Editing Bactrian camel (section)

== Life history ==
[[File:Camelus bactrianus in western Mongolia 01.jpg|thumb|A young calf in western Mongolia]]
Bactrian camels are exceptionally adept at withstanding wide variations in temperature, ranging from freezing cold to blistering heat. They can go without water for months at a time, but when water is available they may drink up to 57&nbsp;liters at once.{{cn|date=February 2024}} When well fed, the humps are plump and erect, but as resources decline, they shrink and lean to the side. When moving faster than a [[Horse gait#Walk|walking]] speed, they [[pacing (horse gait)|pace]], by stepping forwards with both legs on the same side (as opposed to [[trot]]ting, using alternate diagonals as done by most other quadrupeds). Speeds of up to {{Convert|65|kph}} have been recorded, but they rarely move this fast.{{fact|date=May 2025}} Bactrian camels are also said{{bywho|date=May 2025}} to be good swimmers. Their sense of sight is well developed and their sense of smell is extremely good. The lifespan of Bactrian camels is estimated at up to 50&nbsp;years, more often 20 to 40 in captivity.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

=== Diet ===
[[File:Camel skull 2.JPG|left|frameless|Skull]]
Bactrian camels are [[Diurnality|diurnal]], sleeping in the open at night and foraging for food during the day. They are primarily herbivorous. With tough mouths that can withstand sharp objects such as thorns, they are able to eat plants that are dry, prickly, salty or bitter, and can ingest virtually any kind of vegetation. When other nutrient sources are not available, these camels may feed on carcasses, gnawing on bones, skin, or various different kinds of flesh. In more extreme conditions, they may eat any material they find, which has included rope, sandals, and even tents. Their ability to feed on a wide range of foods allows them to live in areas with sparse vegetation. The first time food is swallowed, it is not fully chewed. The partly masticated food (called cud) goes into the stomach and later is brought back up for further chewing.

Bactrian camels belong to a fairly small group of animals that regularly eat snow to provide their water needs. Animals living above the snowline may have to do this, as snow and ice can be the only forms of water during winter, and by doing so, their range is greatly enlarged. The [[latent heat]] of snow and ice is large compared with the [[heat capacity]] of water, forcing animals to eat only small amounts at a time.<ref>{{cite web |first1=C. |last1=Wand |first2=C. |last2=Richardson |date=November 2009 |title=Replacing water with clean snow for ewes and beef cows |id=9–065 AGDEX 424/433 |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs |website=OMAFRA.gov.on.ca |url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/facts/09-065.pdf |access-date=February 9, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111550/http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/facts/09-065.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref>

=== Reproduction ===
[[File:Babybactrian.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Mother and calf]]
Bactrian camels are [[Induced ovulation (animals)|induced ovulators]] – they [[Ovulation|ovulate]] after insemination (insertion of semen into the [[vagina]]); the seminal plasma, not the [[spermatozoa]], induces ovulation. Ovulation occurs in 87% of females after insemination: 66% ovulate within 36&nbsp;hours and the rest by 48&nbsp;hours (the same as natural mating). The least amount of [[semen]] required to elicit ovulation is about 1.0&nbsp;ml.<ref name="Chen">{{cite journal |pmid=3900379|author=Chen, B.X. |author2=Yuen, Z.X. |author3=Pan, G.W. |name-list-style=amp |year=1985 |title=Semen-induced ovulation in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) |url=http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/74/2/335.full.pdf |journal=J. Reprod. Fertil. |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=335–339 |doi=10.1530/jrf.0.0740335 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Males during mating time are often quite violent and may bite, spit, or attempt to sit on other male camels. The age of [[sexual maturity]] varies, but is usually reached at 3–5&nbsp;years. Gestation lasts around 13&nbsp;months. One or occasionally two calves are produced, and the female can give birth to a new calf every other year. Young Bactrian camels are [[precocial]], being able to stand and run shortly after birth, and are fairly large at an average birth weight of {{convert|36|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. They are nursed for about 1.5&nbsp;years. The young calf stays with its mother for three to five years, until it reaches sexual maturity, and often helps raise subsequent generations for those years. Wild camels sometimes breed with domesticated or feral camels.
Bactrian camels have been domesticated for thousands of years and are widely bred by pastoralist and agricultural communities across Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of China and Mongolia. Breeding practices vary by region, but most focus on traits such as hardiness, milk production, load-bearing ability, and temperament. In Mongolia, herders traditionally manage breeding by selectively mating camels during the rutting season, often using older, experienced bulls known for their vigor and fertility. These males are isolated with females to encourage mating and reduce aggression toward other camels. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bolormaa |first1=Tsognemekh |last2=Burenjargal |first2=Sedkhuu |last3=Sandagdorj |first3=Badrakh |last4=Chantsal |first4=Batsaikhan |last5=Ochirkhuu |first5=Nymsuren |last6=Gerelt-Od |first6=Sambalkhundev |last7=Nyam-Osor |first7=Purevdorj |date=2025-03-25 |title=The role and significance of two-humped camels in Mongolia: adaptability, economic impact, and cultural importance |journal=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice |language=English |volume=15 |pages=14289 |doi=10.3389/past.2025.14289 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2025PRPP...1514289B |issn=2041-7136}}</ref>

In Iran and parts of Afghanistan, camel breeding is commonly integrated into mixed farming systems, where camels provide transport and milk alongside other livestock. Semen collection and artificial insemination techniques are increasingly used in breeding programs in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to improve genetic stock and ensure ovulation timing aligns with optimal conditions for conception. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Miao |first1=Jing |last2=Xiao |first2=Shuang |last3=Wang |first3=Jun |date=July 2023 |title=Comparative Study of Camel Milk from Different Areas of Xinjiang Province in China |journal=Food Science of Animal Resources |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=674–684 |doi=10.5851/kosfa.2023.e27 |issn=2636-0780 |pmc=10359842 |pmid=37484000}}</ref>

In China’s Xinjiang region, large-scale camel farms are maintained by both government-supported operations and private breeders, focusing on conserving the genetics of the domesticated Bactrian camel and improving reproductive efficiency. Advances in veterinary care, nutritional supplementation, and controlled breeding environments have increased calving rates in recent decades. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Akhmetsadykova |first1=Shynar H |last2=Konuspayeva |first2=Gaukhar |last3=Akhmetsadykov |first3=Nurlan |date=2022-08-01 |title=Camel breeding in Kazakhstan and future perspectives |url=https://academic.oup.com/af/article/12/4/71/6663968 |journal=Animal Frontiers |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=71–77 |doi=10.1093/af/vfac048 |pmid=35974781 |pmc=9374522 |issn=2160-6056}}</ref>

Across these regions, breeding cycles are timed to coincide with favorable seasonal conditions to maximize calf survival. Female camels are usually bred every two years to allow for full recovery after gestation and lactation, although in some cases, higher-frequency breeding is practiced under intensive management systems. Offspring are commonly used in transportation, wool production, or sold in local markets, forming a critical part of the livelihood for many camel-rearing communities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-07 |title=Camels: The Magnificent Migration |url=https://www.aramcoworld.com/articles/2018/camels-the-magnificent-migration |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.aramcoworld.com |language=en}}</ref>