BREED CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENTAL PRACTICES FOR KACHCHHI CAMEL

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Date
1996
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The present investigation was carried out to study the important breed characteristics of Kachchhi camels and traditional managemental practices followed by the camel breeders in Kachchh district of Gujarat State. In all 326 Kachchhi camels of different age groups were covered to study physical characteristics and biometry. Status of performance and traditional managemental practices for the Kachchhi camels was surveyed through personal interviews of 74 traditional breeders in three talukas of Kachchh district. The Kachchhi canels are light to neciun m 5iz? «itn darkbrown, brown or reddish brown coat colour. These camels have small erect ears with tips turning in. They have small well set muzzles and lips. On an average body length, height at withers and heart girth measured 61.17 ± 1.32, 110.42 ±. 1.35 and 76.92 + 2.81 cm in male; and 61.46 ± 1.01, 109.15 + 1.13 and 72.77 ±. 1.56 cm in female, respectively at birth. The corresponding body measurements in adult were 159.82 ± 2.10, 195.00 ±. 3.55 and 195.93 ±2.11 cm in male; and 156.15 ± 0.76, 192.16 + 0.77 and 204.75 ± 10.77 cm in female, respectively. The height at wither in adult camel was found to be a reliable measure for growth from its associa- tion with important body measurements.Majority of the traditional camel breeders were following age at first mating of 3 to 4 years in female and 4 to 5 years in male camel. About 47 per cent of the breeders used one stud camel for 50 to 70 females. Winter was the common breeding season resulting into calving in late winter in the camels. The camel breeders generally relied on the stud camel for detecting females in oestrus. However, they were having confidence in detecting conception of 10 to 15 days from a behavioural sign, 'cocking of tail'. Daily milk production of 5.52 +. 0.29 litres was recorded in the Kachchhi camels. The camel milk on an average contained 11.24 per cent total solids, 3.07 per cent fat, 2.85 per cent protein, 4.27 per cent lactose and 0.84 per cent ash. The milk from camel was used for family consumption. There was taboo on sale of camel milk. Rabaries were the major traditional camel breeders responsible for development and preservation of Kachchhi breed as their ancestoral profession. For about 51 per cent of the camel breeders. Animal Husbandry was the only source of income. Due to constant migration and remoteness of their villages, most of them remained illiterate.The herd size of Kachchhi camels varied from less than 5 to 100 animals. Herds of 50 camels were commonly encountered in the district. Average herd size was of 40.74 ± 2.83 camels with 6.17 young males, 0.59 breedable male, 12.27 young females and 21.70 adult females. Without exception they were managed on extensive system of feeding on natural feed resources. On an average 11 to 12 hours of browsing time was provided. The camel breeders were having good knowledge and skill for browsing their camels on variety of trees, shrubs, creepers and other vegetation. The breeders maintained their camels on 'zero' input basis. Generally no supplementary feeding of any kind was done. Only the stud camels were given some energetic feed during breeding season. Newborn calf was allowed to suckle colostrum freely. The growing calf was kept with herd and was having free access to suckle sufficient milk from the dam. Nose-pag was applied to the male camel at the age of 2 to 3 years. Sale of surplus male camel was the only source of income from the herd for the traditional breeders. The camel hair was used for preparing articles of daily use.
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