimens are also found. Berrela is one of the massive Pakistani camel breeds, with a thick wide neck, wide chest, muscular legs and massive head. The hanging lip is one of the salient features. The Berrela camel is mainly raised for milk and male animals are sold for meat. The Berrela is one of the higher milk producing animals, producing up to 22 liters per day with a lactation length of 9 months. Berrela camels are milked very regularly twice a day. The docility of the breed is a special trait; a Berrela camel would allow stranger to milk it any time.
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A camel is a wonderful animal. It’s movement is majestic. It’s looks are a mix of a giraffe, a horse and a dinosaur. It gives milk like a cow. It can run like a horse. It can haul a heavy carriage for a considerable distance. It is a regular mode of transportation of the middle and lower class sections of the society. It does not require the expensive upkeep of a horse. Forgive me if I am wrong. I am no expert on camels. As for meat we Indians do not prefer slaughter of such big animals. It is a shy animal and so bridling it should be easier than a horse I suppose.
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Great explanation
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