The influence of high dietary protein, energy and mineral intake on deficient young camel (Camelus dromedarius)--I. Changes in metabolic profiles and growth performance.

1. The main forage for camels in northern Djibouti (mangrove with Avicennia marina) is very poor in nitrogen and energy. In a trial, 32 young camels (less than 2 years old) were used in four groups of eight each. 2. All the camels received mangrove as basal diet ad lib. 3. After 1 month, the camels received mineral supplementation in copper and zinc (groups 1 and 3) or/and a concentrate rich in protein and energy (groups 2 and 3) or continued with the basal diet (controls). 4. Any supplementation was stopped after 2 months for 1 month. 5. Growth performance was 550 g/day (concentrate-supplemented camels) and 570 g/day (concentrate+mineral-supplemented camels). 6. The growth was negative for the two others groups (-260 g/day). 7. Food intake of mangrove was slightly more important with mineral supplementation only and with mineral+concentrate supplementation. 8. The changes in metabolic profiles have shown an important catabolism in non-supplemented animals, an increase of urea and free fatty acid concentrations in plasma and a decrease of glucose concentrations. 9. Three camels died in the control group with symptoms of starvation and signs of liver damage (increase of liver enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase).