Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of oestrus on milk yield and composition in camel (Camelus dromedarius) reared in oasis intensive system in southern Tunisia, 8 healthy females Maghrebi camels (age: 10.6 ± 2.9 years, body weight: 505 ± 39 kg and day in milk: 275 ± 18 days) were equitably divided in two groups. Each female in group 1 received 5 ml of Receptal (20 µg Buserelin; GnRH analogue) to induce oestrus while dams in group 2 were not injected and served as control. Females were monitored during morning milking for the following 15 days, to record oestrus behaviour, œstradiol-17β levels, milk yield, estimated daily milk, lag-time, time of milking, titrable acidity and density of raw and 24 h conserved milk, somatic cell count (SCC) and milk’s major components (dry matter, fat, protein and ashes). Our results suggest that oestrus did not affect (P>0.05) production and physicochemical parameters in milk and did not alter milk conserved in 4°C during 24 h. These data indicate that changes in physiological status of dairy camels during the breeding season do not require alternative measures to guarantee milk quality.
Highlights
In the last few years, Tunisian farmers became more interested in dairy camels breeding due to the increasing consumption of camel’s milk in the market
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oestrus in dairy camels on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC)
The occurrence of oestrus was confirmed by the oestradiol-17β profiles (Figures 1 and 2)
Summary
In the last few years, Tunisian farmers became more interested in dairy camels breeding due to the increasing consumption of camel’s milk in the market. The integrity and persistence of these farms rely on succeeding both reproduction and milking management of the she-camel. Among these milking units, it has been recorded a change of milk physical characteristics and its aptitude to conservation that coincide with the onset of the seasonal mating period and associate with some changes in social and sexual behaviours of the she-camel. It has been recorded a change of milk physical characteristics and its aptitude to conservation that coincide with the onset of the seasonal mating period and associate with some changes in social and sexual behaviours of the she-camel These signs suppose that the reproductive status, especially oestrus, during the breeding season influence the milk characteristics. In dairy goat, McDougall and Voermans (2002) reported a decrease in milk yield associate
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