Abstract

The ovarian ecophysiology of mature female camels under extremely arid conditions was studied by investigating 288 nonpregnant genital tracts. The proportions of females with inactive ovaries were 31.25%, 25%, and 50% during the winter, the spring, and the summer, respectively. The mean number of active follicular structures per ovary and the proportion of females with active ovaries were significantly higher (P < 0.05) during the winter (0.75 ± 0.36, 68.75%) and spring (0.7 ± 0.41, 75%) than during the summer (0.33 ±0.28, 50%). Furthermore, the proportion of active ovaries that presented active corpora lutea was also significantly higher (P <0.05) during the spring season (45.83%). These physiological ovarian changes significantly influenced the ovarian weight and mass. The proportion of females with active ovaries was significantly correlated with the
body condition score (BCS, P<0.05). The results of this work indicate that the ovarian activity of Sahrawi female camels that live in extremely arid conditions in Algeria is high during the cold and rainy months (December–February) and moderately high in the spring (March–May), but drops significantly in the summer without stopping entirely. The favorable reproductive period for female camels corresponds to optimal seasonal food availability in pasture and a marked improvement in BCS.

Information

Item Type:	Journal
Divisions:	» Production animales, biotechnologie et sante » Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
ePrint ID:	2436
Date Deposited:	2020-12-09
Further Information:	Google Scholar
URI:	https://www.univ-soukahras.dz/en/publication/article/2436

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