DEL MAR -- Ramona residents Nancy and Gil Riegler give visitors to the San Diego County Fair the rare opportunity to see a nursing baby camel three times a day.

Tuesday afternoon the camel dairy farmers led Goldie, a female dromedary, and her one-year old calf Raja out of their pen to introduce them to crowd and start the demonstration.

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Gil Riegler explained that camel nursing is a little different than cow nursing. The baby camel must be near the mother and must "ask" to nurse in order to stimulate the flow of milk.

"Camel milk is very close to human milk," he said. "And it has all kinds of wonderful things in it. It's high in protein, digests easily and has many anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities."

Nancy Riegler said the couple even enjoys a cup of camel milk at their home in Ramona.

"In other countries, like Germany, they sell it for people to drink," she said, "but we can't sell it because it hasn't been pasteurized and all that."

A camel calf typically weighs about 75 pounds at birth, usually nurses for just over a year and can top 2,000 pounds at adulthood. They often live between 35 and 40 years.

The Rieglers said they have been working with camels for 15 years, bringing them to Ramona 10 years ago to start a farm there. They have 21 camels now, all dromedaries, or one-humped camels. They produce a line of camel-milk soaps at Oasis Camel Dairy that are available at the fair or on the Web site at www.cameldairy.com.

Gil Riegler said he fell instantly in love with camels and knew that he wanted to make them his life's work. Nancy said Gil's passion for camels is a perfect example of someone "following his bliss."

"They're just like a big, friendly dog, that wants to be petted and hang out with you," Gil said. "They are very intelligent, and they are very misunderstood. I have never had a camel spit on me. They only do that to get away from discomfort, or if they have been mistreated."

San Diego resident Lee Mandelbaum said she enjoyed the camel milk-producing demonstration.

"I thought it was very educational. I learned a lot," she said.

"I like the way they chew," added La Jolla third-grader Cammie Hickman. "I thought they were supposed to bite, but they don't."

Special Wednesday

- All day: San Diego cat fanciers day, Agri Fair

- Noon: Clay to bronze demo, Fine Art

- 1 p.m.: Getting started with drip irrigation, Flower Show Stage

- 4 p.m.: Guitar Hero contest preliminaries, Theme Exhibit

- 7:30 p.m.: Bret Michaels, Heineken Grandstand Stage

- 9 p.m.: Foghat, Chevy Paddock Stage

Daily fair features

- Coco's Pie Eating Contest, Plaza Stage, noon: Contestants called by age groups to vie for the blue ribbon.

- Doggies of the Wild West Show, Sparkletts Water Infield, 12:30 and 2 p.m.: Trained pooches of the prairie amaze and delight with tricks.

- Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Durante Area, 11 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.: Piglets race for Oreo cookies.

-Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik, San Diego Showcase Stage, except for Thursdays and Saturdays, when the show will be at the Infield Stage, 5 and 7 p.m.: Master hypnotist mesmerizes audience members.

Fair facts at a glance

When: Through July 5, except June 15 and 22. Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays and July 3, 11 a.m. other days. Grounds generally close at midnight Saturdays, Sundays and July 3, and 11 p.m. other days. Buildings open 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays and July 3; 11 a.m. other days. Buildings close at 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10 p.m. other days; midnight on July 3 & 4. The carnival is open from 11 a.m. to midnight weekdays and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, Sundays and July 4.

Where: Just west of Interstate 5 at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Via de la Valle is the freeway exit.

How much: Adults, $13; seniors 62 and older, $7; children 6 through 12, $7; children 5 and under, free.

Parking: $10 for standard vehicles and $15 for motor homes. "Preferred parking" near the main gate, $15.

Shuttles: Free parking and shuttle service is available daily at Horsepark, 14550 El Camino Real, just off of Via de la Valle at El Camino Real. On weekends and on July 4, from 9 to 1 a.m., additional shuttles will run every 15 minutes from Torrey Pines High School (3710 Del Mar Heights Road, Carmel Valley) and from MiraCosta College's San Elijo Campus, (3333 Manchester Ave., Cardiff).

Telephone: (858) 793-5555

Web site: www.sdfair.com

Public transportation to and from the fair

North County residents can ride the Coaster and the Sprinter to catch a special Breeze bus to the fair. Amtrak service operates daily; the Coaster operates every day except Sunday and July 4. Both trains stop at the Solana Beach station, 2 miles from the Fairgrounds. North County Transit District operates a continuous shuttle to and from the station, and an express bus from Escondido to the fair. For Coaster and bus information, visit www.gonctd.com. For Amtrak information, visit www.amtrak.com.