Camelid Mating - Anatomy & Physiology

BACK TO REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM BACK TO CAMELIDS

In the UK, the aim is to mate females at around 1 year of age. As long as they are fully grown and well-nourished this results in acceptible levels of fertility and health in the mother and cria. Once calved, the female will become receptive to the male again in 2-3 weeks. The female should be able to conceive again if mated at this time.

Paddock Mating

• Male is left to run with the females
• Requires little human intervention
• Precise calving dates will not be known.

Hand or Pen Mating

• Supervised mating where the female is put into a pen with the male while mating takes place and then returned to the paddock without males.
• Timing of mating is known.
• Sire of cria is known.
• Valuable males do not waste energy inseminating the same female repeatedly, thus can be used to impregnate more females.
• Much time can be wasted if receptive but non-fertile females are presented for mating.
  • When the male is with a herd of females, he can determine the best time for mating and immediately mate the most receptive females.

Stud Services

• One stud male can serve up to 40-60 females per year.
• Stud farms are common.
  • Have stud males as a major source of income, selling services to breeders without a stud male.
  • May involve transporting females to the stud farm, or in some cases leasing the male to inseminate many females.

The Mating Process

• Male will approach with tail held high, head and neck extended towards the female.
• Female should tolerate the approaching male.
• The male will 'orgle', the unique gutteral call of mating.
• Female will 'kush' (lie down) immediately or when he mounts her if she is receptive.
• Male positions himself tightly over her hind-quarters, with his forelimbs clasped around her chest.
• Copulation may last ~30 minutes.
  • Sometimes the female lies down with her head outstretched, and occasionally will lie on one side.
  • Male may dismount, reposition himself, and begin again. Occasionally he will get up and move away before recommencing.

Rejection

• Typically the female spits vigorously at the male to discourage his approach.
• Experienced stud males may be insistent, and if the female has enough space she will run from him.
  • Receptive females may run initially, then allow themselves to be caught.
• Males are uninterested in non-receptive females.
  • May sniff females of the herd in turn and ignore the non-receptive ones.
• Triggered by high progesterone levels in the female.
  • With a persistent corpus luteum, she will continue to reject the male even if she is not pregnant.