22 June is World Camel Day. So, it’s the perfect time to feature some of the actions taken at the Camelicious farm to protect the camels and ensure they are happy and healthy.

The Camelicious farm in Dubai spans 15 square kilometers and in 2020 the camel herd numbered about 10,000 camels. The farm and dairy has about 740 staff and is a state-of-the-art facility using the latest technology to ensure the highest quality camel milk is produced. More than 5,000,000 liters of milk is produced annually while protecting the camels that provide that milk.

Operations at the Camelicious farm and dairy started in 2006. From the very first day of operations, the health and welfare of the camel herd has been the top priority of the management and staff.

Camelicious developed and implemented a herd management system. The aim of the herd management system is to have healthy camels who live a long life. The herd management system consists of 3 parts: general and reproductive health, and welfare of the camels.

Giving the camels as natural a living environment as possible is a top priority. The camels are grass-fed, and their feed is regularly tested to ensure it is free of herbicides and pesticides.

Exercise facilities are provided for the camels because they are usually free roaming animals who can travel many miles in a day. After the morning milking, all mothers and calves go for a walk around the walking track for at least one hour.

A team of veterinarians ensure the optimum health of the camel herd. The camels are regularly washed to prevent tics and skin issues. Blood samples are regularly taken from the camels to ensure they are healthy, and medical intervention is provided, when needed.

Unlike dairy cattle, the camel carves are not weaned from their mothers. This is done to ensure the emotional bond between mother and calf is maintained. Camels have the opportunity to communicate with each other via sounds and touching. They can also smell each other, which is important.

Pregnant camels are closely supervised to ensure they continue to be healthy. When a camel is due to deliver her calf, the mother is brought into a special unit where 24-hour supervision is provided. In very rare cases, a camel can experience issues during the delivery, so a veterinarian and staff are available to help ensure a safe and successful birth.

These are just some of the actions taken to protect the camels at Camelicious.

The management team at Camelicious fully recognizes that providing top quality camel milk can only happen when the camel herd receives top quality care.