Raziq et al./ Journal of Camelid Science 4 (2011) 49–62 http://www.isocard.org 49 Milk composition in the Kohi camel of mountainous Balochistan, Pakistan *Abdul Raziq 1 , Kerstin de Verdier 2 , Muhammad Younas 3 , Sarzamin Khan 4 , Arshad Iqbal 3 and Muhammad Sajjad Khan 5 1 President of the Society of Animal, Veterinary and Environmental Scientists (SAVES) Pakistan; 2 Department of Animal Health and Antibiotic Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89 Sweden; 3 Department of Livestock Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan; 4 Department of Livestock Management, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakhtoonkhua Pakistan; 5 Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan Abstract Livestock provides food and livelihood for livestock keeping communities and tribes in the arid and semi-arid lands of Balochistan. Camel milk is famous for its nutritional qualities and health properties. More than 40% of the Pakistani camel population (379,528 head) is kept in Balochistan, but facts about milk production and composition are, to a large extent, unknown. The present study was performed to acquire knowledge about the milk composition of the high producing Balochistani Kohi camel. It is of great importance to evaluate and discuss scientific findings on camel milk in the context of the production systems. Camels in pastoral herds under ordinary grazing conditions provide a field for science and can contribute to food security and sovereignty. In this study, milk samples from six camels during initial and late stage of lactation were analysed for fat, protein, lactose, ash, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc. The study demonstrated that Kohi camel milk contains high levels of protein, iron and zinc, and low levels of fat and lactose. Average contents were 4.01%, 0.55 mg/100 g milk, 1.42 mg/100 g milk, 2.63% and 3.11% respectively. Keywords: camel, dairy, livestock, milk, pastoral. _____________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: raziq2007@gmail.com Introduction North-eastern Balochistan is the home of nomadic and semi-nomadic herders, who use the camel for transportation of goods, family luggage and other daily needs. Camel milk is a very important food item for them; it is used as drink, in tea and converted into yoghurt, shalombey, kurth and other valuable food items (Figure 1). The camel milk is very much liked in Balochistan and appreciated for its nutrient richness and therapeutic peculiarities. The herders regard camel milk as a remedy for several diseases, e.g. liver dysfunction, arthritis and ‘long bone pain’, and also as an aphrodisiac.