Study of Production Parameters in Extensive kept Marecha Dromedary Camel at Desert Thal

This study was planned with the aim to investigate different production parameters of Marecha dromedary calves along with different management practices under extensive management system (EMS). About 100 camel herders were selected from Tahsil Mankera District Bhakkar (Desert Thal) for this study. The camel calves with their dams were kept under EMS for this study. The birth weight was taken at the birth by the use of digital scale, then weaning weights while growth rate was measured by taking the measurements at fortnight intervals. The Average Daily Gain (ADG) was calculated by the current weight-previous weight/15. Calves in the EMS in addition of suckling their respective dams received supplementation diets (grains and household refusals). Water was provided adlib twice a day. Calves were dewormed against parasites while fortnightly spraying was done against the external parasites. The birth weight and range were observed as 37.96±0.55, 32.39±0.22 and 35-50, 30-35 kg, respectively for male and female calves. The weaning weight and range were found as 254.13±6.76, 214.7±5.10 and 180-350, 173-239 kg, respectively while growth rate and range were 0.54±0.08, 0.46±0.01 and 0.4-0.7, 0.4-0.57 kg, respectively for male and female calves. Colostrum feeding was only observed in 14% calves as there was a taboo of calves being not fed until their dams have not passed the placenta. 100% calves were allowed to feed two teats of their dams for suckling while in 90% cases the time of suckling was restricted. Age of weaning was 7-12 months in 32% while 12-16 months in 68% calves. Only 12% people were found to practice deworming while calf mortality was observed in 24% cases and that is a major issue found in camel production under EMS.