Castration?

[camelidman]

I hear lots about the necessity of having bull camels castrated. From what I've read, they can be dangerous to humans during the rut period, and to other animals. Does their behaviour continue to be destructive for the remainder of the year? If not, and they are kept in their own paddock, isn't it feasible to just let him get through that month or so, then start working with him again when it's over?

Sorry if I'm being naive, but I'd really like to see my two bactrians have a calf one day and hate the idea of intervening when it's not absolutely necessary.

[camelsinfrance]

Hi you!
I'd keep him entire if you possibly can. We had the most gorgeous male here last year, and even when he was in rut he was a gentleman. However - they can be dangerous - so keep your kids away... in my book... for what it's worth, so long as you have the respect and the basic training principles in place you'd be fine.
Do you know his line - there's a big problem with inbreeding in Europe, would be interesting to know what his background is!

[camelidman]

Thanks for the reply. It gives food for thought, as until now all I've heard are reasons to castrate.
I have his parents, grand parents and great grand parents, but only have her parents, however the little information I have about her is sketchy. From that I can't be sure that they're not related within two generations, but geographically speaking, we've recently been told that his parents were imported from the former USSR to Germany, and her parents are apparently natives of France. ...or so we think.

[camel4ever]

Hi, I would not castrate! Castrate camels get too fat. The behaviour of males in rut is variable, some males are very docile even when in season while other are unmanageable. Particularly aggressive males can be controlled by several devices that essentially limit their movements ( all shown at www.lulu.com/content/759963). Otherwise isolate your camel, give him an unusual heavvy work load for a few weeks and help him to control his aggression by NOT giving him chances: never turn your back and walk away!
Good luck

[camelidman]

Thanks, you've set my mind at rest!

[Cameleer]

The length of an individual camel’s rut varies from 1 to 4 months, although some have been known to stay in rut for 7 months.
In camel breeding farms a bull will stay in rut longer due to more available feed and the lack of having to fight other bulls for dominance.
Castration is normally carried out on sub-adult and bulls, but not on calves.
Some handlers believe that growth of calves is better and camels are less prone to obesity if castrated after puberty.

During the breeding season (Winter) the male ruts. The signs of rutting are:
• They become very aggressive, dominating and display a pink skin bladder known as a dulla, which they blow out of their foaming mouth.
• The testicles become bigger.
• Glands on the neck behind the head begin to produce a brown, bad smelling matter.
• The animal will spread out its back legs and using the tail sprays urine over its back legs.

In most cases the male becomes difficult to handle and dangerous when rutting. It will attack other animals and people.
Such animals should be castrated if not be needed for breeding.
There are exceptions, but these are usually in camels that are being worked hard everyday.

[Cmaentz]

When I got Boris he was 26 months old and I hadn't considered gelding until we saw him attack my little truck and then go after me. It was obviously a male hormone thing because he only did it with me, not hubby. I had been attacked by my uncut little donkey jack and he scared me so bad I sold him immediately (he was since "cut" and has become the perfect pet).

As for Boris, we brought him to the large animal clinic at the University of Tennessee and they did a nice job of it. Dr Van Ansel is the camel expert (when it comes to medical issues, not training).

It's been only 2 months but Boris is now much more manageable and shows no signs of "maleness" towards me anymore. He's still a very obnoxious big bull but he doesn't exhibit behavior that used to scare me. Of course I never turn my back on him but that's just because I shouldn't anyways!

Note that it was never intended to breed Boris and his job is just to be a big friendly camel when I show him with my petting farm.