Humanity's history is closely linked to those of camels. Without these remarkable animals we could not have inhabited the arid zones of Asia and North Africa, nor could we cope with today's challenges of increasing desertification. Researching interactions between humans and camels therefore has been established at the Austrian Academy of Sciences ever since its foundation more than 160 years ago. The present publication is committed to this research tradition. This book assembles insights upon current and historical interactions between humans and camels. Thereby it is international and interdisciplinary from the outset and aims at intensifying a camel-related knowledge exchange between the natural sciences and the humanities. The here presented discussions of Old World camels (dromedary, Bactrian, wild camel) include such diverse topics as camel origin, domestication, breeding, raising and commerce. Moreover, camels' significance is also discussed regarding socio-cultural and economic factors, music, folk medicine and veterinary medicine, as well as saving the last remaining wild camels. With an afterword by Richard W. Bulliet (New York), one of the world's leading authorities on the camels' history.

Camel husbandry is becoming increasingly important in the arid zones of Africa. The camel has long been the mainstay of pastoral societies due to its drought tolerance, reliable milk and meat supply and ability to feed on a wide variety of plants. In the last few years, however, camels are also seen more and more in semi-arid rangelands, especially where overgrazing has depleted the grasses and increased the relative importance of shrubs. In spite of this growing importance, research on camel was limited until the early seventies to studies on topics such as anatomy, physiology, behaviour and to a lesser extent disease. However, since the early eighties the interest of the research on camels has been growing. Most advances have been made in reproductive physiology, veterinary and in the biochemistry of milk, while practical oriented research on improving camel productivity by developing marketable products targeting small and middle enterprises regrettably received little attention. This book attempts to fill this gap. The authors have profound knowledge on use of the camel as milk and meat animal. This knowledge is based on results of research work carried out in partnership with universities, camel farmers and pastoralists in Eastern African countries. The first part deals with chemical composition, technological properties, hygienic safety and quality control of camel milk. This is followed by the presentation of processing methods for different dairy products which should allow smallholder producers to process milk on farm or in centralised small scale dairy unit. In the second part special knowledge gained in slaughtering, deboning and processing of camels on-site over several years of long-term stays on the Ol Maisor Farm in Kenya is presented. During the development of camel meat products the authors set a great value on the keeping quality of the products as well as creating a wide range of product groups with low and high cost for the local market and a good shelf life. The book presents background information and recipes on the manufacture of camel milk and meat products and it is intended as a practical guide to professionals, government bodies and development agencies interested in building up small scale processing units for camel meat and milk products. It is hoped that it may also serve as a reference for extension personal working with camel herders, food scientists and students. The book is concerned entirely with the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). The term "camel" should, therefore, be taken to refer to this species unless specifically stated otherwise.

The manual details major camel diseases and conditions with the disease signs, its causes, and simple prevention and treatment methods. Both scientific and tried and tested traditional treatments are presented, thus enabling the veterinarian or livestock practitioner to make the most appropriate choice in the prevailing circumstances.

Designed for the mixed practice large animal veterinarian, veterinary students, and camelid caretakers alike, Llama and Alpaca Care covers all major body systems, herd health, physical examination, nutrition, reproduction, surgery, anesthesia, and multisystem diseases of llamas and alpacas. Written by world-renowned camelid specialists and experts in the field, this comprehensive and uniquely global text offers quick access to the most current knowledge in this area. With coverage ranging from basic maintenance such as restraint and handling to more complex topics including anesthesia and surgery, this text provides the full range of knowledge required for the management of llamas and alpacas. "..an essential text for anyone working with South American camelids." Reviewed by Claire E. Whitehead on behalf of Veterinary Record, July 2015 Over 500 full-color images provide detailed, highly illustrated coverage of all major body systems, physical examination, nutrition, anesthesia, fluid therapy, multisystem diseases, and surgical disorders. World-renowned camelid experts and specialists in the field each bring a specific area of expertise for a uniquely global text. Comprehensive herd health content includes handling techniques, vaccinations, biosecurity, and protecting the herd from predators. Coverage of anesthesia and analgesia includes the latest information on pharmacokinetics of anesthetic drugs, chemical restraint, injectable and inhalation anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, and pain management. Reproduction section contains information on breeding management, lactation, infertility, and embryo transfer. Nutrition information offers detailed nutritional requirements and discusses feeding management systems and feeding behavior.

Camel meat has many benefits as a meat product. It has low fat content and is highly nutritious, and has potential to be used to combat hyperacidity, hypertension, pneumonia and respiratory disease. This book reviews up-to-date literature on camel meat and meat products, carcass and meat quality characteristics, muscle structure, post-mortem analysis and the nutritive value to humans. A comparatively small component of global meat consumption, camel meat has the potential to undergo an explosion of production worldwide, and currently farming for camel meat in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Australia is undergoing significant expansion. The potential of camel meat in helping to meet projected world food shortages, and being sustainably farmed, is also explored by the editors.

Why, for many centuries, was the wheel abandoned in the Middle East in favor of the camel as a means of transport? This richly illustrated study explains this anomaly. Drawing on archaeology, art, technology, anthropology, linguistics, and camel husbandry, Bulliet explores the implications for the region's economic and social development during the Middle Ages and into modern times.

THE ONLY SINGLE-SOURCE GUIDE TO THE LATEST SCIENCE, NUTRITION, AND APPLICATIONS OF ALL THE NON-BOVINE MILKS CONSUMED AROUND THE WORLD Featuring contributions by an international team of dairy and nutrition experts, this second edition of the popular Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals provides comprehensive coverage of milk and dairy products derived from all non-bovine dairy species. Milks derived from domesticated dairy species other than the cow are an essential dietary component for many countries around the world. Especially in developing and under-developed countries, milks from secondary dairy species are essential sources of nutrition for the humanity. Due to the unavailability of cow milk and the low consumption of meat, the milks of non-bovine species such as goat, buffalo, sheep, horse, camel, Zebu, Yak, mare and reindeer are critical daily food sources of protein, phosphate and calcium. Furthermore, because of hypoallergenic properties of certain species milk including goats, mare and camel are increasingly recommended as substitutes in diets for those who suffer from cow milk allergies. This book: Discusses key aspects of non-bovine milk production, including raw milk production in various regions worldwide Describes the compositional, nutritional, therapeutic, physio-chemical, and microbiological characteristics of all non-bovine milks Addresses processing technologies as well as various approaches to the distribution and consumption of manufactured milk products Expounds characteristics of non-bovine species milks relative to those of human milk, including nutritional, allergenic, immunological, health and cultural factors. Features six new chapters, including one focusing on the use of non-bovine species milk components in the manufacture of infant formula products Thoroughly updated and revised to reflect the many advances that have occurred in the dairy industry since the publication of the acclaimed first edition, Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals, 2nd Edition is an essential reference for dairy scientists, nutritionists, food chemists, animal scientists, allergy specialists, health professionals, and allied professionals.

This successful book, now in its third edition, continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the role of epidemiology in veterinary medicine. Since the publication of the second edition there has been considerable expansion in the application of veterinary epidemiology: more quantitative methods are available, challenges such as the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe in 2001 have required epidemiological investigation, and epidemiological analyses have taken on further importance with the emergence of evidence-based veterinary medicine. In this edition: Completely revised and expanded chapters; Increased attention given to the principles and concepts of epidemiology, surveillance, and diagnostic-test validation and performance; Many examples are drawn from both large and small animal medicine, and from the developing as well as the developed world This paperback edition includes a new section on risk analysis. Veterinary Epidemiology is an invaluable reference source for veterinary general practitioners, government veterinarians, agricultural economists and members of other disciplines interested in animal disease. It will also be essential reading for undergraduate and intermediate-level postgraduate students of epidemiology.