Study on camel calf mortality in South Morocco : Retrospective survey

Abstract

Between January and August 1999 a retrospective survey was conducted in the provinces of Oued Eddahab, Laayoune, Guelmim, Tata, Essaouira, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Errachidia and Figuig on 252 camel herds, i.e. 15% of the counted populations in these areas. Calf perinatal mortality remains a major constraint to development of camel husbandry with on average 20.2% deaths (16.4% in 1996 and 22.9% in 1997). In more than 80% cases death occurred between 0 and 6 months of age. Main mortality causes reported by breeders were diarrhea (72%), then far behind feed insufficiency (9%), stillbirth (6%) and abscesses (5%), with wide variations among provinces. Herd typology helped identify four classes based on health status and five based on livestock practices. Strong correlations between camel calf mortality and some adult camel diseases, notably the respiratory syndrome, camel pox, mange-moth and other diseases, were observed. Because management modes were very similar, correlations between mortality and breeding practices, which probably played a major role, could not be highlighted.