Nutrient requirements of dromedary camels: protein and energy requirements for maintenance

Results from feeding and nitrogen balance trials were utilized to investigate the energy and protein required for maintenance of the dromedary camel. A total of 55 observations were included. They covered a wide range of animal weights (292 to 715 kg), energy intake (46•2 to 187•3 kcal ME/kg0•75, and protein intake (60 to 1565 mg DN/kg0•75). Animal performance varied between a weight loss of −3•27 to a gain of +1•95 g day−1 kg−1, and nitrogen retention from −85 to +556 mg DN day−1 kg0•75. Appropriate regression models were employed for the estimation of maintenance requirements and for the study of energy-protein interaction. The factorial procedure was utilized to estimate nitrogen requirements. The estimated requirements for the maintenance of live body weight were 89•3 kcal ME and 349 mg DN per kg0•75 daily. Allowing for energy-protein interaction, recommended ‘allowances’ for maintenance would be 104 kcal ME and 368 mg DN per kg0•75 daily. These are less than the recommended allowance for goats, cattle and buffaloes, but not different in practice from those for sheep breeds in developing countries.