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Status and conservation of Mewari and Jaisalmeri camels in India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

S.C. Mehta ,
B. Bhardwaj  and
M.S. Sahani
S.C. Mehta
Affiliation:
National Research Centre on Camel, P.O.Box - 07, Bikaner 334001, India
B. Bhardwaj
Affiliation:
Veterinary Polyclinic, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
M.S. Sahani
Affiliation:
National Research Centre on Camel, P.O.Box - 07, Bikaner 334001, India
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Summary

The Mewari and Jaisalmeri breeds of camel are among the four major breeds of Indian camel. The Mewari breed is known for the production of milk and its adaptability to the hilly terrain of the Aravali hills in south Rajasthan whereas the Jaisalmeri breed is known for its riding and race potential. A total of 320 camels from 16 herds in eight villages belonging to three districts of the major breeding tract of the Mewari camel were covered. The population of the Mewari camel was estimated to be 16 221 heads with a 28% decline in the last five years. The extent of cross breeding was estimated to be 36%. The average adult Mewari camel had a 193 cm height at wither, 194 cm heart girth and 158 cm body length. Adult Mewari camels produce about 700 grams of hair per annum and the females produce 5–7 litres of milk per day. An integrated rotational grazing pasture development programme could be of great use in maintaining the Mewari camels with diverse livestock species under optimum production.

To define the status of the Jaisalmeri camel, an investigation encompassing 1 760 camel breeders belonging to the 181 villages distributed over the entire strata of the tract was carried out. The population of the Jaisalmeri camel was estimated to be 118 083 heads with a 31% decline in the last five years. An adult Jaisalmeri camel had a 199 cm height at wither, 211 cm heart girth and 156 cm body length. Adult males and females weighed 593 and 519 kg, respectively. Emphasis should be placed on making the breedable males of the breed available throughout the strata and on improving the utility of the breed for in-situ maintenance of genetic diversity in the breed.

Resumen

Las razas de camello Mewari y Jaisalmeri se encuentran entre las cuatro más importantes de la India. La raza Mewari es conocida por su producción de leche y su capacidad de adaptación a las zonas de colina de Aravali en el sur de Rajastán. Aquí, la raza Jaisalmeri es conocida por su potencial en carreras. Se han estudiado 320 camellos provenientes de 16 rebaños en ocho poblados de entre los tres distritos de mayor población de esta raza Mewari. La población de Mewari se ha estimado en 16.221 cabezas con un declive del 28% en los pasados cinco años. El impacto de cruces se ha estimado en un 36%. Un camello adulto Mewari posee una altura de 193 cm, 194 cm de circunferencia torácica y 158 cm de largura corporal. Un camello adulto Mewari produce 700 g de pelo por año y las hembras producen 5–7 litros de leche por día. Un programa de desarrollo de pastos integrados en rotación podría ser de gran interés para mantener los camellos Mewari dentro de rebaños de diversas especies con un óptimo de producción.

Para establecer la situación del camello Jaisalmeri se ha llevado a cabo una investigación con 1 760 ganaderos pertenecientes a 181 poblados distribuidos por toda la zona de origen. La población de Jaisalmeri se ha estimado en 118 083 cabezas con un declive del 31% en los pasados cinco años. Un camello adulto de Jaisalmeri mide 199 cm de altura, 211 cm de circunferencia torácica y 156 cm de longitud corporal. Los machos y hembras adultos pesan 593 y 519 kg, respectivamente. Es importante que los machos reproductores de la raza estén disponibles y mejorar su utilidad in-situ manteniendo la diversidad genética de la raza.

Keywords

CamelMewariJaisalmeriMewatiCharacterizationConservation
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 40 , April 2007 , pp. 87 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 0000

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