Feedlot performance of dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius)‎ calves fed different dietary regimes

Abstract EN

This study aims to evaluate the feeding performance of Sudanese dromedaiy camel calves kept under controlled management systems and fed three different dietaiy regimes.

It also aims to compare the body weight obtained by using direct weighing bridge and the body weight obtained by using certain body dimensions.

The study is carried out at the Animal Research Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Khartoum North (Kuku).

Twelve growing dromedary male camels are used in the 70days study trial.

The average initial body weight of the calves was 175.75±0.25kg.

The calves are randomly divided into 3groups, of 4animals each.

The calves in each group were randomly allotted into a separate iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous dietary treatment.

The fattening performance of experimental camels is significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments* Dry matter (DM) intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio are significantly (P<0.05) different among dietary treatments.

Kenana feed (complete fattening pellets) tended to be superior for daily weight gain (0.815kg), daily DM intake (4.35kg) and final live body weight (233.28kg).

Camels fed diet of cottonseed cake (CSC) had lowes (P<0.05) feed intake (3.99kg) and daily gain (0.591kg) with poor feed conversion ratio (9.98).

Prediction of body weight from body measurements has been proved in this study.

The results have shown that there is a high correlation (p<0.0001) between body weight obtained by direct weighing using a weighbridge and the body weight obtained using certain body measurements.