Rendille Camel

Camelus dromedarius

A medium-sized ecotype kept by the Rendille pastoralist community of Marsabit County in northern Kenya, typically cream or brown-coated with a live weight of roughly 300-550 kg and standing about 1.8 metres tall.

Species: Camelid
Family: Camelidae
Climate requirements: Well adapted to poor pasture and rough, rocky terrain in the arid zones around Marsabit, tolerating drought conditions that are lethal to cattle and small stock.

Husbandry

Care & Economics

Husbandry guide: Milk yield averages around 1-3 litres per day (commonly cited near 2.5 L), with a lactation period of 12-18 months, lower than the Somali camel but sustained reliably on sparse browse. Age at first calving averages about 63 months with a mean calving interval near 27 months. Herds are moved seasonally in search of browse and water, with young stock and lactating females often kept closer to settlements while dry animals range further. Camels provide milk and, on occasion, blood as dietary staples, alongside their role as pack and transport animals during migration.
Economic importance: Central to Rendille subsistence, camels supply milk, blood and transport, and function as a drought-resilient store of wealth that buffers households when cattle and shoat herds collapse during dry spells.

Genetics

Breeds

No breeds recorded yet.

Animal health

Diseases

No diseases recorded yet.

Nutrition

Feeds

No feeds recorded yet.

Veterinary

Drugs & Medication

No drugs recorded yet.

Value chain

Products from this Animal

No derived products recorded yet.

Trade

Marketplace

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