Use of milk progesterone assays for determining reproductive performance in camel under farming system

Eight lactating she–camels, eight calves plus one mature male were divided into two groups: (G1 and G2). In (G1) calves were completely restricted from suckling after 60^th days. Calves of (G2) were freely suckling. Another eight lactating she–camels, eight calves and one mature male were divided into two groups: (GY) which included she–camels in first and second parity, and (GA) included camels in third, fourth and fifth parity. Milk samples were collected from the second week up to the 4^th month postpartum. Progesterone level in milk was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) apparatus. The higher concentration of progesterone (7.84 ng/ml) was recorded in the 8^th week postpartum in G1 compared to (6.23 ng/ml) in the 2^nd week in G2. Only two she–camel of G1 became pregnant during the first four months postpartum. Progesterone concentration reached higher level of (8.83ng/ml) in the 6^th week postpartum of GA compared to (4.7867 ng/ml) in 16^th week of GY. Only one she–camel of GY was suspected to be pregnant. The results revealed that the level of progesterone in milk of she–camel is a good indicator of ovarian activity within the first four months postpartum.

Camel   milk   ovarian–activity   postpartum   progesterone   suckling