Editing Bactrian camel (section)

=== 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>