Effect of nongenetic factors on milk compositional aspects and bacteriological quality in Tunisian Maghrebi dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) reared under a traditional pastoral management system
From Firenze University Press Journal: Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID)
Zahran Khaldi
Department of Animal Production, Regional Center for Research in Oasis Agriculture, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Carthage
Mounir Nafti
Department of Animal Production, Regional Center for Research in Oasis Agriculture, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Carthage
Mohamed Tabarek Jilani
Regional Public Health Laboratory of Tozeur, Ministry of Public Health, Bled El hadar
The dromedary is of particular interest in the Saharan regionsbecause its breeding is possible in environments where the production of other animal species would be uncertain. It adapts better to desert climates and restrictive conditions because it canbetter value food resources characterized by their low availability and limited nutritional value. The camel is the most suitable animal anatomicallyand physiologically adapted to a harsh and painful drought environment, thus exhibiting a high production capacity during prolonged hot and dry periods(Al Haj & Al Kanhal, 2010).In recent years, the desertification phenomenon is still increasing in Tunisia because of climate change causing degradation of soils and pastoral ranges, which severely impedes the development of breeding other species (sheep and goats). Because of this adaptation, the camel is an ideal means of valuing the desert areas and may contribute significantly to the economic and social improvement of the living conditions of the region’s population and can contribute to the strengthening of food security through productsenhancement. The camel is esteemed for its milk production recommended as functional food, hair, leather, and basically tasty diet meat. Given this state, raising camels is an excellent alternative for enhancing arid regions despite the meager fodder resources and very hostile eco-climatic conditions.The population of Maghreb camels in Tunisia is estimated to be 100,000 animals (Chamekhet al., 2020). Animals are raised mainly within two management systems in the south of the country, a traditional pastoral system and a semi-intensive system created in response to the decline of pasture (Fguiri et al.,2018). Camels were traditionally used for meat production (Chamekh et al.,2020) and a substantial milking intended for local consumption (Ayadi et al.,2009). Over recent decades, in the oasis regions, a camel milk sector for marketing and human consumption has emerged throughout Tunisia.Becauseofthe rising market demand (Chamekh et al.,2020) and the potential health-promoting properties (Al Haj & Al Kanhal, 2010), camel milk have been given much attention and many studieson milk quantity and qualityhave been published in the world (Ahmed et al.,2012; Abdalla et al.,2015; Nagy et al.,2017; Ismaili et al.,2019; Karaman et al.,2021) and in Tunisia (Jemmali et al.,2016; Ayadi et al.,2018; Fguiri et al.,2018; Chamekh et al.,2020). Medium to large-scale variability in camel’s milk Characteristics and quality aspects havebeen found in the literatureshowing that the main factors of variation weregenetics(Aljumaahet al.,2012; Nagyet al.,2017), age (Al-Jubooriet al., 2013; Abdalla et al., 2015;Singh et al., 2017), stage of lactation(Konuspayevaet al., 2010; Musaadet al., 2013), parity (Ahmed et al., 2012; Musaadet al., 2013; Chamekhet al., 2020), season(Abdalla et al., 2015; Nagy et al., 2017),calf sex (Nagy et al., 2017), geographical origin(Shuiepet al., 2008; Adugnaet al., 2013), production system (Babiker & El-Zubeir,2014; Aljumaahet al., 2012; Musaadet al., 2013; Ayadiet al., 2018), feed composition (Al-Saiadyet al., 2012;Faye et al., 2013), milking practices (Ayadiet al., 2009; Jemmaliet al., 2016) and health status (Konuspayevaet al., 2009;Pak et al., 2019).In Tunisia, there is informationpaucity on the physicochemical composition and microbial quality of milk (Chamekhet al., 2020). Such literature work is extremely limited for camels raised in western oasis areas. The insufficient literature available on the dairy characteristics of camel milk refers only to the Maghrebi herds raised in the eastern region of Tunisia. In addition, most data are based on observations of particular research stations and rarely based on pastoral areas. However, there is much less information on physical characteristics, chemical composition, mineral content, bacteriological quality, the prevalence of pathogenic germs, and their variation according to genetics and environmental factors. Therefore, research into milk characteristics is needed to better characterize and provide critical information for the development of effective management plans to improve these genetic resources.Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of some non-genetic factors on the quality of milk from local Maghrebi camels under a traditional pastoral management system.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-13822
Read Full Text: https://www.jaeid.it/index.php/jaeid/article/view/13822
