Comparison of Camels with Cattle and Horses

Comparison of camels with cattle and horses (450kg)

Camels

Cattle

Horses

Classification

‘psuedoruminant’- emasculated fore stomach, similar biochemical pathways to ruminants

Ruminant

Monogastric

Feed intake (DM)(%  450 kg bodyweight)

1.5 %

2 – 3%

2 – 2.5%

Blood glucose levels(mg/liter)

130

63

90

Maintenance requirements(MJ ME/day)

37 MJ ME/day

52 MJ ME /day

48 MJ DE/day.

(38 MJ ME/day)

Muscle fibers

Predominantly Type 1 (slow twitch)

Type 1 (slow twitch)

Predominantly Type II (fast twitch)

Protein requirement for maintenance(g DCP/day)

300g/day

or 4% of diet

600 g/day

VO2max

55-65

55-60

140-190

Energy cost locomotionml O2/kg/22km/hr

85

160

% free fatty acid in daily diet

3% FFA

3% FFA

10-12%