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Establishment of biochemical and hematological profiles of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) under extensive and intensive production systems

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Abstract

In Algeria, camel husbandry is undergoing a shift from a traditional extensive system to one more intensive. Such a move in the production system of the dromedary camel should be well investigated in terms of animal welfare, health, and production status. The main objective of this study was to define and evaluate the effects of production systems on physiological responses (hematological and biochemical parameters) in Sahraoui dromedary camels to understand possible changes caused by intensive livestock farming. We analyzed the biochemical and hematological blood profiles in Sahraoui dromedary camel to evaluate and establish the differential responses to intensive conditions. Blood samples were taken from 41 healthy Sahraoui dromedary camels as part of routine veterinary analysis in southern Algeria. In total, 28 camels were from an intensive production system (IS) fed with formulated concentrate and a supply of minerals, and 13 camels were reared in a traditional extensive system (ES) maintained exclusively on grazing. Animals were of a different sex: 16 males and 25 females, and they were divided into three age categories: less than 4 years, 4 to 8, and above 8 years. All animals were healthy. This enabled us to simultaneously check the effect of age and sex on the blood profiles. Results showed that the production system affected the blood parameters of Sahraoui dromedary camel; as total protein, total cholesterol, and urea concentration were significantly higher in the plasma of animals in the intensive production system (P < 0.05). Glucose, triglycerides, and urea values differed significantly (P < 0.05) in camel plasma between age categories. Sex in our study had no effect on enzyme activities (P > 0.05). However, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in camels reared in the extensive production system (1454.13 ± 290 IU/l) than those reared in intensive production system (1313.17 ± 32 IU/l). Age and sex had a marginal effect on mineral status in dromedary camel plasma as only iron concentrations were significantly higher in male camels (P < 0.05), while Ca, P, and K concentrations were increased in the intensive system. On the other hand, our findings showed that sex, age, and production system did not affect the hematological parameters of Sahraoui dromedary (P > 0.05), except for hematocrit (PCV %) that was significantly higher in the extensive system. This work contributes to a better understanding of Sahraoui dromedary camel biology regarding the effect of different production systems on hemato-biochemical parameters.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. A. N. Aoucheria and Dr. I. Okba, veterinary inspectors in the agricultural services department in El Oued. We are also grateful to Mr. M. A. Tahraoui for his kind help in this study. We also thank the editor and all the reviewers for their constructive comments, which helped to improve the manuscript.

Funding

Author A. M. Almeida received funding from the national funds through FCT — Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project UIDB/04129/2020 of LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Research Unit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biomathématiques, Biophysique, Biochimie Et Scientométrie, Faculté Des Sciences de La Nature Et de La Vie, Université de Bejaia, 06000, Bejaia, Algeria

    Messaouda Lamraoui & Farid Boukhalfa

  2. LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    André M. de Almeida

  3. Laboratory of Biology, Environment and Health (LBEH), El Oued University, El Oued, Algeria

    Yahia Khelef

  4. Higher National School of Biotechnology “Toufik Khaznadar” (ENSB), 25000, Constantine, Algeria

    Imane Lamraoui

  5. Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Liées À La Reproduction (LBRA), Veterinary Institute, Université Saad Dahlab de Blida, Blida, Algeria

    Naima Sahraoui

Authors
  1. Messaouda Lamraoui
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  2. André M. de Almeida
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  3. Yahia Khelef
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  4. Farid Boukhalfa
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  5. Imane Lamraoui
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  6. Naima Sahraoui
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and analysis were performed by Messaouda Lamraoui and Yahia Khelef; writing—original draft preparation by Messaouda Lamraoui; writing—review and editing, André M. de Almeida and Imane Lamraoui; supervision, Naima Sahraoui and Farid Boukhalfa. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Messaouda Lamraoui.

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Lamraoui, M., de Almeida, A.M., Khelef, Y. et al. Establishment of biochemical and hematological profiles of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) under extensive and intensive production systems. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03795-x

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