Constraints Identification and on Station Evaluation of Hormonal Assisted Artificial Insemination on Reproductive Performance of Horro Cattle in Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Guto gida, Diga and Sibu sire districts of East Wollega, Bako tibe and Ilu galan district of West Shaw zones and on station in Bako agricultural research center with the objectives to assess constraints associated with hormonal assisting artificial insemination and to evaluate the response of Horro cattle (Bos indicus) cows after estrous synchronization. In this study, structured questioner was used and a total of 204 respondents (180 small holder dairy farmers, 8 animal health workers, 8 animal production professionals and 8 AI technicians were interviewed. Retrospective data from specified districts were also included to identify constraints associated with hormonal assisting artificial insemination in the study areas. The study indicated that most of the respondents (93.33%) were got information/ took training on the issue of mass estrous synchronization and AI services before the commencement of the program. However, most of the respondents (57.78%) had moderate knowledge on heat detection and only few (27.22%) of them can keep the record of their synchronized cows/heifers. The main restraints for the low success rate of on farm hormone assisted artificial insemination (estrus synchronization) were identified as failure of conception (42.22%), using poorly managed cows/heifers (15%), difficulty in heat detection by the farmers (13.89%), skill gap and unavailability of artificial insemination technicians (AITs) (12.78%) and poor hormonal responses (11.11%) and the assessment made on farm in comparison with observational test made on station indicated that there were minimum or very few problems with estrus synchronization since majority of cows hormonally treated were conceived as that of normally cycling animals. Therefore, to enhance the genetic potential of indigenous dairy cows through cross breeding scheme, revising of the existing hormone assisted estrus synchronization, artificial insemination delivery system, improving the ability of farmers and experts on the handling of frozen semen and management of dairy cows/heifers before and after hormonal synchronization should be due in place. Moreover, awareness creation should be done to change the attitude of farmers on hormone assisted estrus synchronization.