Camel Queen Valeri Crenshaw visited Pakistan
Camel Queen Valeri Crenshaw visited Pakistan. She highlighted the importance of Camels in Pakistan. Moreover, she is director of Shamrock Farms USA. She visited different areas of South Punjab. Besides this, She also visited educational institutes. Moreover, she also visited cultural places.
کیمل کوین ویلری کرینشا کا پاکستان کا دورہ، خصوصی گفتگو
بہتر فونٹ سائز کیلئے پیج پر کلک کریں
Click for better font size
پروفیسر باربرہ اور اونٹوں کے دیگر ماہرین کا پاکستان کا دورہ، کیمل ویلفیئر پر تبادلہ خیال
اونٹوں کی سماجی اور اقتصادی اہمیت کے موضوع پر انٹرنیشنل کانفرنس کا انعقاد
Camel Queen of Shamrock Farms in Pakistan
“I am lucky to find the opportunity to spend three weeks in Pakistan. After meeting the camel owners, I realized that I should come to Pakistan again so that I could meet more people and also visit the educational and research institutes which I could not visit”. These views were expressed in an exclusive interview by Valeri Crenshaw, Director of Shamrock Farms USA, and an American woman known as Camel Queen in camel-related circles around the world.
Referring to Shamrock Farms, she said that we had been involved in livestock farming for the last five generations. I grew up on a Ranch in the Manhattan city of Kansas. Our family ranch was famous for breeding registered Angus cows but for the last 16 years it had also become famous for camels. “At the moment, I have five camels which are kept as pets,” She said. “Their hairs are sold to people that are used in various products, they eat the invasive plants and trees that are harmful to the tallgrass prairie, and they are used to train camel handling and safety to the veterinary students at Kansas State University,’’ She added.
Interests of Camel Queen
“I was introduced to international travel from a young age,” she said. “I first time faced camels during a trip to Egypt with my father, and since then I have become attached to them. I am the General Secretary of the North American Camel Ranch Owners Association and a member of the International Camel Organization,” She added.
“I have always been interested in researching different breeds of camels and I traveled to many countries for this purpose. The purpose of visiting Pakistan was to get a closer look at the culture of camels in this country as well as to meet camel owners and camel related experts and researchers,” she said.
Contacts in Pakistan
“To visit Pakistan, I got the contacts of Pakistani members from the head office of the International Camel Organization in Saudi Arabia. I was excited to learn from Furqan Ahmad Khan, Dr. Asim Faraz, Prof. Elahi Bakhsh Marghzani and other members of Pakistan Camel Club. Inspired by the Pakistan Camel Club, We are strengthening the North American Camel Ranch Owners Association,” She added.
Pakistan Camel Club
She said she is also optimistic about the support of Pakistan Camel Club. The United States is not very advanced in camel production. Just as there are experts in camel treatment and research in Pakistan, there are not many camel experts in the United States. We don’t even have different breeds and types of camels. In this regard, universities do not focus on research nor do they give more importance to camels in veterinary education.
Camel Queen about Camels in USA
“The number of camels in the United States does not exceed 5,000,” she said. “The majority of these are Dromedary (one-humped) camels, while there are about 500-800 Bactrian (two-humped) camels. There are some small commercial dairies of domestic camels and some of them are licensed to sell milk. Most farmers have a small number of camels that are kept with other animals. Some people keep camels as pets, while there are also camels for zoo and tourism purposes. Camels are used for various exhibitions and community events as well as for trekking and tourism. They are also bred for breeding and milking,” she explained.
Interest of Camel Queen in Camel Research
Camel Queen said that in various scientific journals, she had seen references to Camel Breeding and Research Station Rakhmani Bhakkar. She wanted to know more about the research and activities of this institute. The same institute also experimented with successful camel birth for the first time through artificial insemination. We also need this advanced technology for camels in the United States.
“Thanks to the members of Pakistan Camel Club, it was possible for me to meet Camel researchers and handlers in this organization,’ she said. I am grateful to Furqan Ahmad Khan and Dr. Asim Faraz as well as Dr. Shahid Nabil incharge of Camel Breeding and Research Station for giving me the opportunity to visit this institution, she added.
She shad the contact with Prof. Dr. Illahi Bax Marghazani even before my arrival in Pakistan, she told. She was also following their camel-related YouTube channel, Camel Plus. He worked with us on the North American Camel Ranch Owners Association and sponsors for the camel clinic.
Research in Pakistan on Camel
She said she specially approached Professor Marghazani regarding camel culture in Pakistan. Professor Marghazani invited to come to Lasbela University and meet with researchers and students. She found the opportunity to learn a lot at the University of Lasbela. She said she is grateful for their hospitality. During the discussion on camel rearing in the land of cows, she was impressed by the questions of the students, she told.
“I also met the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dost Muhammad Baloch at the University of Lasbela and discussed with him further cooperation regarding holding of annual Camel Conference at the University and development of Camel Dairy in the area,” she added.
Referring to Bahauddin Zakaria University Multan, she said that during the meeting with Dr. Asim Faraz and other experts, there was an opportunity to learn about Animal Welfare, Parasites Management and Disease Prevention. She also met Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz and others at Cholistan Veterinary University. On this occasion, it was informed about the establishment of Disease Free Zone in Bahawalpur.
“I could not meet the experts of universities located in Faisalabad, Jhang, Lahore and other cities due to shortage of time. Similarly, with various officials could not be met. I will also visit again Pakistan. I am interested in virtual attendance of the conference to be held at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,” she added.
Camel Queen a Guest in Pakistan
“I had the opportunity to learn a lot from my tour of Pakistan,” Camel Queen concluded. “Apart from camels, I also got the opportunity to see the culture of Pakistan. I came to Pakistan to learn from researchers, veterinary professionals and camel owners. I am going back with the intention of focusing and understanding what I have learned,” she added.
Valeri Crenshaw was the guest of Pakistan Camel Club and Traditional Sports and Games Association of Pakistan. Mr. Furqan Ahmad Khan and Dr. Asim Faraz took him on a tour of different institutions and introduced him to different people. Camel Queen was also given a tour of Cholistan. She also attended wrestling competitions in Bahawalpur. Valeri was also given a tour of the Dairy Lac factory where she met the company’s Chief Executive Officer Nosherwan Merchant, Chaudhry Irshad Gujjar, Dr. Atiq Chishti and others.
It should be noted that Mr. Furqan Ahmad Khan is the President of Pakistan Camel Club while Dr. Asim Faraz is the General Secretary of this Association. Mr. Furqan is also member of the board of directors of International Camel Organization. Dr. Asim Faraz is Executive Member of the Traditional Sports and Games Association of Pakistan. He is also the Executive Member and PRO of ISOCARD.
