The Flourishing Camel Milk Market and Concerns about Animal Welfare and Legislation

Simple SummaryUntil the beginning of this century, dromedaries were mainly utilized as multi-purpose animals, suitable for various activities like transport and production of meat, milk, and wool. In recent decades, however, the production of dromedary milk has increased constantly, not only as staple food in marginal eco-agricultural desert regions of the Global South but also in the Global North, due to presumed health benefits. The enlarged number of dromedaries kept in dromedary dairies has changed the susceptibility of these dromedaries to diseases. Nutrition and social behaviour have also changed as a result. In addition to these influences on animal welfare, the gene composition changes. Protocols for checking animal safety monitor overall animal welfare. Gene banks are going to prevent inbreeding and unwanted gene change. Governments are working on improved regulation concerning the food safety of dromedary milk and on drawing up legislation to ensure the well-being of dromedaries. However, this legislation is still in a preliminary phase requiring sound scientific support to identify and correct illegalities and other imperfections well in advance. The worldwide dromedary milk production has increased sharply since the beginning of this century due to prolonged shelf life, improved food-safety and perceived health benefits. Scientific confirmation of health claims will expand the market of dromedary milk further. As a result, more and more dromedaries will be bred for one purpose only: the highest possible milk production. However, intensive dromedary farming systems have consequences for animal welfare and may lead to genetic changes. Tighter regulations will be implemented to restrict commercialization of raw milk. Protocols controlling welfare of dromedaries and gene databases of milk-dromedaries will prevent negative consequences of intensive farming. In countries where dromedaries have only recently been introduced as production animal, legislators have limited expertise on this species. This is exemplified by an assessment on behalf of the Dutch government, recommending prohibiting keeping this species from 2024 onwards because the dromedary was deemed to be insufficiently domesticated. Implementation of this recommendation in Dutch law would have devastating effects on existing dromedary farms and could also pave the way for adopting similar measures in other European countries. In this paper it is shown that the Dutch assessment lacks scientific rigor. Awareness of breeders and legislators for the increasing knowledge about dromedaries and their products would strengthen the position of dromedaries as one of the most adapted and sustainable animals.