Mating behavior of one humped camel in relation to body condition score

Abstract

A total of 11 breeding male camels having Body Condition Score (BCS) between 3.0 and 3.5 were selected for breeding of female Camels (n=65) having BCS between 2.5 to 4.0. The period of mating was from December to March 2015. Each male camel was enabled to mate with minimum 3 to maximum 9 female camels. Physical changes and reduction in body weight was observed in all breeding camels except few camels whose frequency of mating was restricted. The females having exceptionally high body condition score were found to be inconvenient for mating and bulls were reluctant to mount such females. Repeated mounting and demounting by males is common in high body BCS females. The study found that females having BCS between 2.5 and 3.5 were comfortable due to prominence of coxial and Ischial tuberocity leading to locking of chest pad between these and rear side of hump. The present findings indicated that high BCS females were not convenient for mating and chest pad played role in mating behavior by providing a lock between hump and ischial tuberocity.