History of a dairy camel (NAQA) and machine milking in Saudi Arabia; challenges and prospective

Over the past two decades, there has been a noteworthy surge in the attention and interest surrounding camel rearing and camel milk production in Saudi Arabia. This focus has emanated from diverse stakeholders including the general public, camel breeders, and researchers. While limited quantities of camel pasteurized milk currently available in selected showrooms, the sale of raw milk near camel enclosures remains prevalent. Recent developments include the inauguration of a modernized, opulent showroom in Riyadh exclusively dedicated to showcasing camel milk and its derivatives. The commencement of machine camel milking trials in Saudi Arabia traces back to 2003 when a portable single-bucket cow milking machine was initially tested at the Al-Jouf Range and Camel Research Center in Sakaka city. Subsequently, a company in the northern region of Saudi Arabia emerged the nation's first semi-automatic camel milking line in 2008, which continues to operate to this day. However, these endeavors, while pioneering, lag behind contemporary milking technologies prevalent in dairy farms focused on cows. Despite these strides, there exists a notable dearth of comprehensive data encompassing critical aspects of dairy camel farming. Absence of information on dairy camel and total seasonal milk yields, scientific data on machine milkability, and established production standards and characteristics for female camel milk hinders the sector's progress. This review endeavors to elucidate the obstacles and challenges hindering the widespread adoption of camel machine milking and the implementation of good camel management practices. It also outlines prospective measures aimed at overcoming these challenges for a more robust future for camel as a productive livestock in Saudi Arabia. With global climate changes, crises of protein and water shortages worldwide, and the remarkable production potentials of camels, this exploration aims to contribute to the sustainable development of camel farming in the context of evolving global challenges and opportunities.