Differential Breed, Sex and Age-group Mortality in Camelus dromedarius

Abstract

Records belonging to 1231 dromedary over a span of about 27 years managed at the Centre were analysed to envisage the major threats during different stages of life in different breeds and sexes. Analysis revealed that differential breed mortality had occurred (χ2 =17.45, P<0.01). No preferential sex mortality was observed (χ2 =0.986, P>0.05) but differential age group mortality had occurred (χ2 =60.009, P<0.01). The camels up to one year of age were most vulnerable. Forty two percent of the total camels died belonged to this age-group. The mortality due to different systems also differed significantly (χ2 = 348.01, P<0.01). The digestive disorders were responsible for 40% of the total deaths followed by respiratory, cardio-vascular and nervous disorders which were responsible for 24, 5 and 3.8% of the total deaths. Impaction, enteritis, pneumonia and heat stroke were the major threats to the life of a camel. Chi-square contingency analysis revealed that the systemic disorders equally affected the four breeds (χ2 =9.22, P>0.05) and the two sexes (χ2 =9.57, P>0.05). However, the involvement of different systems in causing death varied with age (χ2 =28.19, P<0.01). Therefore, appropriate preventive measures, looking at the age of the animals and system involved, would help in reducing the mortality in camels.