The aim of this work was to study the suitability of camel milk for the production of dairy products by lactic acid fermentation. Sixty strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from camel milk. The strains were tested for their acidification activity, ability to use citrate, exopolysaccharide production, lipolytic, proteolytic activities and resistance to antibiotics. Ten strains were investigated for their ability to metabolize carbohydrates and that resulted in the identification of 5 Lactococcus lactis, 1 Lactobacillus pentosus, 2 Lactobacillus plantarum, 1 Lactobacillus brevis and 1 Pediococcus pentosaceus strains. Two strains of Lactococcus lactis SCC133 and SLch14 were selected to produce traditional Tunisian fermented dairy products (Lben, Raib, Jben cheese and Smen). These strains were chosen based on their acid production capacity and their ability to produce a high yield of biomass.

In order to evaluate milking ability in dromedary camels, 124 milk flow curves were registered during morning milking of 20 dairy Maghrebi dromedary camels. Animals were in lactations 1-8, were 6-19 years old and were 4-15 months of their current lactation. Milk flow curves were recorded using an electronic milk flow meter (Lactocorder®). Milk flow curves were classified in three typical patterns: type 1 represents curves with one high and short peak of milk flow; type 2 represents curves with a moderate mean milk flow rate during a large plateau phase; and type 3 represents curves with lower mean milk flow rate and a relatively longer milking duration. The ratio of the different milk flow patterns in the population evaluated was 40:38:22% for types 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The highest milk yield per milking, average and peak milk flow were observed in camels with type 1 curves (4·24 kg, 1·49 and 3·54 kg/min, respectively) followed by type 2 animals (3·30 kg, 1·12 and 2·12 kg/min, respectively) and lastly type 3 curves (2·34 kg, 0·65 and 1·23 kg/min, respectively). This study confirmed that a major proportion of dromedary camels have a suitable machine milking ability. Nevertheless, our results suggest that pre-stimulation and improving the milking process may improve milking efficiency and guarantee a more complete and rapid emptying of the udder.