How Much Does a Camel Eat a Day? Hay and Feed Guide for UAE Owners

A camel eats roughly 1.5–2% of its body weight in dry feed a day — about 7.5–10 kg of dry matter for a 500 kg camel. Because hay is about 90% dry matter, that is roughly 8–11 kg of hay and feed as you buy it. Studies of dromedary camels fed hay with concentrate measured 1.3–1.96 kg of dry matter per 100 kg of body weight a day (Laameche, Chehma and Faye, 2019), and lactating camels about 1.7 kg (Hashi and Kamoun, CIHEAM, 1995).

Daily amount by weight

• 400 kg camel: about 6–8 kg dry matter, or 7–9 kg of hay and feed as fed
• 500 kg camel: about 7.5–10 kg dry matter, or 8–11 kg as fed
• 600 kg camel: about 9–12 kg dry matter, or 10–13 kg as fed

These are starting points. Weigh what you give for a week, watch what is left over and adjust. Milking, racing and growing camels eat at the top of the range; dry and resting camels at the bottom.

Hay first, then concentrate

Hay is the base of the ration. On UAE farms that is usually Rhodes grass for everyday feeding, with alfalfa added for milking camels, young camels and racing camels because it has more protein and calcium. A concentrate feed made for camels — a milking, calf or general camel feed — tops up energy and protein. In the studies above, camels ate the most when about 40% of the ration was hay and 60% concentrate, but most farms feed more hay than that to dry and resting camels.

Water and salt

Give clean water every day. Camels can go days without drinking, but they eat less when water is short: in one trial, straw intake fell by up to 25% after five days without water. Keep a salt or mineral block where the camels can reach it.

Practical tips

• Split the feed into two meals, morning and evening, and change a ration slowly over 7–10 days
• Buy clean hay with no mould, dust or bad smell; store it off the ground, in the shade
• Feed by condition: if ribs show, increase the feed; if the hump and belly grow too large, cut the concentrate first
• Ask a vet to set the ration for pregnant, sick or very young camels

Where to buy

GrazeMarket lists Rhodes grass, alfalfa and camel feeds with today's price per bale and per bag, delivered from our yard in Al Hayer, Al Ain, to ezbas in every emirate. See the camel feed prices page for today's offers, or call or WhatsApp +971 55 150 9625.