Editing Camel (section)

===Food uses===
Camel meat and milk are foods that are found in many cuisines, typically in [[Middle Eastern cuisine|Middle Eastern]], [[North African cuisine|North African]] and some [[Australian cuisine]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.windyhills.com.au/wild-camel/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822210603/http://windyhills.com.au/wild-camel/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 22, 2016 | title=Wild Camel – Windy Hills }}</ref><ref name="Burin2015"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/are-there-camels-in-australia | title=Australia's Growing Camel Meat Trade Reveals a Hidden History of Early Muslim Migrants | date=16 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.samex.com.au/our-products/camel/ | title=SAMEX : Australian Meat Exporters }}</ref> Camels provide food in the form of meat and milk.<ref>Tariq, M., Rabia, R., Jamil, A., Sakhwat, A., Aadil, A., & Muhammad S., 2010. Minerals and Nutritional Composition of Camel (Camelus Dromedarius) Meat in Pakistan. Journal- Chemical Society of Pakistan, Vol 33(6).</ref>

====Dairy====
{{Main|Camel milk}}
[[File:Khan al-Lajjun.jpg|right|thumb|Camels at the Khan and old bridge, [[Lajjun]], [[Ottoman Syria]] (now in [[Israel]]) - 1870s drawing]]
[[File:Camelcalf-feeding.jpg|right|thumb|A camel calf nursing on [[camel milk]]]]

Camel milk is a [[staple food]] of desert nomad tribes and is sometimes considered a meal itself; a nomad can live on only camel milk for almost a month.<ref name=sandiegozoo /><ref name=davidson06 /><ref name=bulliet75>{{cite book | publisher = Columbia University Press | isbn = 9780231072359 | last = Bulliet | first = Richard W. | title = The Camel and the Wheel | url = https://archive.org/details/camelwheel0000bull | url-access = registration | year = 1975 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/camelwheel0000bull/page/23 23], 25, 28, 35–36, 38–40}}</ref><ref name=fao12>{{cite web| publisher = FAO's Animal Production and Health Division| title = Camel Milk| work = Milk & Dairy Products| access-date = 6 December 2012| date = 25 September 2012| url = http://www.fao.org/AG/AGAInfo/themes/en/dairy/camel.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121101015011/http://www.fao.org/AG/AGAInfo/themes/en/dairy/camel.html| archive-date = 1 November 2012}}</ref>

Camel milk can readily be made into [[yogurt]], but can only be made into [[butter]] if it is soured first, churned, and a [[clarifying agent]] is then added.<ref name=sandiegozoo /> Until recently, camel milk could not be made into [[camel milk|camel cheese]] because [[rennet]] was unable to coagulate the milk proteins to allow the collection of [[curd]]s.<ref name="ramet-making">{{cite book|title=Camel milk and cheese making|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0755E/t0755e02.htm|last=Ramet|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624013724/http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/t0755e/t0755e02.htm|archive-date=2012-06-24}}</ref> Developing less wasteful uses of the milk, the [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]] commissioned Professor J.P. Ramet of the [[École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires]], who was able to produce curdling by the addition of [[calcium phosphate]] and vegetable rennet in the 1990s.<ref name=fao06>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/highlights/2001/010701-e.htm|title=Fresh from your local drome'dairy'?|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization|date=6 July 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126122946/http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/highlights/2001/010701-e.htm|archive-date=26 January 2012}}</ref> The cheese produced from this process has low levels of cholesterol and is easy to digest, even for the lactose intolerant.<ref name="ramet-processing">{{cite book|title=Methods of processing camel milk into cheese|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0755E/t0755e04.htm|last=Ramet|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624013729/http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/t0755e/t0755e04.htm|archive-date=2012-06-24}}</ref><ref name=young>{{cite web| last = Young| first = Philippa| title = In Mongolian the Word 'Gobi' Means 'Desert'| access-date = 6 December 2012| url = http://philippayoung.com/?tag=camelcheese&page=2| quote = As evening approaches we are offered camel meat boats, dumplings stuffed with a finely chopped mixture of meat and vegetables, followed by camel milk tea and finally, warm fresh camel's milk to aid digestion and help us sleep.| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130303111456/http://philippayoung.com/?tag=camelcheese&page=2| archive-date = 3 March 2013}}</ref>

Camel milk can also be made into [[ice cream]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15589766 |title=Netherlands' 'crazy' camel farmer |publisher=BBC |date=5 November 2011 |access-date=7 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106232703/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15589766 |archive-date=6 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/al-ain-dairy-launches-camel-milk-ice-cream-1.637218|title=Al Ain Dairy launches camel-milk ice cream|website=The National|date=26 March 2015|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>

====Meat====
{{anchor|Camel meat}}
[[File:Somalicamelmeat.jpg|thumb|A [[Somali people|Somali]] camel meat and rice dish]]
[[File:Cholistani Camel Meat Pulao.JPG|thumb|Camel meat [[Pilaf|pulao]], from Pakistan]]
Approximately 3.3 million camels and camelids are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL|title=FAOSTAT|website=www.fao.org|access-date=2019-10-25}}</ref> A camel carcass can provide a substantial amount of meat. The male dromedary carcass can weigh {{convert|300|–|400|kg|lb|0|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}, while the carcass of a male Bactrian can weigh up to {{convert|650|kg|lb|0|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}. The carcass of a female dromedary weighs less than the male, ranging between {{convert|250|and|350|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=mukasa81 /> The brisket, ribs and loin are among the preferred parts, and the hump is considered a delicacy.<ref name="yagil-camelother">{{cite book|title=Camels Products Other Than Milk|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X6528E/X6528E06.htm|last=Yagil|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220185807/http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6528E/X6528E06.htm|archive-date=2011-02-20}}</ref> The hump contains "white and sickly fat", which can be used to make the ''khli'' (preserved meat) of mutton, beef, or camel.<ref name=madame03>{{cite book|title=Traditional Moroccan Cooking: Recipes from Fez|author=Madame Guinaudeau|publisher=Serif|location=London|year=2003|isbn=978-1-897959-43-5}}</ref> On the other hand, camel milk and meat are rich in protein, vitamins, glycogen, and other nutrients making them essential in the diet of many people. From chemical composition to meat quality, the dromedary camel is the preferred breed for meat production. It does well even in arid areas due to its unusual physiological behaviors and characteristics, which include tolerance to extreme temperatures, radiation from the sun, water paucity, rugged landscape and low vegetation.<ref>Aleme, A., D., 2013. A Review of Camel Meat as a Precious Source of Nutrition in some part of Ethiopia. Agricultural Science, Engineering and Technology Research. Vol. 1, No. 4, December 2013, PP: 40–43. Available online at {{cite web|url=http://asetr.org/ |title=Agricultural Science, Engineering and Technology Research |access-date=2016-12-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203133425/http://asetr.org/ |archive-date=2016-12-03}}.</ref> Camel meat is reported to taste like coarse beef, but older camels can prove to be very tough,<ref name=camello /><ref name=mukasa81 /> although camel meat becomes tenderer the more it is cooked.<ref name=rubenstein10>{{cite news| last = Rubenstein| first = Dustin| title = How to Cook Camel| newspaper = The New York Times| access-date = 7 December 2012| date = 23 July 2010| url = http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/how-to-cook-camel/| quote = He cut the pieces very small and cooked them for a long time. I decided to try something a bit different the following night and cut the pieces a bit bigger and cooked them for less time, as I like my meat rarer than he does. This was a bad idea. It seems that the more you cook camel, the more tender it becomes. So we had what amounted to two pounds or more of rubber for dinner that night.| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019192428/http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/how-to-cook-camel/| archive-date = 19 October 2012}}</ref>

Camel is one of the animals that can be ritually slaughtered and divided into three portions (one for the home, one for extended family/social networks, and one for those who cannot afford to slaughter an animal themselves) for the [[Qurban (Islamic ritual sacrifice)|qurban]] of [[Eid al-Adha]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-01 |title=Eid al-Adha: More than just slaughtering animals |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/feature/2017/09/01/eid-al-adha-more-than-just-slaughtering-animals |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Daily Sabah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Qurbani Meat Distribution Rules |url=https://www.muslimaid.org/what-we-do/religious-dues/qurbani/qurbani-rules/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Muslim Aid |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Abu Dhabi]] Officers' Club serves a camel burger mixed with beef or lamb fat in order to improve the texture and taste.<ref name="arthur12">{{cite news| last = Arthur| first = Rick| title = The Instant Expert: camels, the ships of the desert| newspaper = The National| date = 4 January 2012 | location=UAE|publisher=Abu Dhabi Media|quote=As the meat can be dry, however, the Abu Dhabi Officer's Club, for one, serves camel burger with beef or lamb fat mixed in, improving texture and taste.}}</ref> In [[Karachi, Pakistan]], some restaurants prepare [[nihari]] from camel meat.<ref name="jasra00">{{cite book| publisher = The Camel Applied Research and Development Network| last1 = Jasra| first1 = Abdel Wahid| first2 = G. B.| last2 = Isani| author3 = Camel Applied Research and Development Network| title = Socio-economics of camel herders in Pakistan| year = 2000| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aRRJAAAAYAAJ&q=nihari+camel+pakistan| page = 164| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160610122525/https://books.google.com/books?id=aRRJAAAAYAAJ&q=nihari+camel+pakistan&dq=nihari+camel+pakistan| archive-date = 2016-06-10}}</ref> Specialist camel butchers provide expert cuts, with the hump considered the most popular.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/apr/16/camel-meat-one-hump-two Anyone for camel meat? One hump or two?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126234058/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/apr/16/camel-meat-one-hump-two |date=2017-01-26 }}[[The Guardian]], Word of Mouth</ref>

Camel meat has been eaten for centuries. It has been recorded by [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] writers as an available dish at banquets in ancient [[Persia]], usually roasted whole.<ref name=sherwood12 /> The [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] emperor [[Elagabalus|Heliogabalus]] enjoyed camel's heel.<ref name=davidson06>{{cite book| edition = 2nd| publisher = Oxford University Press, US| isbn = 978-0192806819| last1 = Davidson| first1 = Alan| first2 = Jane|last2= Davidson| editor-first = Tom |editor-last = Jaine| title = The Oxford Companion to Food| date = 15 October 2006 | pages=68, 129, 266, 762}}</ref> Camel meat is mainly eaten in certain regions, including [[Eritrea]], [[Somalia]], [[Djibouti]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Egypt]], [[Syria]], [[Libya]], [[Sudan]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kazakhstan]], and other arid regions where alternative forms of protein may be limited or where camel meat has had a long cultural history.<ref name=mukasa81 /><ref name=davidson06 /><ref name="yagil-camelother" /> Camel blood is also consumable, as is the case among pastoralists in northern [[Kenya]], where camel blood is drunk with milk and acts as a key source of [[iron]], [[vitamin D]], salts and minerals.<ref name=mukasa81 /><ref name="yagil-camelother" /><ref name=cnn10>{{cite news| last = Webster| first = George| title = Dubai diners flock to eat new 'camel burger'| work = CNN World| access-date = 7 December 2012| date = 9 February 2010| url = http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/02/09/camel.burgers.dubai/index.html| publisher = CNN| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130929093119/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/02/09/camel.burgers.dubai/index.html| archive-date = 29 September 2013}}</ref>

A 2005 report issued jointly by the Saudi [[Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia)|Ministry of Health]] and the United States [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] details four cases of human [[bubonic plague]] resulting from the ingestion of raw camel liver.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Abdulaziz A. |last1=Bin Saeed |first2=Nasser A. |last2=Al-Hamdan |first3=Robert E. |last3=Fontaine |title=Plague from eating raw camel liver|pmid=16229781 |year=2005 |pages=1456–7 |issue=9 |volume=11 |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |pmc=3310619 |doi=10.3201/eid1109.050081}}</ref>

Camel meat is also occasionally found in [[Australian cuisine]]: for example, a camel [[lasagna]] is available in [[Alice Springs]].<ref name=sherwood12>{{cite news| last = Sherwood| first = Andy| title = Camel burgers in Abu Dhabi| work = Time Out Abu Dhabi| access-date = 7 December 2012| date = 17 September 2012| url = http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/restaurants/features/35060-camel-burgers-in-abu-dhabi/page/2#.UMIy67ZjyFA| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927194204/http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/restaurants/features/35060-camel-burgers-in-abu-dhabi/page/2#.UMIy67ZjyFA| archive-date = 27 September 2013}}</ref><ref name=cnn10 /> Australia has exported camel meat, primarily to the [[Middle East]] but also to Europe and the US, for many years.<ref>{{cite web | last=McBride | first=Louise | title=SA hits world camel meat supply hump | website=Stock Journal | date=14 June 2010 | url=http://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/3652303/sa-hits-world-camel-meat-supply-hump/ | access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> The meat is very popular among [[African Australians|East African Australians]], such as [[Somalis]], and other Australians have also been buying it. The feral nature of the animals means they produce a different type of meat to farmed camels in other parts of the world,<ref name="Burin2015">{{cite news | last=Burin | first=Margaret | title=Australians urged to develop taste for camel meat | website=ABC News | date=7 August 2015 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-07/camel-meat-halal-butcher-sold-here/6663716 | access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> and it is sought after because it is disease-free, and a unique genetic group. Demand is outstripping supply, and governments are being urged not to cull the camels, but redirect the cost of the cull into developing the market. Australia has seven camel dairies, which produce milk, cheese and skincare products in addition to meat.<ref name=landline>{{cite news | first=Halina |last=Bazckowski | title=The beasts that beat the drought: Camels sought after for meat, milk and cheese | website=ABC News | date=22 March 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-22/camel-meat-and-dairy-sought-after-internationally/12070310 | access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>