Author/Authors :
S. A، Shehu نويسنده Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria , , S. A، Ojo نويسنده Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria , , J. O، Hambolu نويسنده Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria , , N. D. G، Ibrahim نويسنده Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria , , S. A، Hena نويسنده Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria ,
Abstract :
The study was carried out between May, 2009 and April, 2010, during which a total of 153 camel foetuses were collected from slaughtered pregnant dams at Sokoto abattoir. Some gross external features were studied in camel foetuses to aid in their age estimation. In this study abattoir foetal samples up to 75 days of gestation were used. The calvarium was found to be soft membranous with the brain visible at early first trimester of gestation. The calvariums become pliable but soft at centre from late first trimester to early second trimester of pregnancy. At late second trimester the calvarium had became hard. The skin was observed to be pinkish, thin and transparent from early first to the middle of second trimester, in the middle of second trimester the skin became thick, no more transparent but still pinkish. Also in this study it was observed that the external jugular vein was barely visible at early first trimester of gestation. The jugular vein became visible through the skin towards late first trimester of the study and by late first trimester it was no longer visible under the skine. These showed that the appearance and disappearance of the of the jugular vein occurred within the first trimester of pregnancy. It was observed that appearance of hair started around the eye and muzzles from late second trimester of pregnancy. Development of teeth started with 2nd followed by 3rd premolar in the upper and lower jaws at third trimester of pregnancy. With these findings we can say that foetal age could be estimated using external features as they are more reliable than those features that are guided largely by environmental and nutritional factors, like body weight and crown rump length.
