SEASONAL EFFECTS ON BLOOD AND TISSUE LIPIDS OF CAMELS (Camelus dromedaries)

Abstract

Blood and tissue lipids of camels were studied in summer and winter, where fat mobilization and deposition, respectively, may prevail parallel to the changing food availability and the nutritional state. When animals were better nourished in winter, serum concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol increased. Extracted fat content in adipose tissue was also greater in winter than in summer. Adipose fatty acids were less saturated and average chain length was shorter in winter than in summer. Further experimentation dealing with possible metabolic adaptations in camels in comparison to ruminants is warranted.