Feeding Camels on Halophytic Plants and Their Effects on Meat Quality Characteristics and Products

Abstract

Camels are adapted to the conditions of arid and semi-arid areas, compared to other animal species. Camels have the ability to utilize feed resources available in these areas such as halophytes and convert them into meat and milk and other products. Feeding halophytes, particularly to camels, is a feasible solution to minimize the problem of feed shortage in Egyptian arid and semi-arid regions, where desert represents about 96% of the total area. This chapter sheds light on the effect of feeding camels on some halophytic plants (Acacia, Atriplex) and their relationship with the physical, chemical, organoleptic properties of camel meat under Egyptian conditions. Also, it covers the impact of feeding such forage on daily gain rate, feed conversion efficiency in addition to the economic evaluation. The dressing percentage, edible and non-edible parts and wholesale cuts of camel carcass are also discussed. According to the nutritional and economic results, the use green edible parts of halophytic plants (Acacia and Atriplex) with adjusted concentrate mixture (ACM) in feeding growing camels is economically efficient for meat production with no adverse effects on quantity and quality meat characteristics.