Dr. Ron McMurry MD shares some treats with some of his camels on his farm in Jasper County. They know he always has treats for them. Photo made on August 4, 2020. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise

Dr. Ron McMurry MD shares some treats with some of his camels on his farm in Jasper County. They know he always has treats for them. Photo made on August 4, 2020. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise

Photo: Fran Ruchalski, The Enterprise / The Enterprise

Dr. Ron McMurry MD shares some treats with some of his camels on his farm in Jasper County. They know he always has treats for them. Photo made on August 4, 2020. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise

Dr. Ron McMurry MD shares some treats with some of his camels on his farm in Jasper County. They know he always has treats for them. Photo made on August 4, 2020. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise

Mother and baby camel thrive at Jasper farm after rare procedure

Sybil and her new baby, Ivan, are enjoying life on their Jasper farm, grazing the hedgerows and pastures with their growing herd.

But that all seemed like a slim hope just months ago.

Now, thanks to a rare procedure performed at Texas A&M Universitys Large Animal Hospital, the camels not only have a new chance at life, but could one day impact the lives of others dealing with adversity.

Ivan was born in May at the Jasper farm of Joanna and Ron McMurry after his mother recovered from an extensive hip surgery last fall, but that wasnt always the plan.

Sybil was supposed to go back to (the LAH) for the birth, but that was before the pandemic started to ramp up, Ron, a Jasper physician, said.

Ivan now spends his days close to his mothers side or playing with his cousin thats about the same age; and Sybil seems to be getting along well despite the ordeal that first introduced her to the staff at Texas A&M University.

The 7-year-old dromedary camel, one of the first the McMurrys obtained in their herd of six, last summer developed a mysterious limp that concerned her owners. She was pregnant at the time and seemed to be in great discomfort.

X-rays at Texas A&M Universitys LAH revealed that Sybil had somehow dislocated a hip.

It was hard for us, Joanna said. We didnt really know what the chances were for her or the baby.

Ron said he knew an injury like Sybils typically ended in euthanasia, but he hoped for a chance to save the pair.

In September, LAH surgeon and assistant professor Kati Glass told The Bryan-College Station Eagle that she knew there would be challenges if they attempted the surgery.

We were very worried, and I spoke to a bunch of surgeons for a bit of advice while preparing for surgery, Glass said.

Those people were very doubtful. ... The challenge is the force it takes to get the (hip) back into socket with muscles so big, and then keeping that hip in the socket.

Ron was told most of the doctors who had experience with hip surgeries for camels did not have favorable results, even if the hip is reset.

Still, the McMurrys and the staff at the LAH persisted, and after some nerve-wracking attempts to set the hip in its proper place the surgery was a success.

Since the procedure, Ron said Sybil hasnt shown any issues related to her injury.

And while she wasnt able to make it to College Station for the birth, she has had a few visitors at her farm.

There were some students that had worked with her at (Texas A&M University LAH) that were interviewing for positions in Jasper and came to check in on her, he said.

While Sybil was at the hospital last fall, students learning at the LAH threw her a baby shower and celebrated her recovery.

Sybils current life may be carefree at the moment, even with a young one tagging along beside her, but that doesnt mean her and her herd arent living with purpose.

Ron said he was inspired to raise camels after he started learning about their unique physiology and hearing stories of how people rely on camels milk to treat chronic diseases.

Researchers and health advocates have been interested in two components of camels milk, lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, believed to be associated with benefits for the immune system. Homeopaths have credited its high zinc content with improving insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes.

Specifically, Ron was fascinated with testimonials from parents who reported great improvements for their children dealing with autism spectrum disorders after being introduced to regular servings of camels milk.

Some studies on children diagnosed with autism between the ages of 2 and 12 who used cows milk as a placebo reported improvements to behavior, but none of those claims have been validated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Until someone does a comprehensive study, Ron said, any benefits from camels milk will remain just an anecdotal story, which is why he decided to work toward having a producing camel farm that could one day facilitate the kind of controlled study that might help reveal some concrete answers.

There very well may be something to it; and, if there isnt, I want to know that, too, he said.

The McMurrys recently obtained another camel from a farm in Kansas. Bita soon will give birth to a new playmate for Ivan.

Camels can typically only be milked between 8 and 18 months after giving birth, but can sometimes produce milk for up to three years.

Ron said he would like to have 15 producing camels at the farm before he could consider conducting a study with a medical research school on the milks effects.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism

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Mother and baby camel thrive at Jasper farm after rare procedure - Beaumont Enterprise