The flourishing camel milk market and concerns about animal welfare and legislation

Smits Marcel, Joosten Han, Faye Bernard, Burger Pamela A.. 2023. The flourishing camel milk market and concerns about animal welfare and legislation. Animals, 13 (1):47, 16 p.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010047

Article de revue ; Article de synthèse ; Article de revue à facteur d'impact Revue en libre accès total

Prévisualisation

Version publiée - Anglais
Sous licence

.
animals-13-00047.pdf
Télécharger (1MB) | Prévisualisation

Résumé : 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.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : production laitière, système d'élevage, législation, législation alimentaire, marché des produits de base, santé animale, bien-être animal, dromadaire

Mots-clés complémentaires : Élevage laitier

Mots-clés libres : Dromedary camel, Genetic diversity, Domestication, Sustainable animal breeding, Hobby animal

Classification Agris : L01 - Élevage - Considérations générales
L70 - Sciences et hygiène vétérinaires - Considérations générales
L10 - Génétique et amélioration des animaux

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 3 (2019-) - Systèmes alimentaires

Agences de financement hors UE : American Austrian Foundation

Auteurs et affiliations