Meeting Abstract

P3.88  Monday, Jan. 6 15:30  Energy Expenditure and Minimum Cost of Transport During Incline Locomotion in Dromedary Camels Camelus dromedarius and Domestic Donkeys Equus asinus MALOIY, G.M.O.; RUGANGAZI, B.M.; ROWE, M.F.*; Univ. of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Univ. of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Univ. of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica ndovuman@hotmail.com

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) and domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) are utilized by nomadic tribesmen as working ungulates in hot arid regions of Africa and the Middle East. Both species can encounter mountainous terrain characterized by steep gradients. Energetics of incline locomotion has been well described in equines, and briefly examined in camels and donkeys. However, no published data exists describing mass-specific energy expenditure (Wkg^-1) and total horizontal and vertical cost of transport, the energy required to move one-kilogram body mass one meter (Jkg^-1m^-1) horizontally and vertically, in camels and donkeys and over a wide range of walking speeds and incline gradients. We performed open-system measurements of oxygen consumption in two adult female camels (average body mass 240 kg) and three adult male donkeys (average body mass 170 kg) while walking at range of tread speeds (of 0.56, 1.11, 1.67 and 2.22 ms^-1) and incline gradients (of 3°, 5° and 7°) on a motorized treadmill. In both species, energy expenditure increased in a nearly linear fashion with increasing running speed and incline. On average, compared with locomotion on the level, minimum total cost of horizontal transport increased by approximately 1.8-, 2.2- and 2.4-fold in both species at inclines of 3°, 5° and 7°, respectively. Efficiency of incline locomotion at 3° and 5° gradients were approximately 64% and 37% in camels, and 54% and 42% in donkeys, respectively.