Farmers as Artificial Inseminators: Experience from Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Farmers as Artificial Inseminators: Experience from Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

FAO-Crop Diversification and Marketing Development ProjectBy

Hizikias Ketema, Livestock Development National Consultant25-28 October,2010, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

FAO- CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND MARKETING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The General Objectives of the project

Promote economic growth in rural areas through strengthening commercialization of small farms in areas with recognized market potential.

Tap new market opportunities by providing technology that has a potential to increase production and productivity as well as quality standards so as to increase income,

Minimize price volatility and promote a sustainable use of natural resources

Project Components

1. Farm Technology Development

2. Improved Market Infrastructure

3. Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

The Livestock Activities of the Project

Dairy Development Milk Marketing

Forage Development.Fattening

Opportunities The climatic condition of the zone is conducive

for dairy production Large number of cattle Access to market (Major cities and towns)

The main challenges are The low productivity of the local cattle Shortage and poor quality of feed Prevalence of animal disease

The Livestock Activities of the Project

To alleviate these problems, - Distribution of crossbred heifers Development backyard feed production Strengthening and establishment of Milk

Collection, Processing and Marketing Units Strengthening of dairy cooperative union.

Distribution of heifers

The Number of crossbred heifers planned to be distributed throughout the project life is 105

So far 40 heifers are distributed to the farmers

The main challenge to achieve the project target was shortage supply of crossbred heifers.

Artificial Insemination.

• To alleviate the shortage of crossbred , the only means is to encourage farmers to produce crossbred heifers by their own

• To facilitate this it is important to make the artificial insemination service available near to the farmers’ village.

• For this purpose it was necessary to train farmers’ as artificial insemination technicians (FAIT), who are selected from farmers’ community for, one month

Training

The training was conducted in Adama University in Asella Model Agriculture Enterprise .

The project assisted the enterprise in designing the training curriculum.

The training curriculum was designed to have 32.84 % theory and the rest 61.6 % practical and for the practical session a cow was allocated for each trainee

ActivityHrs %

Theoretical 58 32.8

Group Discussion 10 5.6

Practical 109 61.6

Total 177 100

Item Quantity

Liquid nitrogen container (35lt)

15

Liquid nitrogen container (2 lt)

15

Insemination gun with ring

15

Scissors 15

Forceps 15

Universal Sheath 15

Sheath Container (Case tube)

15

Insemination glove

Thermometer 15

Thermo flask 15

Leather back bag 15

Funnel 15

Field Operation

Before the inseminators commence their services the district/woreda offices informed the communities about the service.

The communities were advised to construct insemination crushes in the places which is convenient to them.

Field cont.

The inseminators also constructed their own crushes at their residential compounds.

The farmers, when they need the service they bring their animals to the inseminators’ compound, or to the crush constructed by the community.

Field cont.

Supply of LN Initially it was agreed that

the inseminators to refill liquid nitrogen from the district/woreda LDHM Offices.

Finally it was agreed to take the 35 litres capacity liquid nitrogen nearer to the inseminators and to be kept either in the animal health clinics or in the office of development agents in FTC

Field cont.

Payment arrangements Total 12 ETB birr Six ETB birr to

government Six ETB birr as labour

cost to the AI

Efficiency of FAITs.

The inseminators began their work at the beginning of October 2009. All the 15 inseminators have performed 2031 inseminations for 1838 cows until August, 2010

First inseminations, 1878 Second inseminations 144 Third inseminations 9 There was no fourth insemination

Efficiency of FAITs.

S.NWoreda/district

Number of Inseminators

Number of Insemination

Total

1st 2nd 3rd

 4th

1 D/Tijo 4 697 41 0 0 738

2 Hetossa 1 70 12 4 0 86

3 H/Wabe 1 214 16 0 0 230

4 L/Bilibilo 4 193 24 0 0 217

5 Munessa 1 98 15 1 0 114

6 Tiyo 4 606 36 4 0 646

  Total 15 1878 144 9 0 2031

Table 2:-. Number of Inseminations by Woredas

Comparison of the Number of Service per Conceptions (NSPC) by Different Institutions.

Institutions

Year NSPC Source

At Stations

Gobe 1992-1994 2.68 Kalay*

Holleta Agriculture Research Center

2002-2006 1.6 NAIC*

Asella Model Agricultural Enterprise Farm

2001-2004 2.5 NAIC*

Holleta Bull Dam Farm 2001-2005 1.9 NAIC*

At Field Level

FINIDA 1984-1994 1.5 Kalay*

Project woreda/district 2005-2009 2.1 CDMDP*

FAO-FAITs End of 2009-August 2010 1.5 CDMDP*

Efficiency of FAITs.

Non return rate = 86 %

Return rate = 14 %

Pregnancy = 71 %

Other Activities Performed by FAITs

Pregnancy diagnosis service to the community

When cows are going to be slaughtered, or

When farmers are buying or selling cows

Advice

Reporting and Recording

Daily AI recording book Monthly AI report Monthly PD report Calving report

Reporting and Recording

Content of AI recording book and monthly AI reporting format

Name Kebele

Cow ID

Breed

No. of insemination

Bull Number

1st

2nd 3rd

4T

h

Total

Farmers’ Artificial Insemination Pregnancy Diagnosis Report

Name Kebele

ID Breed

Date of AI Date of PD ± 15 days

PD Result*

E.B.D ± 15 days

Maseresha Teferi

Ada Daweta Meteke Local

25/1/ 2002 25/4/2002 + 25/10/ 2002

Tuna Kedir Kelesa Bule Cross

27/1/ 2002 27/4/2002 - 27/10/ 2002

Turunesh Degefa

Ada Daweta Dema Local

28/1/ 2002 28/4/2002 + 28/10/ 2002

Teshome Bejega

Jengo Keleyesa

Bure Cross

1/2/ 2002 1/5/2002 + 1/11/ 2002

Manyazewal Lema

Kulumessa Bure Local

3/3/ 2002 3/2/2002 + 3/11/ 2002

Tiyo Woreda Calves Record

Cows’ Information Calves’ Information

S.N Name Kebele

ID Breed

Date of AI Breed

ID Birth Date

Birth Wt. Kg

Sex Bull No

M F

1

Kuma Abe A. Daweta Meteke Local 25/1/02

F1 TY-0001 6/11/02 24

1 10-165

2

Bire Alem Gonde Bure Local

3/2/02 F1 TY-0002 8/11/02 16

1

10-165

3

Aman Ali Gonde Bule Cross

5/2/02 F2 TY-0003 9/11/02 24

1

10-165

4

Grum H/G D.Koncha Bure Exotic 30/1/02

F1

TY-0004

30/10/02

1

10-165

5

Adam Biru D.Koncha Gare Local  8//2/02

F1

TY-0005

19/11/02 16

1

10-165

Calves recording and registration

CALF’s BIRTH CERITIFICATE

The Name of the Owner———————————————Region ———————————— Zone ———————————–—Woreda ——————————- Kebele —————————- Calf ID ———————— Sex ———— Date of birth ————— Breed/Type ——————————- Birth Wt ——————Dam ID —————- Breed ——————Sire ID ————— Breed —————

This certificate is issued to certify that the calf is born by artificial insemination from known bull. Signature of the Zonal Livestock, Health and Marketing Office

Name and Signature of the inseminator Date

Constraints Associated with Artificial Insemination Service.

Continues Supply of Liquid Nitrogen Distribution of LN Inadequate follow up by some woredas

Field cont.

Some of expected results of FAIT’s service :-

The pilot program shows that if the necessary training and support is provided to the farmers they can be able to participate in AI

The program will alleviate the shortage of crossbred heifers within short period.

In long term the area will be the source of crossbred heifers to other areas.

The milk production of the area will be improved Other will learn the experience to scale up the service

Number of Inseminations Per Woreda

0100200300400500600700

Woredas

Numb

er of

Insem

inatio

ns

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Lesson Learned

It is possible to train AIT in one month

The AI service can be managed by farmers

Maximum attention Should be given to the selection of farmers for the training

In woredas where there is strong follow up and support there is better performance

Effect of Months on the Performance of Artificial Insemination

050

100150200250300350400

Month

Numb

er of

Insem

inatio

ns

Series1

Series2

Series3

Series4

Cont. Lesson Learned

The high time, when the majority of the cows are coming to heat is between October and December

Therefore, all the necessary effort has to be done

Skilled AI technician

Regular supply of inputs

Far

mer

s A

war

enes

s

Adequate budget

Thank You