Welfare aspects of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) and their impact on meat quality: Review.

Authors

Isam T Kadim, Issa S Al-Amri, Abdulaziz AlKindi, Osman Mahgoub, Samira Farhadi

Published in

Veterinary and animal science. Volume 34. Pages 100889. Epub Oct 03, 2026.

Abstract

Consumer concern about animal welfare is increasing, and inadequate pre-slaughter handling of dromedary camels can negatively affect both animal welfare and meat quality. Road transport is a main stressor, with its intensity influenced by factors such as transport distance, vehicle type, load density, ambient temperature, humidity, topography, and the nature of the journey. Multiple factors including transportation, loading, lairage conditions, and slaughter methods, can decrease muscle glycogen levels and increase meat pH, thereby deteriorating meat quality. In developing countries, camel slaughter practices often fail to meet animal welfare standards due to inadequate transport, handling, and restraint methods. These issues are further worsened by the absence of legislation and guidelines specifically addressing camel welfare. Camels show different physiological responses to cope with pre-slaughter stress, which can disrupt bodily functions and oxidative stability. This results in poor processing, functional, and sensory qualities of the meat, increasing the risk of consumer rejection due to dark meat colour or other quality parameters. Therefore, improving camel welfare requires considerable improvements in slaughterhouse infrastructure, management practices, and effective supervision, along with the adoption of humane technologies. Stunning and slaughter methods also play a critical role in animal welfare and meat quality. To ensure product safety and ethical treatment, camel meat production must operate within a transparent and welfare-focused supply chain. This review focuses on major pre-slaughter factors affecting camel welfare and their direct impact on meat quality.

PMID:
42894554
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Oct 2026.

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