Breeding soundness evaluation, a tool for improving the sustainability of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) breeding systems in arid and semi-arid lands

The reduced fertility of dromedary camel (DC) bulls, whether temporary or permanent, poses a significant threat to the sustainability of camel breeding systems and, consequently, to food security in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, it is crucial to assess dromedary camel breeding bulls to ensure they can fulfill their reproductive potential. However, standardized clinical and andrological evaluation procedures, known as breeding soundness evaluations, as well as an efficient reporting system, are currently lacking for this species. In this narrative review, the most important aspects related to bull fertility and breeding soundness evaluation have been described and adapted to the dromedary camel bull in order to provide a standardized procedure for an efficient clinical and andrological evaluation in this species, taking into account its unique characteristics. Additionally, a herd and bull examination record form, divided into four main sections, has been provided, for the first time, to ensure efficient and consistent data collection and reporting. If implemented on a large scale, the clinical evaluation procedures and data collected by the recording forms provided in this study, would help to identify factors associated with the impairment of reproductive efficiency in dromedary herds and bulls worldwide.