Effects of two different management systems on hormonal, behavioral, and semen quality in male dromedary camels

Effects of two different management systems on male dromedary camel hormones, behaviors, and semen parameters were documented. Camels (n=6) were tested under two management systems: (i) housed in single boxes with 1-h freedom (H23); (ii) exposed to females for 17 h (from 3.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m.) and then housed (ConExF). Blood was collected every morning; camel behavior was recorded twice a day: (i) from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. to determine the short effects; (ii) from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to determine the long effects. Each camel underwent a female parade and semen collection thrice a week; sexual behavior, libido, and semen parameters were assessed. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher in ConExF than H23. Compared to the H23 group, ConExF group spent more time walking, standing tripods, and looking outside their pen/box but they spent less time eating, ruminating, resting, standing, and showing stereotypical behaviors. In the morning, ConExF group spent more time walking, ruminating, and showing typical sexual behaviors compared to themselves during afternoon time and the H23 group. However, in the afternoon time, ConExF camels put more time their heads outside the box through the window and showed higher frequencies of stereotypies, probably due to a higher level of frustration. While the sexual behavioral score was higher and ejaculates showed a higher fraction of milky white and white-colored semen in ConExF than H23 group, their libido was similar. Overall, 17 h of exposure led to an increase in testosterone and cortisol levels, enhancing sexual behavior and semen color, but leading to frustration

Bacteria-inducing legume nodules involved in the improvement of plant growth, health and nutrition

Bacteria-inducing legume nodules are known as rhizobia and belong to the class Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria. They promote the growth and nutrition of their respective legume hosts through atmospheric nitrogen fixation which takes place in the nodules induced in their roots or stems. In addition, rhizobia have other plant growth-promoting mechanisms, mainly solubilization of phosphate and production of indoleacetic acid, ACC deaminase and siderophores. Some of these mechanisms have been reported for strains of rhizobia which are also able to promote the growth of several nonlegumes, such as cereals, oilseeds and vegetables. Less studied are the mechanisms that have the rhizobia to promote the plant health; however, these bacteria are able to exert biocontrol of some phytopathogens and to induce the plant resistance. In this chapter, we revised the available data about the ability of the legume nodule-inducing bacteria for improving the plant growth, health and nutrition of both legumes and nonlegumes. These data showed that rhizobia meet all the requirements of sustainable agriculture to be used as bio-inoculants allowing the total or partial replacement of chemicals used for fertilization or protection of crops

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanosized La0.8Ca0.2Mn1−xFexO3 Particles (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) Prepared by Sol–Gel Method

International audienc

Evaluation of sexual behavior of housed male camels (Camelus dromedarius) through female parades: correlation with climatic parameters

Camels are seasonal breeders, and their sexual behavior is influenced by environmental conditions, but the relationship between climatic factors and sexual behavior has been poorly described in the available literature. Nowadays, the male camel living habit is shifting towards captivity; thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the sexual behavior of housed male dromedary camel through female’s parades and to correlate it with climatic parameters. Four housed sires, reared for semen collection, and one dam were used and the trial lasted 8 weeks, considering the first week as control. Six days per week and during evenings, the female was brought near each males’ boxes, while two observers filled a behavioral sampling ethogram and scored the male sexual behavior. After this parade, blood samples were taken from the female to evaluate the estradiol concentration. In addition, the following meteorological parameters were recorded, everyday, at 9:00 a.m. and 19:00 p.m.: pressure, wind, temperature, humidity, and H-index. The correlation between sexual behavioral score and female estradiol concentration and climate parameters was analyzed. All the behavioral parameters showed a significant upward trend; female estradiol concentration varied during the period and picked at week 5. Male sexual behavior was negatively correlated with morning H-index, wind, and temperature, and positively correlated with pressure and evening humidity, whereas it was not correlated with estrogen. In conclusion, female parade was a successful method to evaluate and stimulate the occurrence of housed male dromedary camel sexual activity that resulted to be negatively affected by hot temperature, warm wind, and lack of rain

Effects of a GnRH administration on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters of dromedary camel bulls

The optimization of the semen collection procedure and the extension of the breeding season are important issues for improve camel reproductive management. GnRH treatment has been suggested to increase male libido in many species, but achieved results are still conflicting in dromedary camels. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of a single GnRH analogue dose (100 μg of gonadorelin, Fertagyl®) on testosterone level, behavioral and semen parameters. The same camel bulls (n=5) were used as control (C) and experimental (E) group, and the GnRH was administered trice every 48 hours. Blood samples were collected by catheter every 20 minutes, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (T0 - T12) and semen collection procedures started soon after sampling. GnRH did not affect the testosterone basal level (T0, C vs E: 3.0±0.8 vs 3.5±0.9 ng/ml; P=0.94) and no effect of the repetition, was assessed (P=0.41). Testosterone level showed an upward trend only in treated animals, became statistically significant after 1 hour (T3, C vs E: 2.7±0.7 vs 8.8±2.6 ng/ml; P=0.02), peaking after 140 minutes (T7, C vs E: 2.8±1.8 vs 11.9±3.8 ng/ml; P=0.007), and then slowly decreasing (T12: C vs E: 3.6±1.1 vs 8.7±1.6 ng/ml; P=0.02). During the semen collection procedures the bulls showed a tendency increase in libido, reporting a significant rise in sperm concentration (C vs E: 1085.18±139.6 vs 491.26±139.6 106/ml; P=0.02). From our data, the tested GnRH therapy may be suggested to enhance dromedary male’s libido and probably the optimal time window to collected semen should be between 2 and 3 hours after its administration. So, GnRH effects on behavioral and seminal parameters need to be ascertained with further investigations during more appropriate timing

Effect of differnet management system on rutting behavior and behavioral repertoire of housed Maghrebi male camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Camel management has been changing in recent years from an extensive to a semi-intensive or intensive system, particularly for breeding bulls and dairy dromedary camels. Captivity may affect animal welfare, and low libido is the major complaint for housed breeding bulls. Since welfare status could also affect reproductive performance, the aim of this study was to evaluate different management practices on behavior, particularly on sexual behavior, and to identify some behavioral needs of male dromedary camels reared for semen collection. The effects of the following management systems on their behavior were compared: i) traditional: housing in a single stall for 24 hours (H24), ii) housing in a single stall for 23 hours with one hour free in the paddock (H23) and iii) housing in a single stall for 22 hours and 30 min with 1 h paddock time and 30 min exposure to a female camel herd (ExF). During the trial, blood cortisol concentrations were assessed and camels were filmed daily for thirty minutes in the mornings and during a female passage in the evenings. Videos were analyzed in order to fill out a focal sampling ethogram and to score sexual behavior. As a result, there were no differences between the H24 and H23 systems, whereas ExF had a significant positive impact on their sexual behavior score and behavioral repertoire, further reducing cortisol levels. Overall, it seems that male dromedary camel welfare status improves when their behavioral needs for social interaction and movement are satisfied

Effect of differnet management system on rutting behavior and behavioral repertoire of housed Maghrebi male camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Camel management has been changing in recent years from an extensive to a semi-intensive or intensive system, particularly for breeding bulls and dairy dromedary camels. Captivity may affect animal welfare, and low libido is the major complaint for housed breeding bulls. Since welfare status could also affect reproductive performance, the aim of this study was to evaluate different management practices on behavior, particularly on sexual behavior, and to identify some behavioral needs of male dromedary camels reared for semen collection. The effects of the following management systems on their behavior were compared: i) traditional: housing in a single stall for 24 hours (H24), ii) housing in a single stall for 23 hours with one hour free in the paddock (H23) and iii) housing in a single stall for 22 hours and 30 min with 1 h paddock time and 30 min exposure to a female camel herd (ExF). During the trial, blood cortisol concentrations were assessed and camels were filmed daily for thirty minutes in the mornings and during a female passage in the evenings. Videos were analyzed in order to fill out a focal sampling ethogram and to score sexual behavior. As a result, there were no differences between the H24 and H23 systems, whereas ExF had a significant positive impact on their sexual behavior score and behavioral repertoire, further reducing cortisol levels. Overall, it seems that male dromedary camel welfare status improves when their behavioral needs for social interaction and movement are satisfied