Distinctive features of camel reproduction

The distinctive features of camel reproduction are explained in this lecture delivered in a Webinar on Camel Reproduction 12 July 2020, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

1. 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: [email protected]
RAJASTHAN
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

2. •Camels are kept for milk production in Africa and Asia.
•The global camel population is estimated at35 million.
•In sub-Saharan Africa, camels contribute about5percent 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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

3. Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

4. 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
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

5. Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

6. Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

7. South American camelids
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

8. 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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

9. 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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
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10. •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
Uterus
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes

11. 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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes
Tibaryand Anouassi1997)

12. Oviduct
•Long and tortuous
•Uterine end (Isthmus is
well developed)
Gianlucaet al., 2014
•17-22 cm long
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
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Srikandakumaret al., 2003
Gianlucaet al., 2014

13. Vagina
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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 vestibulumare
separated by a strong band of tissue
(vestibulumsphincter muscle) and the
hymen which is very tight in young and
nulliparous females.

14. 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.
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15. Reproductive Physiology of female camels
•Estrus cycle is difficult to be defined in
camels
•Cervical mucousis scanty and less
viscous and other signs of estrus are less
marked
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
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16. Camels are seasonally polyestrus
•Puberty 4-5 years around 400 Kg weight-
females
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17. Follicular dynamics
Follicular growth
occurs during the
breeding season
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
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18. Follicular dynamics
•Follicular growth is
continuous during the
breeding season and in the
absence of mating
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19. Ovulation
depends on
mating
No Luteal
phase in non
mated
camels
In mated non-
pregnant
camels the
luteal phase is
short 6-9 days
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20. •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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction
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21. Fate of dominant follicle
in the absence of
matingis anovulatory
follicle
Hemorrhagic
follicle
May persist for many days
or regress in 4-18 days
Follicular growth can
occur in presence of a
anovulatory follicle
Tibaryand Annouassi1997
Tibaryand Annouassi1997Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

22. Mated camels
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23. Chasing other
females
Receptivity
towards a
male
Restlessness,
bleating
Up and down movement
of tail on approach of
male.
Reproductive behavior in camels
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24. Mammary
glands
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25. Mating in camels (6-12 min) (NRC on Camel)
Pareekand Vyas, 1982
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28. Mating induced (Marie and Anouassi, 1987)
Ovulation24-30 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
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

29. Follicles grow to ovulatory size in 6
days (Skidmore et al., 1996)
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

30. Cyclic CL absent in non-mated
camels (Tibaryand 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
(Tibaryand Anouassi, 1997)
(Tibaryand Anouassi, 1997)
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

31. 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)
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

32. 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 (Tibaryand Annouassi,
1997)
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

33. •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
(Tibaryand Anouassi, 1997).
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

34. Fraternal
Dromedary
twins 1999
JCPR
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35. 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
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

36. Abdominal size increase
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37. Transrectal palpation
•Sitting
•Examination of camels
•Xylazine0.5-2.0 mg/Kg IV
•Loss of lower lip tone
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38. Transrectal Ultrasonography
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39. Ultrasonography
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40. Anatomy of reproductive organs of Male
CAMELS Testis and scrotum
Scrotum lies
high in the
perinealregion
Testicles are oval
in shape and lie
obliquely Rt
Testicle length 7-
10 cm weight 90
gm
Right testicle
smaller.
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

41. 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.
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

42. •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
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Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

43. Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes
Duetopresenceofwelldevelopedlateralpreputialmuscle,in
additiontothecranialandcaudalmusclesthepreputialorificecan
bedirectedeithercraniallyorcaudallyduringerectionand
micturition
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

44. •Male camels have prostrate
glands and bulbourethral glands
but seminal vesicles are absent.
Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication andCommercial Purposes
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

45. 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
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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
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

46. Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication andCommercial Purposes
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47. Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

48. Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

49. Prof GN Purohit –Non-Commercial, and Educational –Content collected from different sources Not Permitted for replication and Commercial Purposes
Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction

50. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENT LISTENING
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