Birth Weight, Body Measurements and Gestation Length of Tülü (Bactrian X Dromedary F1) Calves

In this study, gestation length (GL), birth weight (BW) and body measurements (BM) of Bactrian x Dromedary F1 calves called Tülü born between 2017 and 2020 in Aydin, Turkey were recorded. Fifteen GL records and 25 heads Tülü calves’ BW and BM were used. The aim was to establish the relationship between BW and BM in order to predict BW from BM. Farm and sex of calf had statistically signifcant effects (P<0.05) on GL, but the effect of calving number on GL was insignifcant (P>0.05). GL of Tülü calves were changed between 366 days and 401 days and the mean was found to be 385.27±3.17 days. GL for males (388.7±3.13 days) was 12.6 days longer than those of the female calves (376.1±4.57 days; P<0.05). BW of Tülü calves ranged between 26 and 51 kg with an overall mean of 35.99±1.25 kg.

The effects of farm, sire, birth year, calving number and calf sex on BW were found statistically insignifcant (P>0.05). However, farm and calving number effects on some BM traits were found statistically signifcant (P<0.05). Male calves were 0.84 kg heavier than their female counterparts (P>0.05).

It was concluded that male Tülü calves have longer gestation length and like other livestock animal, in this study it was found that hearth girth (HG) could be used to estimate BW of Tülü calves (R²=61.16). The higher correlation coeffcient found between BW and HG (r=0.782) also supports this idea.