Posted on 09/06/2010 8:42:47 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Australia's fledgling camel industry has received a government grant to capitalize on growing international demand for the animals' meat and milk. The animals were brought to the country by early settlers but their numbers have soared since they were released into the wild, and some Australians consider them pests.
More than a million camels roam Australia's vast interior. These hardy animals are among the country's most destructive feral pests and marksmen have begun the task of culling hundreds of thousands of them.
Meat companies, however, say a more productive way to reduce camel numbers is to export them as a business, rather than simply shoot them and leave their bodies to rot.
The government has given Australia's camel industry an $18,000 development grant to help it tap into markets in the Middle East as well in Malaysia and Thailand. Meat industry groups say much more generous state support is needed if the trade in camel products is to reach its full potential.
Paddy McHugh, who runs an export company in Queensland, says the opportunities for growth are enormous.
"Now, the main product is meat for human consumption," McHugh said. "Then another big industry evolving is the milk, which is huge and the ramifications for milk as a health food are phenomenal. So, a lot of research needs to be done into that. But we have also had other inquiries for the hump fat, for urine, for camel teeth to Japan. It just goes on and on, you know. It is such a big, potential commercial industry for Australia. We need to explore all avenues."
Camel meat is promoted as a low cholesterol alternative to beef. Exporters say the urine is sometimes used in hair and skin products. In some countries, such as Kenya, camel hides are used in making women's handbags and other leather goods.
More than half of Australia's camel population lives on Aboriginal land. Some Aboriginal groups hope a bigger camel exports would also benefit remote indigenous communities.
Camels were introduced into Australia in the 1840s to help explorers conquer the continent's inhospitable terrain. The feral population is expected to double in the next decade.
They compete with livestock for food, trample vegetation and invade remote settlements in search of water. Many residents, especially ranchers, in the Australian Outback endorse the government cull, but some animal protection groups call it cruel.
So why does there need to be any “generous state support” if the industry is viable?
I prefer moose.
Well, they need to pay James Garner to do a commercial, until the meat catches on...
A stand at the recent MN State Fair offered camel on a stick.
Elk, Wapiti... mmm, mmm, mmm,
leaving for wyo. this thursday...
Well, if they taste good, I’d walk a mile for a camel.
The proven way to control the population of pests is to publish recipes. It works every time. You’ll soon see new items at your local Lebanese restaurant.
Harissa and tahini.
Leni
It makes sense to use them rather than let them rot like we did the buffalo.People will eat any meat.
That’s a very good question. But I think it would need quite a subsidy, and a very good advertising campaign, to ramp up demand for two of the items listed - camels’ teeth, and camels’ urine.
Here’s one
http://jennifersusantolee.blogspot.com/2008/07/recipe-camel-fillets-with-shiraz-butter.html
here’s to hoping they remain an untapped source.
Hope you have a great hunt! To bad we can’t harvest the wild equines that over graze the BLM lands to feed people. If only horses looked more like camels.
That’s just it. The article says the market for camel cutlets and leather already exists in Araby so they don’t need to hire Jim Garner or Sam Eliot or cannibalize the music of Aaron Copeland to sell it in Oz. Hell, existing meat-processing facilities are probably adequate, what’s the problem?
Pack em up, ship em out, rawhide.
How about using them for cat or dog food?
The buffalo were killed to starve the Indians,not because they were a pest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.