Australian camel industry to export to China

Australian camel farmers are preparing to export boxed camel meat to China following an industry conference in Kazakhstan in June.

More than 1 million wild camels are estimated to be roaming Australia's deserts, covering 3.3 million square kilometers, Australia's national broadcaster has reported.

Ngaanyatjarra council in Alice Springs, Australia's Northern Territory - Land and Culture Manager Alex Knight revealed a camel milk company from the far northwest of China wanted to hear about developments in Australia while the Chinese Bactrian camel association was meeting at the Kazakhstan conference.

"They are trying to develop an import protocol to import camel meat from Australia," Knight said.

Knight is currently in China furthering the development.

Somali butcher Abukar Hersi, currently residing in Melbourne, said camel meat is "one of the best things you can have" which is very rich and high in protein.

"I think when Australians realize, we will see camel meat in every butcher and supermarket."

Hersi said in Somali culture, the camel is worth more than gold.

"When you want to get married you have to give the best camels to the family. We're talking about 100 camels," Hersi said. "If there is fighting or a problem, to make conversation, you give a camel."

Knight said they attended the conference in Kazakhstan to understand the commercial aspects of management, husbandry and disease eradication for camel farming.

"There hasn't been much research in Australia on how to use camels commercially whereas the rest of the world has been moving on with it and developing their camel industry," Knight said.