Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV Recibido:31/03/2025 Aceptado:08/07/2025 Publicado: 02/08/2025 hps://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e35650 UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico 1 of 10 Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV hps://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e35664 UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico Camel breeding methods in Southeastern Algeria: available resources and recorded performance Métodos de cría de camellos en el sureste de Argelia: recursos disponibles y rendimientos registrados. Fathia Saouli * , Lynda Maya Mansour, Charef Eddine Mouffok Ferhat Abbes Séf University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural, Laboratory for the Improvement and Development of Plant and Animal Producon Sciences. 9000, Algeria. *Correspondance authors: faha.saouli@univ-sef.dz; saoulifathia@gmail.com ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to characterize camel breeding and to establish its state in the southern Algerian’s Sahara. A survey was carried out in 4 regions of the southern Sahara and 50 farms were visited in order to collect useful informaon’s on breeding strategies. The survey focused on farm structure, breeding pracces, producon factors, resources, species used, producon orientaon and camel workshop performance. A two-step process of principal component analysis (PCA) followed by classificaon was used to classify the surveyed farms into disnct groups. In the south-eastern region of Algeria, camel rearing is mainly pracsed by pastoralists (62%), with small herds of less than 50 animals. The animals graze on rangelands, depending on land availability and breeders. The pastures are composed of 1 or 2 dominant f orage species. The analysis of the livestock structure idenfied 3 different categories of breeders: Agropastoralists, camel pastoralists and ruminant pastoralists, where the type of agricultural acvity was the main source of discriminaon. Breeding methods and management pracces divide farms into three groups according to producon performance and breeding pracces. The first group is made up of small or large herds with limited grazing and average to high performance. The second group is made up of medium-sized Saharan herds with seasonal grazing and average performance. The third group is made up of low-performing dairy herds. The typology of livestock farmers shows a variety of strategies that require adaptaon. In Algeria, the performance of camel farming depends on pasture management and herd size, with herds with limited grazing performing beer. Key words: Dromedary; pastoral resources; pracces of breeding; animal performances; typologies. RESUMEN El objevo de este estudio fue caracterizar la cría de camellos y determinar su estado en el sur del Sáhara Argelino. Con este fin, se realizó una encuesta en cuatro regiones del sur del Sáhara y se visitaron cincuenta explotaciones, con el fine de recopilar información úl sobre las estrategias de cría. La encuesta se centró en la estructura de las explotaciones, las práccas de cría, los factores de producción, los recursos, las especies ulizadas, la orientación de la producción y el rendimiento del rebaño de camellos. Se ulizó un proceso de dos etapas de análisis de componentes principales (ACP) seguido de clasificación para clasificar las explotaciones encuestadas en grupos disntos. En la región sudoriental de Argelia, la cría de camellos la praccan principalmente los pastores (62 %), con pequeños rebaños de menos de cincuenta animales. Los animales se crian en paszales según la disponibilidad de erras y de los criadores. Los pastos se componen de una o dos especies forrajeras dominantes. El análisis de la estructura ganadera idenficó tres categorías diferentes de ganaderos : agropastoralistas, pastoralistas de camellos y pastoralistas de rumiantes, siendo la acvidad agrícola la principal fuente de discriminación en cada caso. Los métodos de cría y las práccas de gesón dividen las explotaciones en tres grupos según los resultados de producción y las práccas de cría. El primer grupo está compuesto por rebaños pequeños o grandes con pastoreo limitado y rendimiento medio a alto. El segundo grupo está compuesto por rebaños saharianos de tamaño medio con pastoreo estacional y rendimiento medio. El tercer grupo está compuesto por rebaños lecheros de bajo rendimiento. La pología de los ganaderos muestra una variedad de estrategias que requieren adaptación. En Argelia, el rendimiento de la cría de camellos depende de la gesón de los pastos y del tamaño del rebaño, siendo mejores los rebaños con pastoreo limitado. Palabras clave : Camellos; recursos pastorales; práccas de cría; rendimientos animales; pologías; sureste de Argelia

Camel breeding methods in Southeastern Algeria / Saouli et al. UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico INTRODUCTION In Algeria, the camel represents a significant economic asset and a vital source of resources within the context of the Sahara desert, which is characterized by an arid landscapes and extreme climac condions [1]. The camel plays a central role in the history and the culture of south Algerian populaon. For centuries, camels have played a pivotal role in the sustenance and livelihoods of local populaons, providing not only nutrient- rich meat and milk, but also serving as a means of transportaon and work tools in regions where resources are scarce. The dromedary (Camelus dromedaries), therefore, represents a pillar of sustainability in an environment that is not necessarily demanding. The significance of camel breeding is conngent upon its capacity to augment the value of Saharan rangelands by transforming the vegetaon of these pastures, which are otherwise unusable by other ruminants, into sources of meat, milk and hair [2]. Due to its digesve physiology, the dromedary makes the most of fodder with low nutrional value. It is considered to be a pseudo-ruminant [3]. They are resistant to protein and mineral undernutrion, and are able to get by on low-quality rangeland [4 , 5 , 6]. As asserted by numerous experts, the presence of the dromedary in parcularly challenging environments confers an advantage for the preservaon and sustainable ulizaon of arid and semi-arid zones [7]. Furthermore, while remaining a significant source of high-quality proteins through its primary products, it also facilitates the development of “local” products on the markets, conveying a profound cultural identy [8]. Of the 22 million head worldwide [9], 19.58 million are dromedaries (single-humped: Cameleus Dromedarius) [10]. However, it should be noted that, with the notable excepon of the countries of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf, the increase in the number of camels has remained steady, unlike in North African countries and to a lesser extent in African countries [11]. In Algeria, the number of this nave species is esmated at nearly 354,465 individuals, represenng approximately 1% of the naonal populaon and 17% of the Maghreb camel populaon. The species is confined to three major agroecological territories: the Sahara, the Saharan Atlas, and the Steppe. These regions support a diverse range of livestock, including several types of camel [12]. According to data from the ONS (Naonal Office of Stascs), the number of camels in Algeria increased steadily between 2019 and 2021 [13], the number of head rose from 416,519 in 2019 to 435,214 in 2020, thereaſter to 448,546 in 2021, an increase of 7.6% over three years. The head spread across the south-east, south-west and extreme south of Algeria. According to [14], the eco dromedary has adapted to climate change and also to farming systems. With regard to breeding methods, there is extensive breeding (commonly pracsed in rangelands and on large areas, based on natural vegetaon) and intensive breeding (pracsed in limited condions, based on the use of food supplements). At the point where these two methods converge, another breeding system emerges. This is the semi-intensive method [15]. It is notable that there has been a considerable increase in the number of camels in Algeria. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries [16], the number of animals increased from 114,300 to 362,265 between 1992 to 2015. The recent increase is the result of the efforts of both the breeders and the state. The former has taken on more responsibility, while the laer has stepped up its interest in camels. This has led to changes in breeding systems, such as land-use planning through transfers between rich and poor regions (equalizaon policy) and direct food aid to avoid a fall in numbers due to low profitability. The objecve of this research was to offer a current diagnosis of camel farming, and to examine its potenal and dynamics using socio-economic data and field observaons, using several facets, altude profiles and exisng systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methodology involved first: gathering informaon on breeding techniques and producon performance from 50 farms in south-east Algeria; second: developing a typology using mulple correspondence analysis to describe camel breeding management methods more precisely. Presentaon of the study area Survey of camel farms The research focused on El Oued, Ouargla, Touggourt and Biskra, all chosen for their varied camel populaons and the acve parcipaon of livestock farmers. Based on data from the Agricultural Services, 50 farmers in three zones (TABLE I) were selected on the basis of three criteria: (i): voluntary parcipaon, (ii): accessibility and (iii): range diversity. TABLE I Distribuon of camel drivers surveyed by region Wilaya El Oued Biskra Ouargla Toughourt Frequency 54.0% (27/50) 26.0% (13/50) 14.0% (07/50) 06.0% (03/50) The survey, conducted from February 2020 to April 2021 among 50 breeders, was based on an individual quesonnaire. Their geographical distribuon is shown in FIG. 1. 2 of 10

Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico FIGURE 1. Locaon of the Different Farms studied in the south-east of Algeria. Noced: The surveys were carried out before the 2022 territorial reform, and the map was produced just aſterwards, including Ouled Djallal before its wilaya status The quesonnaire had two secons: one on structural variables and camel performance, the other on feeding management and grazing. The data were analysed by using descripve stascs, two Principal Component Analysis (PCA’s)and a two- step cluster classificaon to idenfy structures, systems, husbandry pracces and performance. Key variables included agricultural acvity, culvated species, labor, water sources, livestock type, herd size, species associaon, breeds, feeding, watering, and producon orientaon. The typology was created using IBM SPSS Stascs 21 [17] with a two-step classificaon. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Characterizaon of camel farms Camel herders are on average around 50 years old [18],[19]. The results indicate that camel breeding is predominantly pracsed by camel herders (62%), (TABLE II), with small herds (more than 50% of the farms visited with a workforce of less than 50 heads. TABLE II Socio-economic and technical characteriscs of the surveyed camel farms (n = 50) Variable Category Frequency(n) Percentage (%) Main Acvity Herder 31/50 62.0% Agro-pastoralist 19/50 38.0% Number of camels <50 26/50 52.0% [50-100[ 16/50 32.0% >100 8/50 16.0% Secondary livestock acvity None 23/50 46.0% Present 27/50 54.0% Dominant ethnic group Sahraoui 38/50 76.0% Tergui 5/50 10.0% Naili 6/50 12.0% Mixed 1/50 2.0% Supplementaon None 2/50 4.0% Barely 13/50 26.0% Barley + by-products 18/50 36.0% Barley + by-products + residues 10/50 20.0% By-products + residues 7/50 14.0% Orientaon Milk 21/50 42.0% Meat 8/50 16.0% Mixed 21/50 42.0% It is aributed to the prevalence of small herds in relaon to the challenging condions of the study areas, characterised by aridity and a scarcity of sources, which manifest erracally when available. As observed by Adamou [20] and Meguella-Kanoun et al. [12]. This reduced herd size is also reported in other countries in the Maghreb and the Middle East, as evidenced by the other studies [21 ,[22]. The feeding pracces are based on grazing rangelands with supplementaon consisng of barley (26%) or other harvest residues and date scraps. It was found that 54% of those engaged in camel breeding as their main acvity also engaged in sheep breeding as a 3 of 10

Camel breeding methods in Southeastern Algeria / Saouli et al. UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico secondary acvity. The associaon of these farms reflects an adaptaon of breeders to the condions of the difficult Saharan environment, which has been observed in other regions of Algeria [23 ,[24]. This reflects the mulfunconality of camel breeding, which generates products and services that contribute to the sustainability of marginalised systems. The Sahrawi populaon is the majority (76%) of the region, oſten with mixed orientaons (42%) or purely dairy (42%). 50% are average producers (2-5 litres/day). The majority of surveyed farms (84%) are oriented towards dairy producon. In some cases, meat producon is also included in the dairy producon, which demonstrates the importance of milk in the diet of local populaons. Furthermore, this mulfunconality has been idenfied in other regions, including Algeria [15 , 23], as well as in Africa [25 , 26]. Focus on camel breeding indicators The factorial correspondence analysis applied to camel farming revealed two major axes, explaining 88% of the variance (TABLE III), which validates their role in idenfying local typologies. In addion, a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75 aests to the reliability of the variables selected, reinforcing their usefulness in differenang and comparing farming systems. TABLE III Model Summary - Mulple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) Dimension Alpha of Cronbach Variance represented Total (Eigenvalue) Inera 1 0.765 2.761 0.460 2 0.725 0.526 0.421 Total 5.288 0.881 Average 0.746 a 2.644 0.441 α: Cronbach's alpha is based on the mean igenvalue. The inial axis, correlated with agropastoral diversity, explained 46% of the total inera (FIG. 2), highlighng a key factor in farm differenaon. The second axis correlated with intra-herd diversity, explained 42% of the variance. The populaon, producon and characteriscs of dromedaries have a significant influence on the structure of farming systems, determining their orientaon (e.g., milk, meat). FIGURE 2. Comparave analysis of agricultural characteriscs across different breeder types Characteriscs of the types of breeders idenfied The stascal analysis disnguishes three types of breeders (FIG. 3): investor agropastoral, camel herding, and ruminant herding. FIGURE 3. Distribuon of breeders on the factor map Agropastoral-investor They represent about 42% of the region's farmers. They are, in fact, both farmers and livestock breeders, mainly raising camels (73%) in combinaon with sheep (TABLE IV). 4 of 10

Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico TABLE IV Type of producers that combine Agriculture with acvies such as livestock breeding: Camels and/or Sheep Types of breeders that have been idenfied Types of breeders Agropastoral-Investors (%) Camel Herders (%) Ruminant Herders (%) Agricultural acvity Breeder 0.0 100.0 100.0 Agro-pastoralist 100.0 0.0 0.0 Culvated species Without 0.0 66.0 86.0 Palm 26.0 20.0 6.0 Palm+tree culvaon 21.1 0.0 0.0 Palm+Agriculture 42.0 13.0 0.0 Agriculture 10.0 0.0 6.0 Main breeding Camel 73.0 100.0 53.0 Sheep 26.0 0.0 33.0 Goat 0.0 0.0 6.0 Poultry 0.0 0.0 6.0 Number of species raised 1 species 42.0 100.0 0.0 2 species 31.0 0.0 60.0 3 or more 26.0 0.0 40.0 These breeders are muldisciplinary; they pracse agriculture, combining camel breeding with agricultural acvies, especially phoeniculture. While invesng in strategies such as drilling and wells. In addion, the presence of small flocks of sheep among 26% of them suggests complementarity in breeding, as they oſten say that the dromedary is not financially sufficient. Their tesmonies show that there is a distribuon of culvated species. Their preference for the culvaon of palm trees is only one influence, because their camels benefit from it. Research carried out by Oulad-Belkhir [27] in the northern Sahara shows four types of livestock farming idenfied this year (2018): sedentary, agro-pastoralist, agricultural breeder and transhumant pastoralist, in line with the different profiles idenfied in this study. ‘Breeder farmers’, was not menoned in this study, but breeders who own date palms (20%) (below) and agro-pastoral investors (42%) can be grouped under this category as they are involved in agricultural acvies while breeding camels. Camel Herders The main acvity of this group is 100% camel breeding, and 66% of them do not pracce agriculture. A minority has date palms (20%). Camel herders are more specialised. This is due to factors such as market demand or local environmental condions. They are characterised by the pracce of breeding as a unique agricultural acvity. Few of them have date palm plantaons (20%), which shows limited diversificaon, although these two acvies seem to be complementary. They are more numerous in the Wilaya of Biskra. they don’t change herds as a promise to their ancestors. The “transhumant pastoralists” described by Oulad-Belkhir [27] can be linked to the group of camel herders. A packing animal, this was the dromedary’s original role [28], but as it has moved away from tradion, it has increasingly become a producon animal [29]. Camel dung is used as a ferliser for palm trees and somemes as a combusble product, “el’jel”, which is used by certain tribes to make fires. As far as by-products are concerned, the Ouled Nail tribe uses the hair to make tradional costumes, and the breeders sell it in kilos (1 to 4kg of producon, varies between sex and physiological state (pregnant or not); according to Senoussi [30]; aſter the spring mowing season. In addion, breeders from Ouargla confirmed that the Saharan populaon is the best in terms of hair. The Bactrian camel; According to Slimani [31]; produces more hair than the dromedary, with differences in colour between the two species. In the study carried out by Ishag and Ahmed [32], three states in northern Sudan are characterised by camel farming as their main acvity, while only one state (Gezira) seems to bring together herders and farmers; this is the same region where herders are not interested in meat but give priority to milk and racing. Ruminants Herders They are more oriented towards the breeding of ruminants, mainly sheep, and may have a small herd of goats, with less agricultural acvity. They use two (60%) to three (40%) species of ruminants. The species dominance is in favour of camels on 53% of the holdings, but in certain cases (33%) sheep are the main livestock, it is a greater diversificaon than the previous groups. It is notable that 53% of ruminant herders engage in camel breeding as a primary enterprise. A study conducted by Ouologuem et al. [33] in the Kidal region, in Mali, demonstrated that dromedary breeding, in conjuncon with goats, sheep, and 5 of 10

Camel breeding methods in Southeastern Algeria / Saouli et al. UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico cale, is a prevalent pracce in the region. Sheep are the second most common species (33%), while some farmers keep three or more species of livestock (6%) because the south is not a cale region. some visited farms in Touggourt also kept poultry. Tesmonies showing the need to have more income sources and to reduce risks linked to difficult condions show that ruminant pastoralists have different breeding choices. Dromedary breeders oſten grow palm trees, while ruminant breeders combine various crops and livestock, reflecng choices adapted to the environment and the economy. Bedda et al. [34] noted, according to the movaon for breeding, three categories of breeders: camel breeders-finishers (82%), camel breeders-finishers-mehtarists (13%) and meharists (5%). Camel breeding methods The camel rearing pracces showed two main factors that explained 63.3% of the differences (TABLE V). Cronbach’s alpha (0.7) shows that the variables are consistent. The first axis (33%) reflects the structure of the herd and the most common type of camel. It shows that farms in the Sahara follow similar pracces, which are linked to their breeding strategy. The second axis (represenng 30% of the total variaon) reflects the level of care and milk producon, showing that high- yield farmers adopt different methods to low-yield farmers. TABLE V Model Summary - Mulple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) Dimension Cronbach’s alpha Variance represented Total (Eigenvalue) Inera 1 0.715 2.669 0.334 2 0.666 2.399 0.300 Total 5.068 0.633 Average 0.692 a 2.534 0.317 α. Cronbach's alpha is based on the mean eigenvalue. Camel breeding methods, management pracces and animal performance The analysis idenfies three breeding types based on orientaon, feed and performance. (FIG. 4). Type 1. Small or large herds with restricted grazing and average to strong performance: this category represents 24.0% of all breeders (TABLE VI). It is characterised by small herds, with a total number of animals below 50. Furthermore, 66% of the herds are oriented towards mixed producon, encompassing both milk and meat. Nevertheless, the level of milk producon is average, indicang a high level of technical proficiency in breeding pracces. To what extent is camel breeding integrated with other agricultural acvies. Feeding pracces are based on supplementaon to the trough using barley, co-products as well as residues from phoneciculture. FIGURE 4. Analysis of Breeder Groups based on their performance and breeding pracces These breeders exploit populaons dominated by Tergui and Sahrawi, which are oſten managed on rangelands with significant florisc diversity (comprising more than five dominant forage species) during limited periods (with monthly grazing). This reduces travel costs and labour. Sahraoui and Targui populaons head the list of populaons menons previously by some authors [34 , 35 ,[36]. Type 2. Medium-sized Saharawi herds with seasonal grazing and average performance: they represent 44% of the farms that were visited and are therefore the most common. These farms are predominantly inhabited by the Sahrawi populaon, with herd sizes ranging from medium to large (fewer than 50 heads). The producon orientaon is dual-purpose (milk and meat), and the recorded performances are of an average standard. These rangelands are characterised by a low producvity, with a single or dual dominance of forage species, despite the presence of the Sahrawi populaon. The basic diet is comprised of annual grazing, with barley and other cereal co-products (bran) serving as supplements. This extensive system opmises the natural resources but limits the camel milk producon. Type 3. Small dairy herds on rangelands with poor performance: It represents 30.0% of respondents. (80%) of these herds comprise less than 50 animals used for milk producon. The dairy performance despite the implementaon of annual grazing and the supplementaon of a range of forage species is low. These food management pracces comprise barley, cereal co-products and residues from planted crops. The majority of the exploited populaons is a Sahrawi populaon. The reducon in herd size and the applicaon of rigorous standards for defining "average" in this study facilitate the idenficaon of this intensive management pracce, which is characterised by low zootechnical outcomes. These outcomes are likely influenced by genec or health factors. Senoussi et al. [37] even stated that camel products are influenced by these changes. 6 of 10

Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico TABLE VI Comparison of breeding pracces and performances according to herd types Livestock pracces and animal performance Small or big grazing herds restricted and performances medium to strong (%) Herds Sahrawi size average has seasonal pasture and performances averages(%) Small herds dairy on the course has weak performances (%) Size of camel livestock <50 66.0 27.0 80.0 [50-100[ 0.0 59.1 13.0 > 100 33.0 13.0 6.0 Dominant populaon Sahrawi 33.0 95.0 80.0 Tergui 41.0 0.0 0.0 Naili 16.0 4.0 20.0 Mixed 8.0 0.0 0.0 Producve orientaon Milk 33.0 36.0 60.0 Meat 16.0 18.0 13.0 Mixed 50.0 45.0 26.0 Dominants plants in the pasture 0 25.0 0.0 0.0 1-2 Esp 25.0 63.0 40.0 3-4 Esp 0.0 27.0 13.0 5 and + 50.0 9.1 46.0 Pasture management Absent 33.0 0.0 0.0 Monthly 58.0 13.0 0.0 Seasonal 0.0 40.0 13.0 Annual 8.0 45.0 86.0 Complementaon Absent 0.0 0.0 13.0 Barley 16.0 36.0 20.0 Barley+ Co-products 16.0 63.0 6.0 Barley+ Co-product+Residues 33.0 0.0 40.0 Co-products + Residues 33.0 0.0 20.0 Dairy performance Low 16.0 0.0 100.0 Average 58,0 77.0 0,0 High 25.0 0,0 0,0 Imprecise 0.0 22.0 0,0 The study conducted by Ben-Semaoune et al. [19] involved the parcipaon of 100 camel drivers in the wilaya of Ghardaïa. It idenfied a broader typology comprising five disnct types of breeders, all of whom maintained mixed herds comprising a diversity of species, including sheep and goats. This latest study was based on the composion and structure of herds, rather than on milk producvity. The typology conducted by Senoussi et al. [1] in the El Oued region idenfied four disnct breeding systems: dairy, meat, professional polys and meharis. This differs from the findings of this study, which idenfied three disnct types: milk, meat and mixed. Professional polys and meharis were not observed in this study due to the specific criteria used for classificaon. Territorial distribuon of breeder types and management pracces The breeders in the El Oued region (59.3%) maintain medium-sized Sahrawi herds with seasonal grazing and average performance. (48%) of agropastoral investors are located in this region. The majority of herds in the region are of a medium size (66%), with a smaller proporon being of a small size (30%). They are exploited by ruminant pastors (33%), who report average to low milk performance (TABLE VII). Most of the people who breed camels in the Biskra region are camel herders (46.2%), 38.5% of breeders have medium-sized Sahrawi herds with seasonal grazing and average performance; and some are farmers who keep sheep and goats (38%): small to medium-sized, with low milk yields. 7 of 10

Camel breeding methods in Southeastern Algeria / Saouli et al. UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico The Wilaya of Ouargla is known for its large herds of animals that have limited access to grazing land. The farmers raise camels and other animals. They also grow crops like vegetables and fruits. Breeders in Toughourt (66.7%) keep small or large herds grazing on average to high performance. TABLE VII Regional distribuon of breeder types and management pracces Wilaya El Oued Biskra Ouargla Toughourt n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) Pracces Breeding Performances Small or large herds with restricted grazing and average to high performance 3 11.1 3 23.1 4 57.1 2 66.7 Medium-sized Sahrawi herds with seasonal and grazing and average performance 16 59.3 5 38.5 2 28.6 0 0.0 Small dairy herds on low-performance rangelands 8 29.6 5 38.5 1 14.3 1 33.3 Types of breeders Agropastoralists – Investors 13 48.1 5 38.5 0 0.0 1 33.3 Camel Shepherds 5 18.5 6 46.2 5 71.4 0 0.0 Ruminant Shepherds 9 33.3 2 15.4 2 28.6 2 66.7 Producve and praccal strategies for the management of the types of breeders Agropastoralists – Investors hold medium-sized herds (32%) or small dairy herds (42%) on rangelands with low performance. They also own the Sahrawi herds (31.6%). As traders, they are likely to have herds of different sizes and to manage grazing more carefully to make the most of market changes. [38] explain the evoluon of the market in recent years by the increase in demand for meat in Algeria, whether through formal or informal channels. The Pastors of Camelins were encouraged to diversify their breeding pracces. There are two main types of herds: 43.8% of herds are medium-sized Sahrawi herds with seasonal grazing and average performance. 31.3% of herds are small or large herds with restricted grazing and average to high performance. These herds produce enough milk. In order to opmize camel breeding in Algeria, it is necessary to remove the dietary constraint by integrang the by-products of camel farming, which could enrich the diet of camel [39]. Most ruminant pastoralists (two-thirds) are seasonal grazers with medium-sized Sahrawi herds that perform well (66.7%) (TABLE VIII). TABLE VIII Interrelaonship between camel breeder type and management pracces Breeding pracces and performance Types of breeders Agropastoralists – Investors Pastors of Camels Pastors of the ruminants n (%) n (%) n (%) Small or large herds with restricted grazing and average to high Performance 5/19 26.3 5/16 31.3 2/15 13.3 Medium-sized Sahrawi herds with seasonal grazing and average Performance 6/19 31.6 7/16 43.8 10/15 66.7 Small dairy herds on low- performance rangelands 8/19 42.1 4/16 25.0 3/15 20.0 Selmi et al. [40] conducted a study in Tunisia in which they idenfied five categories of livestock farmers: mixed agro- breeders (29%), mixed breeders (1%), camel agro-breeders (23%), tradional breeders (1%) and family farming households (46%). A study by Laameche and Chehma [41] shows that a strategy of paral mobilisaon and increasing camel parcipaon from 0.4% to 6.1% is needed to cover the urban populaon’s demand for milk. 8 of 10

Revista Cienfica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXV UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA Serbiluz Sistema de Servicios Bibliotecarios y de Información Biblioteca Digital Repositorio Académico CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the geographical distribuon, three profiles of breeders were idenfied, according to their breeding pracces farms at in 50 three regions. This study idenfied three disnct breeder profiles, shaped by geographic distribuon and farming pracces, across the 50 farms surveyed in three regions. The El Oued region is dominated by agro-pastoralists- investors and ruminant herders. The Biskra region is characterised by the phoeniciculture and market gardening, as well as a varied. The majority of camel breeders in the region are found in the Ouargla region, which is disnguished by a marked presence of camel pastoralists. This makes it an essenally pastoral area in the context of this study. The region also has a significant number of breeders of Sahrawi herds of average size and moderate performance. Pastoralism represents a dominant in the south-eastern region of Algeria. Pastoralists, here, raise modest-sized herds, comprising fewer than 50 camels. The typology of breeders, based on the type of agricultural acvity, reveals the diversity of breeder profiles and demonstrates the necessity of adapng agricultural and resource management policies to the characteriscs of each group in to yield of livestock systems. The typology of camel farming in Algeria is indicave of key differences. In type 1, the restricon of grazing maximises resources. By contrast, Saharan herds, which graze only in summer, face challenges due to the fluctuang nature of resources. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that there are no known conflicts of interest. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES [1] Senoussi A, Abazi A, Bezziou S, Brahimi Z. 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