Please have a look at my article and let me know what you think.
My email: [email protected]
Article Towards a rational camel breed judging: A proposed standard ...
Hello
I have printed your paper regarding the use of measurements to classify camels and plan to read it tomorrow. I have been thinking for a while about the classification question and the breed status of various camel types or populations. From a genetics view point, the classification of camel breeds based on any criteria other than those used by camel breeders to define the breed is not helpful for genetic studies or even selective breeding. As indicated in one of your papers, camel breeders tend to use tribal affiliation of a geographic region to name a breed. I think the breeders' approach is justifiable if the resulting (population) is composed of genetically similar individuals and different from all other populations around. I have some reservations to the classification based on ecotype (beach camels, hill camels etc.) or production (milk camels, meat camels etc.) because in both cases the resulting group is genetically a mixed population and representing multiple genetic ancestries. This is very similar to grouping humans who drink coffee all together as a classified group. Coffee drinkers are most certainly diverse genetically, ethnically, and culturally. If one's motive is to understand genetic variation that result in morphological variation, then it is better to have a genetically homogeneous group identified even if by an arbitrary classification such as a tribal or regional names.
I enjoyed you discussion about the second hump and all the history behind the hypothesis. Thanks
Hasan
Hello Hasan, thank you very much for your comprehensive answer. I am in full agreement with your arguments. I am not a geneticist so my efforts was more practical and focused on trying to produce a "standard", similar to what used in other common livestock species, that could be used by camel breeders to judge camels. We both know that ALL existing camel beauty/breed contests are using flimsy and extremely personal evaluation criteria. This is frankly unacceptable and one of the biggest obstacle to a breed improvement.
Genetics gives a valuable help in selection of certain breed traits however we should not discard the use of measurable morphological/physiological parameters: a breed standard, in a breed improvement. Such approach should be adopted by judges in the evaluation of an individual camel.
Pleased that you liked my article, anything you want to discuss this is my email: [email protected]
Kind regards
Maurizio
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