Animal Reproduction Science, 11 (1986) 75--77 75

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - P r i n t e d in The Netherlands

Short Communication

BREEDING ACTIVITY OF THE CAMEL (CAMELUSDROMEDARIUS)

A.B. E L W I S H Y and I.M. G H O N E I M

Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo
University, Giza (Egypt)
(Accepted 28 June 1985)

ABSTRACT

ElWishy, A.B. and Ghoneim, I.M., 1986. Breeding activity of the camel (Camelus drome-
darius). Anita. Reprod. Sci., 11: 75--77.

The gravid genitalia of 579 camels slaughtered in a Cairo abattoir over a period of
one year were collected. Body measurements of the fetuses were recorded and con-
ception dates were calculated retrospectively from fetal ages. Conceptions occurred
all the year round but with a steep increase from 6.2% during April to 22.6% during
July (spring and early summer). A dramatic decrease then occurred with the lowest
level (3.5%) recorded during October and November.

INTRODUCTION

A long calving interval, protracted post-partum anoestrum and a limited

breeding season are among the major factors contributing to low repro-
ductive performance in camels (Evans and Powys, 1979; Mugerwa, 1981).
Seasonal breeding in camels has been reported from the Sudan (Musa
and Abusineina, 1978), India (Matharu, 1966), Pakistan (Yasin and Wahid,
1957), Somaliland (Mares, 1954) and Egypt (Shalash, 1965). On the other
hand, breeding activity in all months except May, August and October
was claimed by Arthur and A1-Rahim (1982) in Saudi Arabia.
The present work aimed to study the frequency of conceptions during
different months of the year, determined from estimates of ages of fetuses
of slaughtered pregnant camels.

MATERALS AND METHODS

During a survey on the genital organs of camels, the gravid uteri of 579
animals slaughtered in a Cairo abattoir over a period of one year were
collected. Body measurements of the fetuses were recorded and the mean
age of each fetus was estimated as described by ElWishy et ah (1981).
The conception dates were then calculated retrospectively from the fetal
ages.

0378-4320/86/$03.50 © 1986 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Calculation of the conception dates revealed conceptions all the year

round but with a clear increase during spring and early summer (Table
1 and Fig. 1). Increasing daylight hours during this period might be re-
sponsible (Williamson and Payne, 1959). About 73% of the conceptions
occurred between April and September. The frequency increased steeply
from April (6.2%) till July (22.6%) when the peak was achieved, then
decreased to reach the lowest level (3.5%) during October and November
(P <0.001). This conforms with the spermatogenic activity in male camels,
as the number of spermatogonia, spermatids and spermatozoa was signifi-
cantly higher in the spring than in any other season (Abdel Raouf et al.,
1975). The number of seminiferous tubules containing spermatozoa di-
minished greatly during late summer, autumn and early winter. A somewhat
similar trend for ovarian activity of camels in the Sudan, with follicular
development starting during February and March and ending at about
the middle of August, was reported by Musa and Abusineina (1978). Nev-
ertheless, Shalash (1965) noted high ovarian activity between December

X.2

J F M A M J J A S 0 N D

month

Fig. 1. Frequency of conception in camels.

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TABLE 1

Monthly distribution of conceptions in camels

Month Number %

January 31 5.4
February 23 4.0
March 28 4.8
April 36 6.2
May 65 11.2
June 87 15.0
July 131 22.6
August 55 9.6
September 48 8.3
October 20 3.5
November 20 3.5
December 35 6.0

Total 579 100.0

Average 8.3
×2 42.53*

*P < 0.001.

and May, based mainly on the frequency of corpora lutea of pregnancy,

in camels in Egypt.

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