Distinctive features of camel reproduction

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF
CAMEL REPRODUCTION
Prof. G.N Purohit
MVSC, PhD, MNVAS
Dean Post Graduate Studies RAJUVAS &
University Head, Dept. Veterinary (Gynecology & Obstetrics)
College of Veterinary & Animal Science, RAJUVAS, Bikaner,
Rajasthan, India.
Email: gnpobs@gmail.com
RAJASTHAN
IndianSocietyforStudyofAnimalReproduction

• Camels are kept for milk production in Africa and Asia.
• The global camel population is estimated at 35 million.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, camels contribute about 5 percent of
total milk production.
• Somalia is by far the largest camel milk producer in the
world, followed by Kenya and Mali.
• Camels are raised in Gulf countries for racing events
• In the Indian Sub-continent camels are raised for agriculture,
transport and a source of milk
Prof GN Purohit – Non-Commercial, and Educational – Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

RAJASTHAN
2012- 3.26 lakhs
2019- 2.13 lakhs
34.69%
GUJARAT
2012- 30,000
2019- 28,000
HARYANA
2012- 19,000
2019- 5000
CAMEL POPULATION IS ON DECLINE
In India it has declined from 4 lakh in 2012 to just 2.5 lakh in 2019

South American camelids

Breeding seasons
Location Breeding season
Egypt Dec – May
India Nov – March
Pakistan Dec – March
Kenya Continuous
Somalia May – June, Oct - Dec
Saudi Arabia Dec – March
Sudan March – Aug
United Arab Emirates Nov - April

Reproductive anatomy of female
camels: Camel ovaries
Dorsoventrally
flattened in adults
Slightly convex in
camel heifers
Suspended by mesovarium
and enclosed in ovarian
bursa and located on pelvis
or just ahead
Weight 2-5 g
Length 2.5-6 cm
ovarian bursa
Pr.of GN Purohit – Non-Commercial, Educational and Confidential - Content Not Permitted for Commercial Purposes

• Bicornuate
• T or Y shaped
Left uterine
horn longer
• Present at the
brim of pelvic
cavity
• Left horn longer
in pluriparous
females but of
equal size in
primipara
UterusIndianSocietyforStudyofAnimalReproduction

CERVIX
Cervix is soft with
3 or 4
longitudinal folds
Consistency of
cervix does not
differ with that of
the uterus
Cervix projects
caudally in the
vaginal cavity
forming a fornix (1-
1.5 cm)
The external cervical
orifice is surrounded by
1-2 circular indented
rings of the cranial part
of the mucosa of the
vagina
Tibary and Anouassi 1997)

Oviduct
• Long and tortuous
• Uterine end (Isthmus is
well developed)
Gianluca et al., 2014
• 17-22 cm long
Srikandakumar et al., 2003
Gianluca et al., 2014

Vagina
The vagina is Long 30 cm and have 2 vestibular
glands on the lateral walls
Vagina has many longitudinal folds
The anterior vagina and the vestibulum are
separated by a strong band of tissue
(vestibulum sphincter muscle) and the
hymen which is very tight in young and
nulliparous females.

The Vulva
• The vulva opens directly below the
anus and measures 6 - 7 cm in
length.
• The clitoris is very small and there is
no distinct clitoral fossa.
• The urethra is also short and the
opening of the urinary meatus is
small.
• The hymen, or its remnants, mark
the separation between the vulva
and the vagina.

Reproductive Physiology of female camels
• Estrus cycle is difficult to be defined in
camels
• Cervical mucous is scanty and less
viscous and other signs of estrus are less
marked

Camels are seasonally polyestrus
• Puberty 4-5 years around 400 Kg weight-
females

Follicular dynamics
Follicular growth
occurs during the
breeding season

Follicular dynamics
•Follicular growth is
continuous during the
breeding season and in the
absence of mating

Ovulation
depends on
mating
No Luteal
phase in non
mated
camels
In mated non-
pregnant
camels the
luteal phase is
short 6-9 days

• Follicular activity continues in the presence of an
active CL
• Follicular recruitment 2-4 days, growth 10-12 days and
dominance at 6mm (Skidmore et al., 1996)
• Minimum Follicle size to ovulate 9-10 mm

Fate of dominant follicle
in the absence of
mating is anovulatory
follicle
Hemorrhagic
follicle
May persist for many days
or regress in 4-18 daysFollicular growth can
occur in presence of a
anovulatory follicle
Tibary and Annouassi 1997
Tibary and Annouassi 1997

Mated camels

Chasing other
females
Receptivity
towards a
male
Restlessness,
bleating
Up and down movement
of tail on approach of
male.
Reproductive behavior in camels

Mammary
glands

Mating in camels (6-12 min) (NRC on Camel)
Pareek and Vyas, 1982

Mating induced (Marie and Anouassi, 1987)
Ovulation 24-30 h later if
size of follicle is between 8-
20 mm (Skidmore et al., 1996)
Ovulation
Large anovulatory follicles
(25-90 mm) may sometimes
not ovulate in response to
mating

Follicles grow to ovulatory size in 6
days (Skidmore et al., 1996)

Cyclic CL absent in non-mated
camels (Tibary and Anouassi,
1997)
CL formation occurs 24-48 h after
mating, with slow development
and early death (6-9 days)
Regression occurs 8-12 days
following infertile mating
(Tibary and Anouassi, 1997)
(Tibary and Anouassi, 1997)

Embryo descends in uterus at Day 6-7
of mating
Embryo elongates at Day 9-10
Maternal recognition of pregnancy – Little
is known Probably the signal must be
secreted by Day 8 (Skidmore, 2005)

Migration of embryos Day 15-18 post
breeding
Implantation not known clearly possibly
occurs by Day 20
Mechanism of luteolysis poorly known
(Skidmore, 2005). Difference in the
luteolytic properties of PG from left and
right uterine horns (Tibary and Annouassi,
1997)

• Exclusive left uterine horn
pregnancy
• Gestation 390 ±10 days (NRCC)
• Twins rare
• Extra fetal membrane- Epidermal
membrane 1-2 mm thick attached to
fetus at lips, nostrils, anus, vulva,
prepuce, foot pad and umbilicus
(Tibary and Anouassi, 1997).

Fraternal
Dromedary
twins 1999
JCPR

Pregnancy diagnosis
A pregnant camel will
show it by lifting and
curving her tail (Tail
“cocking”) when a male
camel advances toward
her. First seen at 20 days
of gestation and persists

Abdominal size increase

Transrectal palpation
• Sitting
• Examination of camels
• Xylazine 0.5-2.0 mg/Kg IV
• Loss of lower lip tone

Transrectal Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography

Anatomy of reproductive organs of Male
CAMELS Testis and scrotum
Scrotum lies
high in the
perineal region
Testicles are oval
in shape and lie
obliquely Rt
Testicle length 7-
10 cm weight 90
gm
Right testicle
smaller.

Penis
Camel has a pre-scrotal sigmoid flexure
Penis is fibro-elastic and about 60 cm long
It is directed backwards when flaccid
Spiralled glans penis is curved giving it a hook
shape
Externally the penis is covered by a triangular shaped
sheath, the prepuce, which opens to the rear.

• Externally the penis is covered by a triangular shaped
sheath, the prepuce, which opens to the rear.
• The male camel urinates towards the rear between the
hind legs

Due to presence of well developed lateral preputial muscle, in
addition to the cranial and caudal muscles the preputial orifice can
be directed either cranially or caudally during erection and
micturition

• Male camels have prostrate
glands and bulbourethral glands
but seminal vesicles are absent.

Reproductive (Rutting) behavior of male
camels
• Sniffing
• Flehmen
• Grinding of teeth/whistling
• Gurgling sounds
• Urinating
• Opened hind legs
• Tail flapping/beating
• Poll gland secretion
• Soft palate (Dulaa) extrusion
• Loss of weight
Prof GN Purohit – Non-Commercial, and Educational –
Content collected from different sources Not Permitted
for replication and Commercial Purposes
During the breeding season male camels evidence special
behavior called the rut. Male camels become somewhat
aggressive during the breeding season

THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENT LISTENING

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Distinctive features of camel reproduction

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