Availability of camel milk and feasibility of product development

A survey of camel rearing village Gadhwala (Bikaner, Rajasthan) revealed that out of the total 348 camels 183 and 38, were nonlactating and lactating camels, respectively. According to their economic status and rearing facilities the number of camel per house varied. The total availability of camel milk at the village was noted to be 210 1/day with the average yield of 5 1/day/camel. Selling of the camel milk was not found to be a common practice among the subjects. It was mostly found to be utilised by them either as fresh raw/boiled milk or in tea due to its availability and acceptable taste. Palatable household camel milk products like ice crams, paneer, khoa, kheer and rabari were developed and standardised in the laboratory using cow milk as a control. Results indicated great potential of camel milk in the field of product development for economic and nutrition security.