Camel Feeding Guide for Indian Camel Owners

By Vrap · Published Mon May 18 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) · Updated Mon May 18 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Why camel feeding is different from cattle feeding

A camel is not just a big cow. It is built for the desert. Camels can live and work in conditions that would kill a cow or buffalo. This means the way you feed a camel is also different.

Camels in India are mainly found in Rajasthan (Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali) and Kutch in Gujarat. The most common breeds are Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Mewari, Kachchhi, and Marwari. All Indian camels are dromedaries (single-hump camels).

This guide tells you, in simple language, how much to feed your camel, what to give it, and what to avoid.

The main difference: camels eat less but can eat anything

A camel of 500 kg eats only 25 to 30 kg of green food per day. A cow of the same weight eats more — about 30 to 40 kg of green fodder. But camels make better use of what they eat.

This is the key fact: a camel can eat poor-quality food and still live well. A cow on the same food would lose weight and stop giving milk.

What camels naturally eat in India

Camels are browsers. This means they prefer leaves and branches from trees and bushes rather than grass on the ground. The most common plants Indian camels eat:

Free-grazing in rangeland gives a camel most of what it needs. But when grazing is poor, or the camel is working hard, or the female is producing milk, you need to add extra feed.

Simple daily ration for a 500 kg adult camel

This is a basic daily ration for a normal adult camel, not giving milk, not doing heavy work:

For a working camel (pulling cart, riding) add 1–2 kg of concentrate per day.

For a milking female camel, see the section below.

Feeding a milking female camel

Female camels (called she-camels or "untini") produce milk for 12–18 months after calving. Indian camel milk is now sold at premium prices (₹100–300 per litre) because:

• High in vitamin C
• Lower fat than cow milk (about 3%)
• Believed by many to help with diabetes
• In demand from city consumers

A milking she-camel needs more food. Daily ration for a 500 kg camel giving 5–10 L of milk per day:

For very high-yielding camels (10+ L/day), increase concentrate to 4–6 kg/day.

A simple concentrate mix for camels

If you cannot buy ready compound feed, mix your own concentrate. A good camel concentrate mix:

Like for calves and sheep, never put urea in camel feed. Camels can get sick from urea even though they are big animals. Their stomach is different from cattle.

Why camels need extra salt and minerals

Camels need more salt than cattle because:

• They sweat in hot weather (cattle don't sweat much)
• They eat dry fodder which is low in sodium
• They drink less water than you might expect
• Their milk contains some salt

Always give:

• 30–50 g of common salt per day (50–60 g for milking camels)
• Or a salt block (white salt or rock salt) that the camel can lick
• 100–200 g of mineral mixture per day

Without enough salt, the camel eats less and gives less milk.

How much water does a camel really need?

People say camels don't need water. This is partly true — they can go many days without water. But for best health and milk production, give water every day.

Always give clean, cool water. Dirty water reduces intake and can cause health problems.

How camels are different from cattle in digestion

This is for understanding, not for daily decisions:

The bottom line: a camel is a survivor. It can do well on food that cattle would refuse.

Feeding by camel use

Different camels need different feeding:

Resting / pasture camel (not working, not milking)

• Free grazing for 6–8 hours per day
• 3–5 kg dry fodder in the evening
• Salt and mineral mixture
• Water once or twice a day

This is the simplest, cheapest feeding. Most family camels are kept this way.

Working camel (pulling cart, carrying load, riding)

• 25–30 kg green fodder/browse
• 5 kg dry fodder
• 1–2 kg concentrate
• 50 g salt
• 150 g mineral mixture
• 60+ L water

Concentrate is needed because the camel uses extra energy for work.

Milking she-camel

• 30–35 kg green fodder/browse
• 4–5 kg dry fodder
• 2–4 kg concentrate (more for high producers)
• 60 g salt
• 200 g mineral mixture
• 80–100 L water

The concentrate and mineral mixture support milk production. Without these, milk yield drops within 2–3 weeks.

Camel calf (under 1 year)

• Mother's milk (first 4–6 months main food)
• 5–8 kg green fodder by 6 months
• 0.5 kg calf starter feed (without urea) by 4 months
• Gradually introduce dry fodder
• Wean at 8–12 months when eating 2 kg+ solid feed per day

Camel calves grow slower than dairy calves. Don't rush weaning.

Pregnant she-camel

Last 3 months of pregnancy (camel pregnancy is 12–13 months total):

• Increase concentrate by 1–1.5 kg/day above maintenance
• Make sure mineral mixture is adequate
• Don't allow her to lose body condition

Common Indian camel breeds and what to expect

The feeding amounts above apply to all breeds. Larger camels need a bit more food; smaller need less.

What NOT to feed a camel

Some things are dangerous or wasteful for camels:

• Urea — never. Even adult camels can get urea poisoning.
• Sudden large amounts of grain — causes acidosis, same as cattle
• Mouldy feed — same aflatoxin risk as cattle
• Very young green fodder in big amounts — causes loose dung
• Standing water (stagnant) — risk of disease
• Old/spoiled mineral mixture — vitamins lost, less effective

Tips for healthy camel keeping

1. Let the camel graze freely when possible — 4–6 hours of browsing in rangeland gives the camel exercise, sunshine, and varied food
2. Provide shade in summer — camels handle heat well but milking camels produce more in cool conditions
3. Provide shelter from cold winter nights — newborn camels especially
4. Trim hooves regularly — overgrown hooves cause lameness
5. Give mineral mixture every day — most cheap, most effective health investment
6. Watch for weight loss — a thin camel is a sick camel; investigate immediately
7. Vaccinate against common diseases — consult a local veterinarian

Why camel keeping is becoming valuable again

For many years, Indian camel numbers were falling. But in the last 10 years, camel milk has become valuable:

• Camel milk price: ₹100–300 per litre at the city retail level
• Cow milk price: ₹40–55 per litre
• Camel milk is sold to specialty dairies, ayurvedic markets, and exporters
• Diabetic patients are recommended camel milk by some doctors

A she-camel giving 8 L/day at ₹150/L farm gate earns ₹1,200/day — more than 3× the milk income of a similar-yielding cow. Many Rajasthan and Kutch families are now looking again at camels as a profitable livestock option.

Conclusion

Feeding a camel well is simpler than feeding a cow. Give 25–30 kg of green fodder or tree leaves, 3–5 kg of dry fodder, salt and mineral mixture daily, and clean water. For working camels or milking she-camels, add 1–4 kg of concentrate feed without urea. The Indian camel is built to survive on what the land offers — your job is just to make sure she gets enough of it, plus the salt and minerals she needs.

If you treat your camel well, she will work for you for 15–20 years and give 8–12 calves in her lifetime. In return, all she needs is good fodder, fresh water, and respect for her desert-evolved nature.

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