Ἃ₍◊✲沙漠研究 2626-4,-4, 199-203199 - 203 (2017) (2016) Journal of Arid Land Studies － Special Reports － Journalhttp://dx.doi.org/10.14976/jals.26.4_199 of Arid Land Studies 㸫Special Reports“Camel㸫 Husbandry in Central Asia” http://dx.doi.org/10.14976/jals.26.4_199 Annual Symposium of the Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies Economic Use of Camels in Kazakhstan - Past, Present and Future Perspectives - Sabir T. NURTAZI*1), Margulan K. IKLASOV1), Kaoru IMAMURA2)

Abstract: For thousands of years, the camels were the main working pack animals in the nomadic pastoralist economy of Kazakh ancestors. Later in the 19-20th centuries, with the expansion of the network of dirt roads, camels were successfully used as draft animals, which caused spread of these animals beyond their natural habitat to the southern provinces of Russia. The number of camels in Kazakhstan in 1927, in the Soviet period, has reached its maximum 1.69 million. With the development of mechanized transport, the value of camels as draft animals fell, at the same time the demand for camel specific products, such as milk, meat, wool, leather, was limited. Great damage to agriculture was caused by ill-conceived socio-economic reforms in the 1930s, which led to catastrophic camel population decline. Later, the number of camels slightly increased and stabilized, the level of selection and breeding work and the proportion of purebred animals have increased. Ever since Kazakhstan gained independence the total number of camels has been increasing gradually in the area of their natural habitat, which is associated with high profitability of camel breeding in deserts and semi-deserts of the south-western regions of Kazakhstan. Productive camel breeding allows involving these lands and its people in economically profitable production. Improvement of breed and productive qualities of camel is very important in the country.

Key Words: Bactrian, breeding, camels, Dromedary, productive animals.

is in the transition zone to the subtropics. Most of 1. Introduction Kazakhstan territory is occupied by the vast plains. The inland location of Kazakhstan causes severe continental and Camel breeding emerged in Kazakhstan, probably several arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The territory centuries BC. Ancient ethnic picture of the territory of of Kazakhstan is located in four natural zones: forest-steppe, Kazakhstan was various. The territory was inhabited by the steppe, semi-desert and desert (Gerasimov, 1969). Based on tribes and people of different origins, who later left their mark the physical and geographical shape of the territory it is clear in the ethno genesis of the modern Kazakhs. The northern that the camel breeding, represented mainly by Bactrians, steppes and desert zones of Central Asia historically had one of could never have such a huge importance in Kazakhstan, the earliest forms of world civilization - nomadic pastoralist compared to countries with territory mostly composed of hot economy (Kuzmina, 1986). A significant achievement of the deserts, like in Africa or Arabian Peninsula. Neolithic in the Central Asian region was the training of a Of the three currently known species of camels only two rideable horse. Bronze Age is represented by the monuments are bred in Kazakhstan: Bactrian and dromedary. Bactrians of Andronov culture, which date from the XII-XVIII centuries are more resistant to cold and occupy subarctic area, while BC, among which bronze figurines of laden camels are dromedaries are more thermophilic and are widespread present. throughout the North Africa, the Middle East and even India. When discussing the role of the camel in the historical past The southern boundary of the dromedary area is approximately of Kazakh ancestors a few words should be said about the 12° N and the most northern point of their habitat is Turkestan, climatic and geographical characteristics of the country. The where they are found along with Bactrians. In Central Asia Republic of Kazakhstan is located in the center of the Eurasian dromedaries are bred in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, continent, its total area is 2,724 ,900 km2, the territory stretches southern and western Kazakhstan. almost 3000 km from the lower reaches of the Volga in the The habitat of Bactrians is located more to the north, from west to the Altai Mountains in the east and 1650 km from the about Balkash district of Almaty region in the south (about 420 West Siberian plain to the mountains of Tien Shan in the south. N) to the northern regions of Kazakhstan (up to 520 N) The northernmost point in Kazakhstan (550 22 N) is almost on (Abdykalikova, 2000). Dromedaries are more adapted to the the same latitude as Moscow, Sakhalin Island, and southern hot climate of African and Asian deserts, while Bactrians are points (400N) - on the same latitude as Madrid, Istanbul and more suited to extreme continental climate of Central Asia with Beijing. Thus, Kazakhstan's territory lies in the central and high summer temperatures and freezing winters. southern latitudes of the temperate zone, and the extreme south Both types of camels are perfectly adapted to the extreme * Corresponding Author: [email protected] 㸦Received, December 28th, 2016; Accepted, January 5th, 2017㸧 050038, Almaty Av. Al-Farabi71, Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: +7-747-665-6506 1) Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan 2) Nagoya Gakuin University Japan 200 environments of their habitats, require very minimal care, graze on natural unproductive pastures and use food resources that other animals can not use. Due to the large area of the pad, camels compared to other farm animals cause less damage to the top layer of soil, and don’t trample plants. This has caused camel breeding to become very important for Kazakh ancestors in the past and still has potential in future.

2. Results and discussion

2.1. Camels in traditional time Camels played an important role in the life of nomads in Fig. 1. Loaded camels. different ways: as working animals (pack, harness, riding), and as a source of milk, meat, wool and leather. In the areas of camel breeding, camels were able to replace horses, cows and sheep. Initially, the camel breeding was a natural-consumer industry of nomadic pastoralist economy. Everything produced by camels was almost entirely used by nomads. At the same time, camels were primarily valued as working animals. The smallest village, consisting of relatives, had at least 5-10 working camels, which were used to transport entire household goods and even portable yurt (dwelling of nomads) Fig. 2. Loaded camels. (Figs.1 and 2). Later, with the development of trade and oxen (7%) and horses (4-5%). Back in 1930 in the commodity-money relations, nomadic economy form began to South-West regions of Kazakhstan camel was considered get involved in the world economy, initially in the form of primarily as a work animal (Ivanov, 1934). servicing hundreds of thousands of pack camels and drovers of Due to the benefit of using camels as draft animals, the caravan routes. There are government decrees on serving the demand for them in the late 19th and early 20th century in the trade routes of ancient peoples of North Africa, Asia Minor, South-western provinces of the Russian Empire, including Persia, China, Afghanistan, Turkistan, Babylon, and Rome. Kazakhstan, has grown significantly and the number of The value of the camels as pack and riding animals in this livestock in 1912 reached 1.11 million, and by 1927 the period reached its peak. number exceeded 1.69 million. In the 19-20th centuries, camels were widely used as a At the same time, camels were always a good source of draft and, to a lesser extent, as pack animals. After the joining meat, milk, wool and skin. Camels are one of the largest farm of Kazakhstan to the Russian Empire camels have been used in animals. The weight of large male Bactrians and dromedaries the Orenburg, Stavropol, Astrakhan, Samara, Ufa, Kharkiv, reaches 900-1000 kg (elite male Bactrians can weight up to Poltava and Samara provinces, and in the corresponding area 1250 kg, while Bactrian and dromedary hybrid - Nar can of the Soviet Union as a cartage and on various agricultural weight up to 1350kg). Meat efficiency of 30-month old calf activities. reach 200-250 kg (adult animals up to 350-400 kg), which is more than 50% of weight. Specially fattened animals can 2.2. Economic value of camels in the 19-20th centuries produce 60% of weight. The young camels’ meat During this period effective use of camels for transportation (recommended age for camels is 3 years) tastes like beef, but purposes caused spread of these animals beyond their natural the consumption is limited to some regions of Kazakhstan in habitat. At the end of the 19th century, studies had shown low amounts. that camels are 1.5 times more efficient in harnessing than Camel shearing for high value wool, depends on the horses and two times more efficient than oxen. At the same species, age and sex of camels and ranges from 5.0 to 6.0 kg, time, according to Veterinary Department, the annual mortality while in exceptional cases can reach 21 kg. Milk yield of rate among the population of camels was 3.5% in the Kharkov female Bactrians over 12 months of lactation on average can province, which was lower than that of other working animals: reach 700-750 liters, with an average dry matter content of 201

14.5-15% (average fat = 5.6-6.0%). Dromedaries can produce 1800-1900L of milk, with 13.0-14.0% dry matter content (average fat 4.5-5.0%), and the arvana breed can produce about 3000L (Lakoza and Shchekin, 1964; Seitov, 2005). Fermented camel products such as shubat are highly valued as a food and as a natural stimulant of body defenses. A number of researchers confirm the therapeutic and restorative properties of this drink (Bainazarov, 1975; Baldandorzhieva, 2005). Fig. 3. Number of the camels in different time in Kazakhstan (1927-2012). Due to low profit of camel wool, camel meat (3-4 times lower than beef) and equal price of camel and cow milk, the camel industry was unprofitable in many regions of the Soviet to 9.80C. Thus, the average annual temperature has increased Union and the number of camels gradually decreased in the to 2.60C, or 36% higher. public sector (Fig. 3). At the same time, the number of The average annual rainfall of deserts and semi-deserts of camels in private households had increased (Keneshev, 1975; Kazakhstan is below 250 mm, and the average annual Belokobylenko et al., 1987). evaporation ranges from 800 to 1800mm due to high insolation. Later, with the development of motor vehicles, the value of This excess evaporation over the annual amount of camels as draft animals, began to decrease, and they came to precipitation in these areas creates a sharp deficit of moisture be regarded primarily as a productive animals, but the demand and extra aridity, which is reflected on everything: on the for camel specific products has been limited, which has led to terrain, surface and ground waters, soil, vegetation and on sharp decline in their numbers and the area of habitat, which is animals. Internal freshwater ponds and rivers are scarce limited to deserts and semi-deserts. Catastrophic decline in (Vilesov et al., 2009). camel population in the 1930s was caused by ill-conceived Above-described extreme climatic and geographic policy of forced collectivization in agriculture, which by the conditions should be taken into account when discussing beginning of 1935 resulted in reduction of camel population in productive qualities of camels. Of course, highly specialized Kazakhstan to 72.1 thousands. In the postwar years the breeds of cattle, sheep and goats compared with camels are number of camels slowly increased and in 1954 reached 144 characterized by much higher rates of meat and milk thousands, but this growth was not sustainable, and by 1963 production, but their breeding outside areas of intensive animal the number of camels had decreased to 137 000, and by 1974 husbandry with mild climate and smooth, becomes too costly to 124 200 (Keneshev, 1975). Accordingly, the direction of or impossible. In hot deserts and semi-deserts only sheep and selection and breeding work carried out in the state farms had goats can compete with camel, as productive animals. changed. But despite the underestimation of camel industry during this period there were camel factories and breeding 2.3. Camel breeding after independence farms, which carried out selection and breeding work with After Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, government records in the studbooks. Exchanges of best sires between subsidies and agricultural subsidies were sharply reduced, the various camel breeding centers of USSR were conducted collective forms of farming canceled and the property of state (Akhmediev, 1975). These positive aspects of the Soviet and collective farms are divided between the former Union's livestock practices should be revived. employees. This reform wasn’t thoroughly thought out and Camel breeding, unlike other kinds of cattle, is currently organized, which led to a sharp decrease in agricultural limited by the zones of deserts and semi-deserts, which is more production in general, and to a huge dropping of livestock than 60% of the territory of Kazakhstan (about 1.64 million number in the country. Gradually, however, the situation km2) and, due to global warming, is expanding. In view of began to improve. Thanks to government support in addition the climate characteristics, the average July temperature in the to small-scale farmers, large farms with modern material and desert zone is +27-300C (maximum temperature can rise up to technical basis began to form. They use modern technology 500C), in January temperature ranges between -3-50C in crop production, animal husbandry, poultry farming and fish (minimum temperature can fall to -42-450C). Global farming. These farms practice import of cattle breeds, poultry, warming caused a marked increase in the average annual seeds and agricultural machinery. However, the number, temperature. Thus, in Almaty, which is in the south-east of breed and productivity of cattle, selection and breeding work in Kazakhstan, the average temperature in the years 1891-1900 animal husbandry, veterinary and epidemiological control of was equal to 7.20C, while in 1991-2000 the temperature rose the animals leave much to be desired. The proportion of 202

Fig. 4. Number of camels in each region of Kazakhstan (February 2012). high-yielding cattle fell sharply. The vast majority of camels breed. Intensive animal husbandry in these conditions small-scale farmers are not able to provide conditions for the is too costly and is almost impossible without state support. introduction of modern technologies of livestock farming. The cattle in Kazakhstan is mostly unproductive, although 3. Conclusion reasonably well adapted to the harsh natural conditions, use most of the food resources of natural pastures. The horse Thus, the above survey shows that the role played by breeding is dominated by herd meat and dairy direction based camels in various spheres of life of the Kazakhs and their on horse breed called “Zhabe”. The sheep breeding is ancestors, varied in different historical epochs. For thousands dominated by fat-tailed Edilbaev breed and its hybrid with of years, the camels were the main working pack animals in merino, while camel breeding is on the rise with using the nomadic pastoralist economy due to their size, power and productive camels, mostly for milk. endurance. At the same time, camels were used as productive Camel breeding is mainly developed in the south-western animals for milk, meat, wool and leather. With the regions of Kazakhstan, on a territory of 120 million hectares of development of trade relations, camels began to play a great desert and semi-desert pastures, which are covered with sparse role as pack animals for transit caravan routes passing through vegetation, watered insufficiently with a bitter-salty water, Kazakhstan, for example, the “Silk Road” from China to which can constantly be drunken only by camels. Productive Western Europe. Later, with the expansion of the network of camel breeding allows involving these lands and its dirt roads, camels becɚme successfully used as draft animals. populations in economically profitable production (Fig. 4). This along with good adaptation to the harsh conditions of Currently the camel population in the country is growing continental climate have spread camels far beyond their natural by 8-9%, but the level of breeding work has fallen sharply and range, not only in the northern regions of Kazakhstan, but also is limited to sporadic farms (Baimukanov and Baimukanov, in the southern provinces of Russia. The number of camels in 2012). In general population of camels in Kazakhstan is Kazakhstan in 1927 reached its maximum 1.69 million (20% dominated by Bactrian, while the number of dromedary and of the world population). hybrids between them are less. First generation hybrid Later, with the development of motor vehicles, the value of between Bactrian and dromedary is called “nar” and is highly camels as draft animals, began to decrease, the demand for valued. Nars are prolific, have a larger size, and are camel specific products has been limited. Catastrophic distinguished by physical strength, endurance and vitality. decline in camel population in the 1930s was contributed by Meat and wool productivity of camels are quite high, ill-conceived socio-political reforms in agriculture. The especially considering their breeding area. However most above led to a sharp reduction in the number of camels and in people prefer other types of cattle meat. The most valuable the habitat area, which is limited to deserts and semi-deserts. products camel breeding are dairy products, especially shubat. Later the number of camels increased slightly and stabilized, Annual milk production of arvana camel breed is about 3000 L, the level of selection and breeding work and the proportion of which is higher than the milking of low-yielding mongrel cattle. purebred animals increased. In addition, this cattle can’t compete with a camel on After Kazakhstan gained its independence total number of productivity or on adaptation to the harsh conditions in which camels, as opposed to other types of livestock has increased. 203

In our opinion, camel breeding has good prospects for patients. Specialization and ways of development of productive camel breeding in Kazakhstan, briefing material and report. 24-26 January development in the vast and ever-expanding zone of deserts 1975, Alma-Ata, 100-102 (In Russian). and semi-deserts of the south-western regions of Kazakhstan, Baimukanov D.A., Baimukanov A. (2012): Breeding work of camel where other branches of livestock, except sheep, are marginal. breeding. Bactay, Almaty (In Russian). Baldandorzhieva T.T. (2005): Research of the chemical composition of Productive camel breeding allows involving these lands and its Trans-Baikal Bactrian camels milk and the development of people in economically profitable production. It should also biotechnology of fermented product. Dissertation of the candidate of technical sciences, Federation of the East-Siberian State Technological be noted, that these areas are the main centers of the oil and gas University, Ulan-Ude (In Russian). sector of the country. State program on development and Belokobylenko V.T, Musayev Z.M, Shulga V.V, Nurbayev K. (1987): support of camel is needed, which includes an increase in the Productive qualities of the Kazakh Bactrian camels. In Belokobylenko V.T. ed., Intensive production technology of sheep breeding and horse number and productive qualities of camels on the basis of breeding, Verlag, Alma-Ata, 110-117 (In Russian). fundamental improvement of zootechnical work and a modern Gerasimov I.P. (1969): Kazakhstan, Nauka, Moscow (In Russian). veterinary service of the industry. Ivanov P.V. (1934): Camel breeding, Alma-Ata, Moscow (In Russian). Keneshev A.K. (1975): Specialization and ways of productive camel development in Kazakhstan, Collected Works: Condition and measures References to develop productive camel breeding in the Kazakh, KazSSR, Abdykalikova B.K. (2000): Optimization of Bactrian camel feeding in the Shevchenko, 3-12 (In Russian). northern zone of Kazakhstan. Abstract of dissertation of the Dr. of Kuzmina E.E. (1986): The oldest herders from the Urals to the Tien Shan, agricultural sciences. Kazakh Research Institute of Karakul breeding, ILIM, Frunze (In Russian). Shymkent, (In Russian). Lakoza I.I., Shchekin V.A. (1964): Camel breeding and fundamentals of Akhmediev A. (1975): Research directions in the field of camel breeding. ass breeding and mule breeding, Moscow (In Russian). Collection of works: Specialization and ways of development of Seitov Z.S .(2005): Koumiss and shubat., Bastay, Almaty, (In Russian). productive camel breeding in Kazakhstan. Shevchenko, 51-55 (In Vilesov E.N., Naumenko A.A., Veselova L.K., Aubekerov B.Z. (2009): Russian). Physical Geography of Kazakhstan, Academy of Sciences, Almaty (In Bainazarov Z.K. (1975): About efficiency of application of shubat in Russian). combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of tuberculosis