Following on from my picture of Camels the other day a fellow alpaca breeder sent me this article about how in Mauritania they are milking camels.

Camels only release their milk when their young are present
"They tolerate humans in exchange for food, but they can control whether they let down their milk or not." says Mrs Abeiderrahmane.

But these temperamental animals are becoming a cornerstone of the local economy in Mauritania, thanks to a project that English-born Mrs Abeiderrahmane has set up to pasteurise and market their milk.

Camels used to be milked next to the road "on demand", with the risk of spreading disease in a desert country where temperatures soar as high as 50 C.

Although this is a long-established tradition, in the sweltering heat the milk quickly went off and was wasted.
Unlike cows, female camels need their young around them if they are to give a steady supply of milk.
So every mother camel wears a sort of bra to prevent the baby feeding whenever it wants.
Herds usually consist of about 100 female camels and each produces about 10 litres a day.
The semi-nomadic herdsmen bring the camel milk to one of the collection points that have been set up close to where they graze their camels.
Demand has grown over the years because we deliver it to thousands of corner shops and it has caught on as a refreshing and convenient drink with the public

The milk is measured and tested for cleanliness and quality, and the herdsmen receive an agreed amount per litre.

"Herdsmen now have a steady source of income throughout the year. They don't feel the financial necessity to move into town."

But it is in the capital, Nouakchott, that the milk is pasteurised and packaged.

It is brought to a state-of-the art aluminium factory by tankers, and in the course of a few hours is turned into a tetra-packed modern product.

Adrian Stewart