TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

Case Study 11
Camel Husbandry in Kenya: Increasing the
Productivity ofRanchland
BY J.O. EVANS AND J.G. POWYS
INTRODUCTION
AB ranchers in Kenya, the authors of this paper have always
BOught to obtain maximum production from their land. Several
years ago, it became apparent that camels might contribute to this
aim. Initial results and impressions are reported herewith.
LOCATION
Camels were introduced to four ranches between 1974 and 1978
(figure 11-1). They are:
• Galana Ranch (more than 400,000 hectares), which is south
of the equator in the hinterland of the Kenya coast. It lies on the
fringe of the coastal rainbelt in semiarid savanna at an altitude of
270 m above sea level and receives an average rainfall of 550 mm.
Tsetse fly (GlomftG spp.) and trypanosomiasis occur on parts of the
ranch.
• 01 Maisor, Kisima, and Ngare Ndare, which lie just north
of the equator in Kenya's Laikipia district at altitudes of between
1,730 and 1,890 m above sea level. All three ranches comprise approximately
12,140 hectares and receive an annual average rainfall of
580mm.
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