Abstract
The quantity and the quality of milk produced by a group of nine camels in arid pasture in the Medenine region was recorded, collected and analyzed every 15 days throughout one complete lactation period. The camels received 4 kg of concentrate feed/day/head composed of barely (50%), wheat bran (45%) and mineral vitamin supplement (5%). The total dry extract, protein level, mineral salt and fat levels were assayed according to reference analytical methods. The total quantity of milk produced was estimated from the two quarters in the morning after 14 h separation from the calf. The milk production averaged 3.9 1/d and varied with the stage of lactation. The maximum level was observed at 3.5 months of lactation. The average composition (g/l) of the milk was: fat 20.2; protein 21.9; lactose 41.3; ash 8.3; total solids 106.6 and solids-not-fat 86.4. The average pH was 6.53 and titratable acidity was 17.78 (degreesD). The density averaged 1,031. Except the ash content, other constituents were low in summer.