The present research is aimed to evaluate the diverse husbandry practices, ethno-veterinary practices, socio-economic status and distressing constraints of camel pastoralists inhabiting desert (Thal) areas of Pakistan, where they maintain herds of Marecha and Barela dromedaries in extensive production regimes. For this purpose, 200 pastoralists were selected at random to fill out an on-site questionnaire. According to the farmers’ responses, it was perceived that their living status had improved in the last decades due to the progressive optimization of camel productivity and herdsmen responsiveness. In contrast, calf mortality rates, some traditional husbandry practices and the lack of market investments continued to be the major constraints affecting camel overall production. Ethno-veterinary medicines are widely applied as primary health care, thus influencing the general health, production potentials and relief of camels in the study region. With this scenario, concerned stakeholders and authorized institutions must re-evaluate the urgent needs of indigenous communities; their education and husbandry skills to promote economic/ financial support in low-income remote areas. In turn, traditional communities will be adapted to the changing socio-economic and cultural values with regard to camel husbandry and welfare. Current societal perceptions and demands within this livestock production industry, where camels are conceived as a sustainable food security animal, if accomplished to the highest possible extent, will increase effectiveness of the camel value chain and breeders’ quality of life will be noticeably enhanced. However, this success could be multiplied if government may devise community education, veterinary cover, marketing facilitates and interest-free small loans for pastoralists.

Dry fruits and nuts are nutritious foods with several health-promoting properties. However, they are prone to contamination with aflatoxins at all stages of production and storage. The present study aimed to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and total aflatoxins (AFT) in dates, pistachios, and walnuts collected from four districts of South Punjab (Pakistan), and to assess the associated health risks as estimated by dietary exposure and the Margin of Exposure (MoE) determinations. The contents of AFB1 and AFT in these food products were monitored during storage under three different conditions (open-air, hermetically closed jars, and refrigeration at 4 °C) to determine the most efficient conditions in preventing aflatoxin accumulation. HPLC-fluorescence analysis of 60 samples of these products for aflatoxin contamination showed that 52 (86.7%) samples were contaminated at different levels, with a maximum of 24.2 ng/g. The overall (all samples) mean concentrations of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and AFT were 3.39 ± 2.96, 1.39 ± 1.68, 1.63 ± 1.48. 1.12 ± 1.23, and 7.54 ± 6.68, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and MoE of aflatoxins through the consumption of the products ranged from 0.06 ng/kg bw/day to 2.0 ng/kg bw/day and from 84.84 to 2857.13, respectively, indicating that consumers are at high health risk. Significant differences were recorded between aflatoxin levels in the samples stored under different storage conditions, with storage under refrigeration (4 °C) being the most effective in controlling aflatoxin accumulation, although storage in closed jars was also efficient and offers a more flexible alternative to retailers. The findings of the study urge official authorities of Pakistan to implement appropriate regulatory and control measures and surveillance program to alleviate the potential public health risks associated with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts in the scope of their increased consumption.

In contemporary times, the sustained aspiration of bioengineering and biomedical applications is the progressive advancement of materials characterized by biocompatibility and biodegradability. The investigation of the potential applications of polymers as natural and non-hazardous materials has placed significant emphasis on their physicochemical properties. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the potential of gelatin–chitosan–moringa leaf extract (G–CH–M) as a novel biomaterial for biomedical applications. The wound-dressing G–CH–M biopolymer was synthesized and characterized. The blood haemolysis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the biopolymer were investigated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial isolates. Our results showed that S. aureus swarming motility was drastically affected. However, the biopolymer had no significant effect on the swarming motility of E. coli. In addition, the biopolymer showed high antibacterial capacities, especially against S. aureus. Plasmid DNA was observed to be effectively protected from oxidative stresses by the biopolymer. Furthermore, the biopolymer exhibited greatly suppressed haemolysis (lower than 2%), notwithstanding the elevated concentration of 50 mg/mL. These results indicated that this novel biopolymer formulation could be further developed for wound care and contamination prevention.

| Camel milk (CaM) have therapeutic characteristics with fortified nutritive values and is well known for these peculiar features. The fat portion in camel milk is properly emulsified with very fine globules and doesn’t form a typical layer over surface. The fat is present in evenly distributed small micelles throughout the milk. CaM has very handsome share of protein and lactose percentage which is well tolerant to humans and doesn’t cause lactose allergy. So, the CaM can easily be used in lactose intolerant cases. The SNF and solids of CaM are in almost same proportion as in cattle milk, so it is healthier enough. There are different antibodies, insulin, antioxidants and antimicrobial properties which gives special characteristic features to it. Thus; CaM is being used as remedial purposes in the treatment of many diseases and may also as quality aphrodisiac. It is enriched in α-lactalbumin and lacks protein β-lacto globulins and is healthier having ↑ proportion of C14-C18 fatty acids. With ample clue from the literature data; the current study was planned to investigate the milk and colostrum composition of Pakistani dromedary camel and to relate with the reported values by other scientists. The CaM samples were taken from Thal Desert in natural habitat. The milk fat, protein, lactose, solids-not-fat and total milk solids % were found to be 4.79, 3.56, 4.92, 9.09, 13.88 and 2.02, 4.4, 6.4, 11.78, 13.8 in regular milk and colostrum, respectively. The data obtained will be a useful addition to build the country’s database for future studies of this field.

This study belongs to project “Rural development by livestock extension education in Southern Punjab”. A survey was conducted in Multan and Muzaffargarh districts of Southern Punjab by using a pretested questionnaire to collect the information regarding food security and socio-economic status of cameleers in study area. It has been shown from the results that the socio-economic status of camel herders has improved a lot in last decade mainly due to the knowledge about camel and its products. Definitely camel plays an indispensable role in the food security of people of arid zone. Now the people are getting conscious about consuming the camel milk and products as in earlier time there was a taboo to use the camel products and the people did not get their taste developed. Due to increasing health reasons and by the initiatives taken by government departments the people are getting familiar with the camel products. Now the camel has shifted its place from “ship of the desert” and “beast of the burden” to a “food security animal” with great potential to produce a valuable product even in those areas of harsh climatic conditions where there seems difficult for the other domestic animals to produce. The camel herders value the ethno-veterinary practices and still use these for the treatment in camels. Mainly the camel browse on the roadsides but also stallfed with fodder by cut and carry system. The camel plays a pivotal role in the life sustainability of cameleers where they mainly depend on this specie for their livelihood. Hence; this is an integral part of pastoral ecosystem in arid, semi-arid and deserted lands.

Impact of Oxytocin Administration on Milk Quality, Reproductive Performance and Residual Effects in Dairy Animals – A Review