Seasonal changes in some coat traits of growing dromedary camels under Egyptian semi-arid conditions [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Coat samples of twelve growing dromedary camels were collected seasonally from the right mid-side to study the effect of the seasonal climatic changes on fiber diameter, staple length, coat depth, fiber length, fiber type ratio and medullation index. The averages of ambient temperature (oC), relative humidity (OA)) and total solar radiation (W/m) were recorded daily and the seasonal averages of these parameters were calculated. The lowest fiber diameter was observed in winter (48.5±0.5 µ m), while the highest was in summer (63.7±0.5 pm). Medullation index followed the same seasonal trend (13.6±0.9 vs. 19.2±0.9, in winter and summer seasons, respectively). In contrast, staple length and coat depth were more in winter (i80 ± 0.05 cm and 2.38±0.04 cm, respectively) than in summer (2.11±0.053 cm and 1.86±0.045 cm, respectively). There was a gradual increase in the percentage of the outer coat fibers from winter (16.03± 4.28 %) to summer (37.50±4.28 %) versus a gradual decrease in the percentage of inner coat fibers (83.97± 4.28 to 62.50± 4.28 % in winter and summer, respectively). Ambient temperature correlated (p<0.01) with fiber diameter (r=0.71), coarse fiber percentage (r=0.47) and medullation index (r=0.54). Correlation coefficient between solar radiation and fiber diameter was (r= 0.45, p<0.01) while that between relative humidity and fiber diameter was (r= -0.40, p<0.01l). These results indicate to the conformity between the seasonal climatic changes and camel coat traits to ensure the best adaptation the surrounding environmental condition.

Summary in Arabic.

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