Preface of the 10th International Seminar of Veterinary Medicine: Camelids in Algeria and the Maghreb

This book collects articles from the contributions presented at the 10th International Seminar of Veterinary Medicine: Camelids in Algeria and the Maghreb, held in Constantine, Algeria, at Université Frères Mentouri, Constantine 1, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, on 20–21 December 2022.

The history of the domestication of camelids remains poorly documented. Accordingly, in recent years, the dromedary has been the subject of particular research attention from the national and international authorities. This animal is the subject of capital importance and topicality in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the Member States of the United Nations and collated in the 2030 Agenda.

The objective of the seminar was to encourage the participation of several researchers, teachers and professionals from national and international countries who conduct research on camels to present and debate, in plenary and conference sessions, their recent findings concerning this emblematic species, which is represented by the dromedary. This includes the varied and vital roles it has played in the past and continues to play today, its socio-economic and ecological implications, and the enhancement and improvement of products obtained from this species such as meat and milk. As a final point, experts have recommended the creation of a national camel research community of comprising academics, investors, promoters and professionals, with the establishment of a Maghreb network bringing together all actors in the camel research sector to form a common database. This will help to coordinate research projects in Algeria and throughout the Maghreb; the establishment of stations, research centers and camel breeding in potential regions; the introduction of an intensive system in parallel with the extensive breeding system to improve the sustainability of camel breeding; the encouragement of scientific studies, in particular in genetics, which make it possible to determine camel breed standards in Algeria and to adopt the same nomenclature throughout the national territory and worldwide. It will also contribute to the identification and characterization of different types of camels in relation to their abilities; the promotion of camel products such as meat, milk, skin and hair; the dietary and therapeutic virtues of camel products; studies on feed and nutritional needs according to the evolution of livestock systems; and a focus on dromedary pathologies, in particular parasitic pathologies and screening for zoonotic diseases. This book concludes that the preservation and the development of are a high priority to strengthen the exchange of information between experts of camel research sector. We wish to acknowledge all the members of the Organization Committee, the support of all the participants and sponsors who enabled the organization of the 10th International Seminar of Medicine: Camelids in Algeria and the Maghreb, and the Scientific Committee that ensures the scientific quality of these papers.