284 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Want of 

 ability 

 to stand 

 climatic 

 change. 



unusual stoicism. They will struggle on without marked symptoms until 

 quite exhausted by disease and privation, and on this account it is 

 necessary to keep careful watch for the first signs of their being unwell, or 

 they will continue quietly at work till beyond recovery. 



Wiifit of ability to stand climatic chajige is the weak point of the camel, 

 and on this account their selection must be careful and their diet strictly 

 supervised till they are accustomed to it. In this connection too it 

 should be noted that when taken to strange pasture they will sometimes 

 refuse to eat at first, or on the other hand will consume poisonous plants 

 as readily as any. Fresh grazing should therefore be well examined 

 before animals are allowed to roam at will. 



FEEDING CAMELS. 



Feeding Feeding Ca?7iels. — Before stating the actual rations which camels 



camels. should receive it will be well to consider the question of feeding generally, 

 with special reference to service conditions. The camel is a herbivorous 

 animal that gets its living by grazing and browsing on many thorny and 

 hard plants found in its native locality, and thrives on such fare so well, 

 that in many places he performs the work normally required by his 

 owner without any supplementary rations. This is the case in Somaliland, 

 and many districts of India and Africa. This being the case he must be 

 treated under any circumstances like other herbivorous, cud-chewing 

 animals as regards the general rules which should guide his feeding. 

 These are : (i) A sufficient supply of fodder, or as much grazing and 

 browsing as possible should be given him. (2) A sufficient period of quiet 

 must be allowed daily for him to chew the cud. We may to a certain 

 extent educate his inside to adapt its needs to our special requirements, 

 but these two rules must be observed on service, or the animal's health 

 suffers. 



In regions where grazing is sparse and work is demanded, we find the 

 owner supplements what the animal gets himself with a ration of grain. 

 This is the case in Arabia and some parts of India and Africa. Leaving 

 thirst out of the question, camels so fed prove better able to withstand 

 hardship, and keep their condition better on service than those at graze 

 only. The Indian and Arabian camels, for instance, proved stronger than 

 the native animal in Somaliland, though the latter endured thirst 

 better. 



But in feeding grain of any sort, we must remember that it can easily 

 be overdone, that the digestion cannot cope with large quantities, and that 



