The effect of management system on Camels milk yield and calve growth rate in north Kordofan, Sudan

Twenty lactating she-camels and two mature male for mating were selected in north Kordofan state, Sudan. The animals were divided into two groups 10 she-camel of each with one male for mating. Group one managed in a semi intensive system, all animals were herded during night in closed in pen and set free during the midday. Supplementation consists of concentrates (2kg/day) and roughages (5kg/day) were used. The other group served as a control (Under traditional system) all animals managed traditionally but within the site of the experimental work, on this system the animals are brought to grazing areas where they selected the feed by themselves from the available plants and allowing nothing as supplemented feeding. The calves' weights were determined every six months using traditional balances, also daily milk yield were recorded. The study indicated that daily milk production in she-camel reared under semi-intensive system was higher than the camels reared under traditional management. Also the results indicated that the body weight of the calves under semi-intensive system during six, 12 and 18 months of age were the highest than the calves reared in the traditional system, semi-intensive system improved the daily growth rates of the calve. The study showed that there were non-significant differences between male and female on daily gain. (Résumé d'auteur