Adaptation of bactrian camel to hot desert climate using interspecies embryo transfer

Abstract

Bactrian camel in Iran is adapted to the cold environment and can't tolerate hot desert climate. We hypothesised that the uterus of dromedary camel acclimatised to hot region, could provide the condition for bactrian camel embryo to be able to adapt to hot climate postnatal. Bactrian camel donors were superovulated according to the standard procedure. Embryos were recovered non-surgically on day 8.5 after inducing ovulation. Recipient dromedary camels were induced to ovulate when they had a mature follicle, 13–17 mm in diameter, on the ovary. Grade one bactrian camel embryos were transferred non-surgically to recipients when they were on Day 6.5–7.5 after inducing ovulation. Since 2008, when the first bactrian camel calf was born, totally 15 calves (6 males and 9 females) were born. Ten calves were born in the cold environment and 6 calves were born in the hot desert climate. At the moment, all progenies have 4–6 years of age without any particular problem. In conclusion, the adaptation to different climate could be transferred via the uterus to embryo. This novel finding will provide the opportunity to extend an endangered Iranian bactrian camel, which adapted to the cold environment, to hot desert climates.