AUTHOR=Mohamed Shafii Abdullahi A., Mumin Daha Hussein H., Shurie Abdiaziz Ahmed , Mohamud Abdinor Mohamed , Farah Hussein Mohamed , Abdullahi Abdimajid Ali , Hassan Hassan Mohamed , Khatkar Mehar S. , Ali Abdirahman A. , Thomson Peter C. C.
  
TITLE=Phenotypic diversity and milk production performance of Somali camel ecotypes under extensive pastoral systems
  
JOURNAL=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice
  
VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/pastoralism-research-policy-and-practice/articles/10.3389/past.2026.16713
  
DOI=10.3389/past.2026.16713
  
ISSN=2041-7136
  
ABSTRACT=Somali pastoralists recognise four primary dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) ecotypes—Hoor, Aiden, Gellab, and Sifdacar based on conformation, coat characteristics, and perceived production utility; however, quantitative description of these classifications remains poorly documented. This study evaluated the phenotypic diversity and milk production performance of these ecotypes under extensive management systems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 472 mature camels across the Banadir, Bay, Galgaduud, Gedo, and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia. Eighteen linear body measurements and multiple qualitative traits were recorded, alongside daily milk production monitoring for lactating females. Animals were stratified and analysed by ecotype, sex, and two age class (8–11 and 12–15 years). Live body weight was estimated via a barymetric equation, and ecotypic means were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. The results confirmed significant phenotypic differentiation among the ecotypes. Among breeding males aged 8–11 years, the Aiden ecotype exhibited the highest estimated body weight (430 ± 30.2 kg, mean ± SEM), whereas Sifdacar displayed the greatest height at withers (161.0 ± 7.44 cm), and facial length (57.0 ± 2.26 cm). Within the older male cohort (12–15 years), Aiden remained the heaviest (500.88 ± 38.14 kg), whereas Sifdacar males exhibited the lowest (361.80 ± 48.24 kg), while Sifdacar retained distinctive structural frame traits despite a lower body mass. Qualitative assessments characterised Hoor females by relatively larger udder and teat dimensions. Despite these distinct morphological divergences, milk production varied minimally among groups. Mean daily milk yield ranged from 7.24 to 7.70 L/day, and the overall ecotype effect was statistically non-significant (P = 0.814). These findings validate indigenous pastoral knowledge, demonstrating that Somali camel ecotypes represent morphologically distinct biocultural resources. Furthermore, the data suggest that under extensive production frameworks, daily milk yields are heavily modulated by environmental and management factors rather than ecotypic identity alone. This study establishes a foundational morphometric and production baseline to support community-based breeding programs, advance animal genetic resource conservation, and strengthen the camel dairy value-chain development in Somalia.