Welfare Aspects of Reproductive Care and Management of Dromedary Camels

For efficient reproduction, camels have to be healthy, well-housed and well-fed. Under natural conditions, camels tend to roam freely but to improve reproductive efficiency they need to be kept under more intensive systems where breeding practices are closely monitored and controlled. Currently, ultrasound of the reproductive tract is considered the most reliable method to monitor follicular development and decide the correct time to mate. This requires some form of restraint, and padded stocks are the safest method for camel and operator. As genetically superior males are in higher demand, this leads to overuse of the male camels resulting in lower than optimum fertility and females requiring several matings for successful conception. This led to the development of embryo transfer and artificial insemination to reduce the number of matings required and thereby improve the welfare of both male and female camels. Good management of the perinatal and early post-partum period is critical for the success of any breeding programme. This chapter describes reproductive management from a welfare aspect.