The current change in camel farming: the consequences on health status of the camels

7^th International Veterinary Congress

September 04-05, 2017 | Paris, France

Bernard Faye

Independent camel expert, FAO consultant, France.

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vet Sci Technol

Abstract :

At the world level, the camel farming is changing in many countries in relationship with 3 main drivers: The market integration of the camel products in a globalized and more urbanized world, the climatic changes leading to a scarcity of the natural resources and consequently to the intensification of camel production, and the growing interest for the camel products (especially milk and meat) due to their dietetic and medicinal properties (true or expected). Especially, the intensification of camel farming (in-door feeding, use of biotechnology of reproduction, milking machine, etc.) has a significant impact on the health status of the animal. Among the changes induced by the modern farming system, we can list the followings: The change from poor nutritive but diversified feeding in desert to monotonous but rich diet (energy-protein) with a decrease in the mobility; the early weaning of the camel calf for getting the milk; the concentration of the animals, formerly poorly gregarious and the use of techniques (for example milking machine) based on cowâ�?�?s management not necessary adapted to camel. Those changes could lead to the increasing risk of metabolic diseases, to the emergence of â�?�?diseases of productionâ�? (infertility, mastitis), and to a large dissemination of parasitic diseases (as mange for example). Face to these changes, the veterinarian has to develop investigations or specific approaches (like Ecopathology) to document the health status of the camels in this new context. Some examples are given in the present communication.

Biography :

Bernard Faye was Scientific Project Manager in Animal Production sector at the International Cooperation Centre for Agronomic Research in Development (CIRADFrance) and currently, he is an independent International Camel Expert. He has obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Lyon (France) in 1974, then his MSc in Animal Nutrition and Endocrinology in 1980. After an eight-years African experience both in development (Niger) and in research (Ethiopia), he has obtained his PhD in Animal Epidemiology in 1995 (Paris University), then the habilitation to manage research team (HDR) at Montpellier University in 1998. After African period, he was Epidemiologist at the Ecopathology lab (National Agronomic Research Institute -INRA) at Clermont-Ferrand (France) and the Head of this lab for ten years. In 1996, he has joined CIRAD-Montpellier as the Head of Animal Production program. In 2010, he has joined FAO as Consultant in Saudi Arabia in the Camel Center at Kharj.