How To Learn All About Camels

2009 - Volume #33, Issue #5, Page #09

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Interested in camels? You can learn everything you ever wanted to know at a clinic organized by Don and Michelle Strobel, Clinton, Mich.

Strobel and his wife breed and sell camels. Breeding camels is something he advises people to do only after they've become very familiar with the unusual animals. Bull camels in rut are not fun to deal with, he warns. After the clinic, he had his vet demonstrate castration on three young bulls. He also showed attendees a bull in rut, breeding a cow.

"We covered a lot of things you couldn't learn anywhere else," says Strobel. "We also covered basic training, like how to get them to lie down, how to get them on and off a trailer, and general behavior issues and problems."

One of the big benefits of attending the camel clinic is exposure of new people in the industry to a number of long time owners.

"If you can't get hold of your vet and it's 10 p.m., but you have a list of contacts you can call for advice, what is that worth?" he asks.

The Strobels raise Dromedary camels, the ones with one hump. Dromedaries have no problem adapting to Michigan weather, Strobel says. He also prefers their personalities, and an adult can carry three riders.

Offering rides at community and corporate events and having a traveling petting zoo are a big part of what Stro-Bull Farms does. However, Christmas nativity scenes are the cash cow for camel owners.

"Three or four nativities a season will pay for your camel," says Strobel.

That says a lot, considering a baby female on bottle can sell for $6,000. Price depends on sex, age and training. A bred cow will run $8,000 to $10,000 and more, if well trained. Strobel says he has a 14-year old gelding that he wouldn't sell for $25,000 because it's so well trained and crowd friendly.

"You can charge $1,000 to $3,000 for a few hours, depending on if you include other animals," he says. "I have friends who charge a $1,000 fee for just one camel."

Strobel adds that camels, unlike other exotics, have never gone through a boom and bust cycle, but have kept their value year in and year out.

He points out a male will reach 1,800 lbs. or bigger. "For the most part, they are easy keepers, and females and geldings make great pets," he says.

Strobel advises folks interested in buying a camel to attend a clinic first. "I had a young couple who wanted an animal," he says. "I suggested they attend the clinic. It cost them $300, but at the end they knew they still wanted a camel, and I was comfortable they knew what they were doing."

Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stro-Bull Farms, 11936 Hogan Hwy., Clinton, Mich. 49236 (ph 517 456-4128; herdon2@verizon.net; www.strobullfarms.com).

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How To Learn All About Camels LIVESTOCK Exotic Animals Interested in camels? You can learn everything you ever wanted to know at a clinic organized by Don and Michelle Strobel Clinton Mich
Strobel and his wife breed and sell camels Breeding camels is something he advises people to do only after they ve become very familiar with the unusual animals Bull camels in rut are not fun to deal with he warns After the clinic he had his vet demonstrate castration on three young bulls He also showed attendees a bull in rut breeding a cow
We covered a lot of things you couldn t learn anywhere else says Strobel We also covered basic training like how to get them to lie down how to get them on and off a trailer and general behavior issues and problems
One of the big benefits of attending the camel clinic is exposure of new people in the industry to a number of long time owners
If you can t get hold of your vet and it s 10 p m but you have a list of contacts you can call for advice what is that worth? he asks
The Strobels raise Dromedary camels the ones with one hump Dromedaries have no problem adapting to Michigan weather Strobel says He also prefers their personalities and an adult can carry three riders
Offering rides at community and corporate events and having a traveling petting zoo are a big part of what Stro-Bull Farms does However Christmas nativity scenes are the cash cow for camel owners
Three or four nativities a season will pay for your camel says Strobel
That says a lot considering a baby female on bottle can sell for $6 000 Price depends on sex age and training A bred cow will run $8 000 to $10 000 and more if well trained Strobel says he has a 14-year old gelding that he wouldn t sell for $25 000 because it s so well trained and crowd friendly
You can charge $1 000 to $3 000 for a few hours depending on if you include other animals he says I have friends who charge a $1 000 fee for just one camel
Strobel adds that camels unlike other exotics have never gone through a boom and bust cycle but have kept their value year in and year out
He points out a male will reach 1 800 lbs or bigger For the most part they are easy keepers and females and geldings make great pets he says
Strobel advises folks interested in buying a camel to attend a clinic first I had a young couple who wanted an animal he says I suggested they attend the clinic It cost them $300 but at the end they knew they still wanted a camel and I was comfortable they knew what they were doing
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Stro-Bull Farms 11936 Hogan Hwy Clinton Mich 49236 ph 517 456-4128; herdon2@verizon net; www strobullfarms com

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