Abstract:
Artificial insemination has been defined as a process by which sperm is collected from the male,
processed, stored, and artificially introduced into the female reproductive tract for the purpose of
conception. This study was conducted from August to December 2019, to evaluate the dairy cow
improvement through artificial insemination and challenges in Decha district, Kaffa zone,
Southwestern Ethiopia. Six PAs (Beha, Awurada, ufa, Kuti, Gundera Gera, and Gecha) were
purposively selected for the study. A total of 525 artificially inseminated cow owners and 9 officers
and artificial inseminators were selected using the same procedure. Dairy farm on site observation
and structured questionnaire survey were used to gather data. The collected data were analyzed
using SPSS and descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. From the total of 525 dairy
cows inseminated in the two years’ program (2017 and 2018) about 58.8% were successful and
produced calves, while, the rest conception was failed. Multiple reasons (heat detection problem
(28%), lack of awareness (18%), lack of infrastructures (16%), management problem (14%), low
experience of AIT (6%), disease problems (12%), lack of incentive to the technicians and cow
owners (6%) were reported for the failure. The majority (50%) of the respondents brought cows at
heat during evening hours followed by those in morning hours (33.33%) a less number of cow
owners (8.89%) commenced heat during afternoon hours and the rest (7.78%) of respondents
didn’t know the exact time of commencement of heat of their animals. The result also showed that
the cow’s heat period detection mechanism varies among farmers. The majority of (52.22%)
observing their cow heat period when mounting one on other cows, restless and other cows
bellowing behavior (27.7%) and by vulva discharge (20%).From the artificial inseminated cow
owners 58.57% of them were feed their animal from their own crop farm but others (41.43%) use
common grazing land. About 87.05% of the cow owners kept their cattle in their own houses and
clean every day, but the rest (12.95%) had no houses. As result of this study almost all respondents
in the study area didn’t plant the improved forages. This is because of shortage of land (73.1%),
lack of awareness, (23%) and lack of interest (3.9%). About % respondents in the study area feed
their cattle by let to graze in grazing land and 29.8% of them tethering in grazing land and the rest
5.2% feed their cows indoor feeding system. As result of this study indicated 46% of respondents
were as far as 500m and 39.2% of respondents far between 500m to 2km and 6.8% far between
2km to10km and 8.1% far above 10km from the veterinary service. Extensive awareness creation
among farmers, quality and adequate artificial insemination facility and trained technicians are
recommending to make program more effective and successful.