Pastoralists Turn Feral Camels into Allergy-Friendly Pet Food in WA

Managing a 400,000-hectare property near the Gibson Desert, Tim Carmody faces costly camel infestations that consume vegetation and threaten cattle, costing him $20,000-$30,000 annually. He teamed up with Albany-based Paul's Pet Foods, whose mobile plant now culls up to 250 camels per year, turning the pest into a commercial product. The meat is marketed as an organic, low-allergen protein for dogs, with owners like Jodie Muir Mahuika Fitzpatrick noting dramatic skin-condition improvements in their pets after a six-week diet.

Veterinarian Shey Rogers supports camel meat as a diagnostic novelty diet for dogs with unexplained itching. Carmody hopes the model will scale nationally, either eradicating camels or making them a sustainable resource. The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development estimates over one million feral camels roam central Australia, underscoring the broader environmental stakes.