Types and brees of the Chinese Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

Abstract

The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is an important livestock species in China. Its various specialized types and breeds are nevertheless not well enough known. The Bactrian camels are multipurpose animal primarily used as fiber producer, for transport or draft, providing milk and meat as a tertiary product without disrupting the fragile ecosystem. The current classifications are largely based on geographical locations. The paper introduces some important information on the distinctive camel types and breeds in China, their ecological environments, population, distribution, conformation, body measurements and productivity. To improve camel productivity and develop conservation strategies, an urgent need for a finer characterization of breeds, types and populations with special respect to morphology, current production levels and genetic differentiation should be emphasized.