Birqash Camel Market in Egypt
The Birqash market in Giza is one of the most famous camel markets in Egypt, and a meeting place for its lovers from various Arab and African countries, in an effort to market it to breeding lovers, as the market is located on an area of 25 acres.
According to the reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, the camel trading movement in the Birqash market reaches approximately 150 thousand camels and minks annually, with an average of 12 thousand per month, and is subject to veterinary control before arriving in the country from various countries through southern Egypt, especially since most of them come from Sudan, which is the meeting point of camels from different countries and through the market they are re-marketed in various governorates.
Dr. Sayed Khalifa, the head of agrarians, said that the lower income groups are more likely to buy camels as victims due to their lower prices compared to sheep and veal meat, as well as the preference of some regions to eat camel meat.
Dr. Mahmoud Arafa, a professor at the Animal Health Institute of the Agricultural Research Center, explained that the most important qualities of camel meat are that it is from an animal that is the most resistant to diseases and that if it gets sick, it dies, and that many camel liver lovers resort to it as a treatment for the lack of nutrients in the body; as it is rich in iron and copper, free of toxins and low in fat, in addition to being free of bile, i.e. without bitterness.
Captain Nasser, a camel trader at Birqash market, says camel meat is rich in proteins and vitamins, and it also contains a low percentage of fat, which makes it a healthy option to eat, camel meat is characterized by its unique flavor, and it can be prepared in many different ways.
There are several types of camels, Nasser continued, including the most famous municipal, Sudanese, and Ethiopian camels, and the best municipal camels that were bred in Egypt, where they are distinguished by their large size and delicious meat due to pastures.
The captain added that the camel comes from Sudan and the camel's journey from Sudan to Cairo took 40 days before, but now the camel's journey takes 4 days after the construction of roads that brought the distance between Egypt and Sudan closer, pointing out that the camel can live up to 25 years, explaining that the camel was created without bitterness, even if the disease dies.
He added that the weight of camels ranges from 8 to 9 centaurs, pointing out that the average weight of camels in Egypt is 225 kilograms, after slaughter and healing up to 175 kilos of net meat, explaining that the average price of a kilo of camel meat ranges from 280 pounds to 300 pounds.
He pointed out that buyers of sacrificial camels should look for a healthy, strong, and disease-free camel, and should make sure of the camel's weight and age and the absence of any signs on his body indicating illness, preferably a tooth not less than a nutcracker, explaining that the teeth indicate the camel's age, as it is possible to find out the camel's age by examining his teeth. This is done by examining the front and back teeth, and the camel's tooth can be found by checking the number of teeth, their shape, and size.
