Performance of camel calves in Kenya fed on milk substitute formulated from locally available feed ingredients

Abstract

Poor nutrition is one of the biggest problems in raising camel calves in Kenya. A study was conducted in Marsabit County among rendille camel keeping community with a view to improve camel calf perfonnance through improved nutrition. The study had four specific objectives; 1) To evaluate existing indigenous knowledge and practices on camel milk substitutes in rearing camel calves 2) To determine the proximate composition of common locally available feed resources used as substitutes to camel milk 3) To evaluate the effects of feeding a commercial (CMS) and plant-based locally formulated milk substitute (PBMS) and 4) To compute the cost /benefit analysis of feeding commercial and a calf milk substitute formulated from locally available feed resources. Key infonnant questionnaires (KI) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to collect data for evaluation of existing knowledge and practices on camel milk substitutes. Data was analysed using the SPSS (Version, 2019). Proximate composition, fibre and tannins data were analysed using ANOVA by the GLM procedures of SAS. Data on evaluation of effects of feeding CMS and PBMS, Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI) were collected and analysed using SAS. Economic costs and gains for feeding the milk substitutes were computed in a Cost Benefit Analysis whereby, Net Present Values were calculated. The results showed that mortality rates were 35.2 and 4.3% in pastoral and peri- urban system, respectively. Diseases, drought, predation, parasites and competition for milk were the five major causes of calf mortality and retarded growth. Pastoralists use locally available feed resources such as forages, animal fats, camel blood and maize meal as substitute to milk feeding. Crude Protein, Dry Matter and Metabolizable Energy were highly variable, with significant (P<0.05) differences among the local feed resources used by camel keepers. Calves on CMS and PBMS had a higher ADG, 0.7614 Kg and 0.5663 Kg respectively compared to calves on pastoral management regime at 0.4537 Kg. It was more economical to feed calves using PBMS (5) compared to CMS (3) or pastoral feeding regime (3). It was concluded that pastoralists supplement calves with plants, animal fats and camel blood at times of feed deficit. Local feed resources have a great potential as ingredients for fonnulation of camel calves’ plant-based milk substitute. Use of PBMS would contribute to improved calf performance and economic empowerment of the pastoral communities.