The camel is known as the ship of the desert for its ability to be a means of transport in arid areas. But the hardiness of the Somali camel breed is channelled elsewhere, as Kalro research technician Hussein Walaga explains.
Somali camels are easy to get because Rendiles and Gabras don’t sell female camels. Somalis are the only ones who sell female camels.
A mature female costs around Sh70, 000. A young calf, just born, around Sh50-60,000 or Sh65-100,000, depending on the market.
The Somali camel is not to be used as a baggage animal. They produce more milk than the Rendile and the Turkana. While the Turkana produce three litres and the Rendile manage up to four, Somali camels produce up to eight litres at the peak of production.
Farmers are encouraged to keep a camel up to six calvings. By then, the camels are 18 years old. If a camel gives birth after this, it will be insane. It won’t be able to remember its own calf. It will be suckling whichever calf comes to it.
A camel gives birth every two years. If slaughtered, a camel can give up to 300kg of meat. However, the Rendile and the Gabra don’t slaughter camels unless it is at the peak of the drought. Before this is done, the whole village sits to agree on whose camel to be slaughtered and how the meat will be distributed.
Every three years, a bull has to be changed so as to stop inbreeding.
When camels are brought from Wajir, they take between two to three months to adapt to the environment in Marsabit.
Camels are masters at preserving water. They rest facing the direction of the sun. This minimises water loss from its body.
