Assessment of Problems/Constraints Associated With Artificial Insemination Service in Ethiopia
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Date
2008-06
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Abstract
Study on reproductive performance of 18 AI bulls and on the efficiency of AI operations was
conducted at the National Artificial Insemination Center and in ten purposively selected areas
of five regional states. This study was also conducted to assess the problems and constraints
associated with artificial insemination service in Ethiopia. The 18 bulls were owned by NAIC
and were in semen production. Questionnaire survey was also carried out on technical staffs
that were performing their duties at the National AI Center. Evaluation of number of services
per conception and conception rates to first insemination was carried out. Pregnancy diagnosis
was performed on 375 cows in the selected areas. Besides, 114 straws of semen, 61 from
regions, and the other 53 from NAIC were checked for semen motility to see if there were any
differences in motility due to handling between the center and the regions. Thirty AI
technicians and 246 farmers were used for the collection of data using questionnaire surveys.
Moreover, fifty-two high-level professionals who have stakes directly or indirectly in the
artificial insemination service have been used for the focus group discussions in the five
regions. Mean (± E) scrotal circumference for Holstein, Jersey and crosses of Holstein with
indigenous breeds at NAIC was 39.71± 0.64, 41.00 ± 1.16 and 39.00 ±1.00 respectively. The
results did not differ (p>0.05) among the three breeds. Similarly, the outcome of semen
physio-morphological analysis revealed that there was no difference (P>0.05) for the different
semen characteristics except for the total morphological defects which differed significantly
(P<0.05) among the three breeds. The sources, the selection procedures, and the health status
of the AI bulls at NAIC were found to have serious problems. Mean (± SE) number of
services per conception and conception rate to first insemination were 1.88 ± 0.07 and 27.06 ±
0.44 respectively. These results differ significantly (P<0.001) among the five regions. Of the
total cows used during the study, 40.53% have been found to be repeat breeders. Mean (± SE)
semen motility for the NAIC and for the regions were 53.2% and 51.7% respectively and
there was no difference (P>0.05) between the NAIC and the regions. The overall results of the
assessment via questionnaire surveys and focus group discussions at large have indicated that
artificial insemination is not doing well in all the regions and at national level at large. It is
inferred, therefore, that artificial insemination operation in Ethiopia is not a success and
requires urgent measures to change the situation before it totally collapses.
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Keywords
reproductive performance, AI, semen production