Abstrait

Mauritanias experience in the commercialization and valorization of camel milk production

Mohamed Ould Ahmed

 Mauritania, with its geographical position, is a Sahelian country whose climatic and socio-economic conditions make it a dromedary breeding country par excellence. The camelin population is estimated at 1.4 million heads for a population close to 3 million inhabitants. Dromedaries play an important role in the Mauritanian economy through their supply of meat and milk, transport and other services. With the urbanization and the population growth in the country are accompanied by an increase in demand for milk and dairy products. In recent years, we have seen the growth of camelin breeding near large cities and urban centers. This developed peri-urban camelin system is for the promotion of milk which is highly prized by Mauritanians. During the night, consumers go to the outlets to buy fresh camel milk sold on site. These points of sale are easily identifiable and are generally located on the roads of urban centers. In big cities such as Nouakchott and its periphery, there is a large estimated number of 2000 to 2,500 head of dromedaries, particularly for dairy production. In dromedaries, two milking per day are practiced after stimulation of the camel by the camel. The daily production is of the order of 8 to 10 liters at the rate of 4 to 5 liters / milking. Dairy females raised in these urban centers are selected and selected from the best dairy in pastoral areas.