A Review on Dromedary Camel Milk Products and Their Uses

Abstract

This paper reviewed researches on dromedary camel milk products and their uses. Milk from the lactating camel must provide nourishment for her young calf as well as for human, not a great deal will be left for milk products. Moreover, the composition of camel milk does not allow for making some of the accepted products that are made from cow, sheep and goat milk. Nevertheless, milk products are made from camel milk, and the milk itself is used for purposes other than simply nutrition. Camel products have various names in various parts of the world. In the Caucasus it is called kefir; in Armenia, matzoon; in India, dahdi; in Sardinia, gioddu; in Bulgaria, yoghurt; in Ethiopia, Dhanaan and in Syria, Israel and Egypt, lehben. Some authors describe butter being made from camel milk. While others categorically state that butter cannot be made from camel milk. The preparation of butter from camel milk is not as easy as from milk of other animals owing to its unique milk-fat properties. Soft cheese can be made from camel milk. Camel milk and their product are used therapeutically against dropsy, Jaundice, problems of the spleen, tuberculosis, asthma, anaemia, and piles. In Ethiopia camel milk is considered as having aphrodisiac powers. In Somalia, among the pastoral tribes, it is believed that milk drunk on the night when the camels first drink water, following a long period of thirst, has magical powers. I suggest that consumption of camel milk and their products may have remedial effects for many different life-style related diseases.