Male camel behavior and breeding management strategies: how to handle a camel bull during the breeding season?

Abstract

The present article reviews male camel behavior and breeding management strategies, providing an insight into the handling procedures and the most relevant welfare issues on these topics. Furthermore, it suggests some procedures for rearing, handling and collecting semen from camel bulls, based on results that have been achieved in the last twenty years and, recently, literature published with the aim of optimizing dromedary camel breeding. Camels are seasonal breeders and their breeding season (BS) is confined to the coolest winter months of the year; during the BS, also called "rutting period" or "rut", males exhibit morphological, behavioral and endocrinological peculiarities. Short breeding season, low libido and high aggressiveness are still some of the major cause of economic loss, poor reproductive performance and injuries, for camel breeding and industry. The application of ethology to approach, to train and to study camel bulls may be useful in the future to improve camel welfare and productive performances. Strong knowledge of animal learning and correct management procedure could be useful for camel technicians, owners, breeders, but also for veterinarians and others scientists.

Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes

“…This finding is in line with the literature which suggests that poor welfare may lead to poor reproductive performance, namely lack of libido and hypo-fertility (Padalino, Monaco & Lacalandra, 2015). However, the daily mean plasma testosterone level was 9.01 ± 0.5 ng/ml, within the normal range reported in previous studies in camels during the breeding season (Al-Qarawi et al, 2000; Al-Qarawi et al, 2001; Deen, Vyas & Sahani, 2005; El-Harairy & Attia, 2010; Monaco et al, 2015).…”

Effects of a GnRH administration on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters of dromedary camel bulls

“…When the operators were ready, the door of the male's stall was opened, the mating session began and was recorded by a video camera (Sony Camcorder digital video). The semen collection sessions were scheduled, according to a standard method, proposed by Padalino et al (2015). Briefly, the semen collection was scheduled according to the following timings: 1) maximal latency time before mounting (the time from the moment the male exited the stall until he sat for the first time on the female for mounting): 15 min.…”

Mating behaviour and semen parameters in dromedary camel bulls (Camelus dromedarius): a comparison between two types of artificial vagina

“…After copulation and dismount, the male was left to move freely around the paddock and two behaviors could be observed: a) the male stood on or near the female (Standing on the female time) for a variable time (sniffing her and performing flehmen), then sat on her again and started another service; b) the male walked around the paddock sniffing the soil or showing dominance behaviors (urination and tail flapping, poll gland scratching on door and walls) toward the door of another male. In the latter situation, a six-minute period of "Walking time" (modified from Padalino et al, 2015) was computed, after which the male was gently led toward the female using the halter rope; if the male refused to approach the female, he was given another six minutes, at the end of which another attempt was made to lead him toward the female. A maximum of three attempts were made after each copulation (i.e.…”

“…The semen collection session was considered to be complete i) if a latency time (time from door opening to the start of mating) of 15 minutes was reached without any mount or ii) if the male refused to approach the female and mount again, after the previous service and subsequent 3 x 6 minutes walking time or iii) if the collection session had lasted 45 minutes (modified from Padalino et al, 2015). Photo 1.…”