The Effects of Management Systems on the Reproductive Efficiency in some Sudanese Camel Breeds

Abstract

A questionnaire survey and group discussions were conducted to characterize the reproductive performances of camels at their natural nomadic region in El butana region, south eastern Sudan and semi intensive management systems in Khartoum state center of Sudan. A total of 40 camels were included to study the camel management dominating in those study areas ( nomadic and semi intensive system). Mean age of puberty for she camel in semi intensive was3.12±.376years and 3.37±.537years in the nomadic system. The mean age of puberty for male camel was 3.93±.785 years in semi intensive and 3.85±.279 in nomadic system. Mean age at first mating of male was 5.21±0.785 years in semi intensive and 5.13±0.694 in nomadic system and the age of female at the first calving was 3.82±.883 years in semi intensive system and 4.35±.575 years in nomadic system while number of service per consumption was 1.74±.514 in the semi intensive system and 1.70±.559 in nomadic system and calving interval in the two systems were 18.24±3.507months in semi intensive and 21.15±2.475 months in nomadic system and the first service after calve was 3.93±785 months in semi intensive system and 3.85±.279 months in nomadic system. The open period was 212.06±105.919 days in semi intensive system and 279.57±97.883 days in nomadic system. Milk production per day was 6.53±.631 in semi intensive system and6.48±.332 liters in nomadic system and number of milking per day was 2.35±.931 times in semi intensive system and 2.61±.583 times and the mean lactation length was 9.29±2.201 months in semi intensive system and11.83±3.822 in nomadic system. Reproductive performances of camels in the study area(butana region) is low which could be attributed to the late age of puberty, long gestation period, poor management system, environmental factors and pathological reasons. Therefore, improvement of management systems and the use of controlled breeding techniques might contribute to reproduction improvement of camel.