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