Sensory trial of camel milk powder among pastoralist communities of the Somali Region, Ethiopia

Background
Camel milk is a vital source of nutrition for people living in many arid and semi-arid
regions. Camel milk powder offers a valuable opportunity for the dairy industry to
develop and launch innovative products in the milk and dairy market.
Objective
To evaluate the sensory preference of camel milk powder compared to fresh camel
milk among pastoralist communities in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.
Methods
A single-blinded sensory crossover study was conducted among randomly selected
248 pastoralist communities in the Somali Region. Data were collected using struc tured questionnaires. Participants did not know whether they tasted fresh milk or
camel milk powder. The sequence was randomized, assigning either fresh/camel
milk powder or powdered/fresh camel milk to each participant. Data was summa rized using mean, median, frequency, and percentage and was presented using
charts and tables. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used
to identify variables associated with the outcome. Statistical associations were
assessed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with significance declared
at a P-value<0.05. A t-test was used to compare milk spending and milk liking levels
between powdered and fresh camel milk.
PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333358 October 30, 2025 2 / 13
Results
In this study, 31% (95% CI: 25.5%–37.1%) preferred powdered milk among pastoral ists in the Somali Region. Factors significantly associated with preference of camel
milk powder included being an urban pastoralist resident, AOR=2.02 (95% CI: 1.30,
3.16), and being female, AOR=1.94 (95% CI: 1.25, 3.01). There is no statistically
significant mean difference between fresh camel milk and camel milk powder regard ing willingness to pay.
Conclusion
Although most preferred fresh milk, the mean rating of powder was still high. Pow dered milk might be a good alternative in settings where a cold chain is difficult to
maintain and shelf life is an issue. Factors such as place of residence and sex of
pastoralist significantly influence preference of powdered milk. There is no significant
difference in willingness to pay between fresh camel milk and powdered camel milk.
Focusing on nutritional advantages, safety, and convenience regarding camel milk
powder is crucial for rural and male pastoralists’ adoption. Promotional efforts should
be improved in accessibility and practicality without reducing cost.
Introduction
Camel milk is a vital food source that supplies energy and nutrients to rural commu nities living in the arid regions of Africa and the Middle East [1,2]. Camel milk is a
vital food source that supplies energy and nutrients to rural communities. Additionally,
camel milk improves livelihoods and supports economic development for commu nities living in the arid regions of Africa and the Middle East, both domestically and
internationally [3]. Pastoralists in subsistence farming systems keep camels mostly
for their milk. They are famous for continuing to produce milk in the face of drought.
When milk from cows, lambs, and goats is in short supply during dry seasons and
drought years, camels are a very dependable source of milk [4,5].
According to statistics on livestock, there are approximately 35.5 million camels
worldwide, with the largest populations found in Somalia, Sudan, Niger, Kenya, Chad,
Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, and Pakistan [3]. In Ethiopia alone, there are about 2.4
million camels, primarily located in the southern and eastern pastoral regions of the
country [6,7].
Even though over 80% of the world’s camel population is found in Africa, with 60%
residing in Eastern African countries, traditional camel milk producers create and
consume the product locally, with the production process typically low-tech; this has
subsequently created minimal global trade in camel milk [3]. Recent research found
that camel milk, known for its genuine or alleged “medicinal” benefits, is moving
beyond the margins, with global camel milk production having seen significant annual
growth, surpassing 8% from 2009 to 2019, reflecting the increasing interest in this
product [1,8]