On-Farm Hormonal Oestrus Synchronization and Mass Insemination Technique of Dairy Cattle in Sidama, Ethiopia
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of oestrus synchronization and mass insemination under the action research and development intervention. For the evaluation, a total of 126 and 883 dairy cattle were taken under action research and development intervention, respectively. The result of estrus response (90%) in action research was somewhat higher than the result obtained from development intervention (87.2%). The number of AI services per conception in action research was (1.75) lower than the development interventions (2.36). The result of conception was higher (58.4%) under action research than the development intervention (42.2%). The result further revealed that both in action research and development intervention conception significantly (P<0.05) affected by genotypes. Conception was higher in the 2nd parity both in action research and development intervention. The BCS was higher (P<0.05) among the cattle with a higher conception rate. Conception also significantly varied across cows’ age, with higher values observed among those aged between 5 to 7 years. Conception rate was a significant (P<0.05) difference among the time of insemination, with higher results observed between 10 to 15 hours after the onset of estrus. Results from action research and development intervention indicated a possibility to improve the conception rate by 16.2%. Therefore, appropriate animal selection, semen quality, and the time of insemination need to be considered for a successful estrous synchronization and AI program.
