Modern reproductive methods to hybridize old and new world camelids: Camelus dromedarius x Lama guanicoe

initial experiments evaluated the optimum extender for camel semen. Ejacula tes (2-8ml) collectedfrommale camels were diluted 1:1 with; i) Green buffer (IMV, L'Aigle, France); ii) Laciphos (IMV) or iii) skim-milk - glucose ext ender. Sperm concentration and motility were assessed before and after addi ng the extender and a dose of 300x10(6) motile spermatozoa was inseminated into each female camel that had been induced to ovulate by a single intrave nous injection of 20 mu g of the GnRH analogue, buserelin (Receptal; Hoechs t Animal Health, Beds, U.K.) given 24h previously. Pregnancy was diagnosed in 10/21 (47%), 7/13 (53%) and 0/6 (0%), female camels inseminated with sem en diluted in Green buffer, Laciphos or skim milk extender respectively. Gr een buffer was chosen as the extender for all further studies. A second experiment utilized artificial insemination to try to create hybri ds between dromedary camels and guanacos. Thirty female dromedaries were in seminated on 50 occasions with 24ml of guanaco semen diluted 1:1 with Green Buffer (150-400x10(6) motile spermatozoa) when they showed a dominant ovar ian follicle of 1.3-1.8cm diameter. Two pregnancies resulted, one of which was stillborn on day 365 of gestation and the other aborted on day 260. Sim ilarly, 9 female guanacos were inseminated on 34 occasions with diluted dro medary semen (300-400x10(6) motile spermatozoa)when they showed a dominat f ollicle of 0.7-0.9cm in diameter. This resulted in 6 conceptions, two of wh ich were resorbed between days 25-40 after ovulation, two were aborted on d ays 291 and 302 respectively, one was stillborn on day 365 and one male cal f was born live on day 328. To our knowledge this is the first ever viable hybrid between Old and New World camelids and its existence highlights a re markable degree of conservation of reproductive processes between them.