CH. 2 Camel breeds in Kenya

The 3 main breeds of camel found in Kenya are Somali, Rendille/Gabbra and Turkana. These are kept by communities who bear the same names as those of the breed. There is a fourth breed of camel called Pakistani which was imported from Pakistan into Laikipia ranches in Kenya in the early 1990s. However, only a few pure Pakistan camels exist while crosses with Somali or Turkana breeds have since moved out of Laikipia to Samburu, East Pokot, Kajiado, Northern Tanzania, Mandera and Marsabit districts. Following is a description of these breeds; 

Somali Camel

Purpose:

• Good for milk production as it can give 3 to 5 liters in a day
• Milking the camel three times a day guarantees even more milk
• Lactation length is 1 to 1.5 years

Body color:

• Cream/brown 

Mature body weight:

• Ranges from 450 – 850 kg
• First calving occurs between 4 – 5 years
• Average standing height is 2 meters when mature 

Feed requirements: 

• Heavy feeders requiring 8 to 12 hours of feeding in a day depending on feed availability
• Are more comfortable feeding on shrubs because of their height 

Advantages:

• More milk
• Matures early

Disadvantages:

• Cannot be reared in areas with rough terrain or rocky hillsides due to large size
• Suffer more when feed availability is low 

Within the Somali breed are four sub-types namely Hoor, Siftarr, Aidimo and Gelab. These differ in physical, production and adaptability characteristics. While hoor is the highest milk producing sub-type, it is the least hardy. Gelab on the other hand is the smallest in body size, least milk producing but most hardy. 

Rendille/Gabbra Camel

Milk yield:

• 1 – 3 liters per day
• Lactation length of 1 to 1.5 years

Body color:

• Cream or brown

Mature body weight:

• 300 – 550 kg 
• First calving occurs between 5 – 6 years 
• Average standing height is 1.8 meters 
• Feed requirements: Less than Somali, requiring 8 – 10 hours of grazing 

Advantages: 

• Does better under poor pasture conditions and rough terrain 
• Tolerate drought conditions better than Somali 

Disadvantage:

• Lower milk yield
• Late maturity

Turkana Camel

Milk yield:

• Lower than Somali and Rendille/Gabbra that is, 1 to 2.5 liters/day 
• Lactation length of about 1 year

Body color:

• Mainly grayish/dark

Mature body weight:

• 250 – 500kg

First calving:

• Occurs between 5 and 6 years of age
• Average standing height is 1.7 meters
• Feed requirements is less than that of Gabbra/Rendille, requiring about 7 hours of grazing

Advantages:

• Most hardy of all the breeds
• Very agile and able to climb steep lava hills because of small body size
• Least affected under situation of feed scarcity 

Disadvantages:

• Least milk yield
• Matures late

Pakistani Camel

Purpose:

• Of all the breeds, this is the best for milk production
• Produces 4 – 7 liters of milk daily under ranch conditions 

Body color:

• Predominantly chocolate 
• Mature body weight: 400 – 700 kg
• Invariably drooping lower lip

First calving:

• Occurs between 4-5 years of age
• Averages standing height 1.9 meters

Feed requirements:

• It is a heavy feeder

Advantages:

• High milk yield

Disadvantages: 

• Insufficiently tested on rough terrain
• Less hardy

Note: Across all the breeds, males are generally heavier than females