A Study on Hair Characteristics of Female Camels in Semnan Province

To study the effect of age on camel hair characteristics and their phenotypic correlations in Semnan province, 95 dromedary female camels (aged 1-20) were selected. Hair samples were taken from right flank in mid spring. Least square means were analyzed at different ages, and also 4 age groups by one-way and general liner model (GLM) using SAS software package. Analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of age group on staple length, fiber diameter, coefficient of variability of fiber diameter, interrupted and continuous medulla and non-medullated fibers in inner coat and yield percentage (P ≤ 0/05). The young camels had more inner coat and non-medullated fibers than other ages. The diameter least square means of 1-2 age group ( 18.54±1.47 ) was significantly different (P<0.005) from 3-6, 7-10 and >11 age groups (22.59±0.67, 23.19±0.57 and 24.5±0.61 , respectively). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in shoulder, flank and total staple lengths between 1-2 and other camel age groups (P<0.0001). The results indicated that fractionation of camel hair according to age grouping (young camel separated from adult) can improve supply to market and manufacture processing.