Alemayehu Lemma (Prof), Dr. Tilaye DemissieAbiy, Shimelis2019-12-192023-11-302019-12-192023-11-302019-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/20445Semen extenders used in Ethiopia are imported and expensive. Pregnancy detection is mostly through rectal palpation. This study was designed to compare conception rates of frozen semen prepared by commercial (Bioxcell) and homemade (Tris egg yolk) extenders. Further, evaluate advanced methods of early pregnancy diagnosis (18th to 22nd days post AI) using Progesterone analysis and Ultrasonography. Post-thaw semen viability, forward motility, live percent and morphological abnormality were 67±2.6%; 43.59±3.7%; 47.22±1.8% and 42.12±1.26% for TEY preserved semen, respectively; while the same parameters were 68.11±2.6%; 40.83±4.0%; 46.52±1.7% and 41.64±1.1% for Bioxcell preserved semen, respectively. HOS test was higher in TEY (8.87±0.72) extended semen than that of BioXcell extended semen (4.45±1.20%). A total 120 animals were included for both study, 48 animals for conception rate of semen extenders (14 heifers and 34 cows) were equally grouped and inseminated (24 by Bioxcell – G-I and 24 by Tris egg yolk – G-II). First service conception rate was 50% for G-I and 70.8% for G-II. Though conception rate was higher in G-II, there were statistically non significant but higher values between the groups. Nevertheless, conception rate was higher for both heifers and cows within G-II (71.42% and 70.58% in G-II compared to 42.85% and 52.94% in G-I). From a total of 72 animals inseminated for early pregnancy detection, pregnancy was confirmed on Days 18th and 22nd by RMPT and serum P4 analysis 42(58.4%) and 37(51.4%) respectively, and on Day 28th Ultrasonography 32 (44.5%) post AI. Although pregnancy detection with RMPT was statistically non significant but the values was higher between the tests. RMPT was the most sensitive (88.9%) but less specific (72.2%) taking Ultrasonography as a gold standard. Pregnancy later performed by transrectal palpation on Day 40 post AI showed 27 (37%) indicating the presence of corpus luteum and early embryonic mortality. RMPT was found to be relatively cheaper, and easier to apply under field condition. Results comparable to ultrasonography can be found if the test is repeated 7-8 days later. In conclusion, semen extenders can be locally prepared to mitigate the cost commercial extenders with even better conception results. Diagnosis of pregnancy can also be made at an earlier stage using a RMPT under the field conditions of Ethiopia.enConception rateearly pregnancy detectionRapid milk testThesis