Abstract

Background:
Camel breeding constitutes a significant socio-economic activity in the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Tunisia, where it represents one of the most resilient livestock systems under harsh environmental conditions. Despite its importance, the structural diversity of camel production systems remains poorly documented, limiting the development of targeted and sustainable interventions in the sector.

Aim:
This study aimed to identify and characterize the typology of camel production systems in southern Tunisia to improve the understanding of their structural organization and management practices.

Methods:
A field survey was conducted among 277 camel owners distributed across six southern governorates of Tunisia (Gafsa, Gabes, Kebili, Tataouine, Tozeur, and Medenine). Data on herd size, production objectives, feeding practices, health management, and marketing were collected using a structured questionnaire. To identify distinct production system types, multivariate analysis combining multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical agglomerative clustering was performed.

Results:
Three main types of camel production systems were identified. Type 1 (47.3%) included small-scale breeders managing herds of 1–12 camels, mainly located in Tataouine and Medenine. Type 2 (39.7%) included breeders with medium-sized herds (13–59 camels), predominantly located in Kebili. Type 3 (13%) comprised large-scale breeders managing herds of 60–377 camels, exclusively located in Medenine. Across all types, camel husbandry was largely practiced under extensive or semi-extensive management systems, with mixed milk–meat production predominating.

Conclusion:
This typology highlights the heterogeneity of camel production systems in southern Tunisia and provides a useful framework for designing targeted development strategies to improve the sustainability and performance of the camel sector in arid environments.

Key words: Camelus dromedarius; Farming systems; Pastoralism; Southern Tunisia; Typology.