This study aimed to investigate the effects of concentrate supplement around postpartum period on plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IFG-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 in camels (Camelus dromedarius). Eighteen pregnant females were divided into supplemented (n = 9; S) and a non-supplemented (n = 9; C) experimental groups. During day, animals grazed 7 to 8 h on salty pasture and during night, they were kept in pen, where each female in group S received 4 kg/d of concentrate supplement during the last 3 months of pregnancy and 5 kg/d during the first 3 months postpartum. Plasma concentration of IGF-I was more dependent on the dietary level (P < 0.01) than on parity of dams (P > 0.05). Overall mean was more than threefold in group S (31.2 ± 12.0 ng/ml) than in group C (9.6±4.4 ng/ml). Relative plasma concentration of IGFBP-3 was affected by dietary and parity effects (P < 0.01). It was more important in supplemented and primiparous groups than in non-supplemented and multiparous groups. A positive correlation (r = 0.45; P < 0.001) was found between plasma IGFBP-3 and IGF-I concentrations of dromedary females in postpartum period. In conclusion, concordance of increasing between plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and energy balance was confirmed for dromedary.
Key words: Dromedary, Dietary supplementation, IGF-I, IGFBP-3
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