ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICIENCY OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS SERVICES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the efficiency of artificial insemination, problems associated with its services, and the reproductive performance of dairy cattle in selected districts of West Hararghe Zone Oromia Regional State Ethiopia. Both cross-sectional and retrospective types of study design were used. A structured questionnaire was prepared and data were collected by using the purposive sampling method. A total of 261 respondents (210 AI beneficiaries, 42 animal health, and 9 AITs) were interviewed accordingly. The present study revealed that about 52.31%, 48.57%, and 44% of respondents in Gemechis, Habro, and Tullo districts respectively received AI services regularly without interruption, while the remaining 47.69%, 51.43% and 56% did not get AI services regularly with the primary reasons being the scarcity of AITs and the unavailability of AI services on weekends and holidays. From the current study, 38.89%, 35.29%, and 33.33% in Gemechis, Habro, and Tullo respectively reported that repeated breeding is the most reproductive disease of dairy cattle. As per the study's findings, when cows/heifers showed heat character in the afternoon 56.92%, 54.29%, and 49.33% of respondents in Gemechis, Habro, and Tullo respectively took their animal to the AI station in the morning of the next day which is the exact time of insemination whereas, the remaining 43.08%, 45.71% and 50.67% took their cows to AI station at wrong time. The least-square mean of Age at first service (AFS), Age at first calving (AFC), Calving interval (CI), Days open (DO), Number of services per conception (NSPC), Lactation length (LL), Daily milk yield (DMY) of local breed cows were 45.37±0.44, 55.04±0.41, 16.74±0.19, 166.17±1.86, 1.81±0.04, 6.67±0.08 and 1.92±0.05 respectively. Whereas the least square mean of Age at first service (AFS), Age at first calving (AFC), Calving interval (CI), Days open (DO), Number of services per conception (NSPC), Lactation length (LL), Daily milk yield (DMY) of cross breed cows were 36.62±0.75, 46.85±0.70, 15.80±0.33, 155.75±3.18, 1.99±0.07, 8.04±0.13 and 5.03±0.09 respectively. From retrospective studies significant associations between the year and conception rates in all three districts; Gemechis (p<0.0001, Habro (p<0.0003 and Tullo (p<0.0001). There were significant associations between the year and delivery outcomes in Gemechis (p<0.0001), but not in Habro (p=0.2240) or Tullo (p=0.0979). On the other hand, there was statistical evidence for the observed associations between the year and sex outcomes in Tullo (p<0.0003), but not in Habro (p=0.0512) or Gemechis (p<0.8754). In general, the overall AI services in the study area were hopeful and to establish sustainable AI services in the study area sufficient number of AITs are required and the services have to be given to beneficiaries without interruption. Awareness creation regarding to time of insemination for AI beneficiaries is the best alternative to increase the conception rate of dairy cattle. Once more, the reproductive performance of dairy cattle has to be evaluated regularly, to increase production and productivity.