A review on body weight and draught power in camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Indian camels are mainly used for draught power in cultivation, transportation and other agricultural operations since its domestication and utilisation in India. It has always been a point of research and investigation whether the draught is associated with body weight and size. It is well known that draught power potential is a breed-associated characteristic. With in a given breed it has a direct relation with body weight through muscular strength of animals. The breeding programs for draught camels should be directed towards increasing growth rate, fertility and reproductive efficiency while maintaining milk and meat yield. The present review describes the result of studies on birth weight, adult body weight and the draught power. In the review it has been concluded that draught power is directly associated with adult body weight and the camels in India with average body weight of around 510 kg has got a work potential of 2.25 MJ per hour from an average of 485 Newton force equivalent to 0.84 British Horse Power.