Osteo-biometric study of the algerian dromedary breed Sahraoui (Camelus dromedarius, L. 1758).

This study was realized on a sample of 60 dromedaries of Sahraoui breed from the south of Algeria. The animals, 30 males and 30 females, are adults over 6 years destined for slaughter. Before slaughter in Ouargla abattoir, measurements during their life-time were performed (3 parameters). Carcass weight was recovered at the slaughter house. The canon bones or metapodials were taken (one left metacarpus and metatarsus of each animal), were weighed and measured after cooking and drying (16 variables per animal), gracility index of bones were calculated (6 indexes per animal). The variability and correlations between variables were analyzed and allow while realizing a referential of archeozoology, to consider the ability to grasp certain parameters of live animal from bone measurements. Linear regression equations were proposed in order to estimate the animal's live weight, and its height at the withers from the best correlated measurements. A multivariate function (logistic regression) from seven linear parameters of each metapodial was calculated, it permits to envisage sexing from an isolated bone. Sexual dimorphism appears clearly at the level of metapodial: the males have canon bones which are not only larger and stockier but also longer which is a remarkable difference in comparison to those encountered in other ruminants like cattle or sheep for which the great length of bone is not a dimorphic parameter. Copyright © Revue Méd. Vét., 2013.