Assessment of Problems Associated with Artificial Insemination Service in Selected Districts of Jimma Zone

Abstract

Artificial insemination is recognized as the best biotechnological technique for increasing reproductive capacity and has received widespread application in farm animals. A cross sectionalstudy was conducted from October 2013 to March 2014 with the objective of assessing the problems associated with artificial insemination service in three districts of Jimma zone. In this study, a structured questionnaire was used and 176 respondents (122 smallholder dairy farmers, 48 animal health and production professionals and 6 artificial insemination technicians were interviewed. Retrospective data study was also included in the study to evaluate the status of artificial insemination services in the study site. According to the study result, 41% of the smallholder dairy farmers have got artificial insemination services regularly and without interruption while 59% of them do not due to unavailability of artificial insemination technicians (27%), discontinuation of service on weekends and holidays 30 (24.6%) and lack of inputs 9(7.4%) with statistical significance between districts (P<0.05). Conception failure (18%), unavailability of artificial insemination technicians (9.8%), disease (15.6%) and both conception failure and unavailability of artificial insemination technicians (17.2%) were the major identified constraints of artificial insemination delivery system. From 72 nonsatisfied dairy farmers 45(62.5%) passed the date without breeding cows by artificial insemination and natural mating and also 27(37.5%) used natural mating and waiting the next time to use artificial insemination services and statistically significant difference was found among dairy farmers. Similarly from 50 satisfied dairy farmers 5(10%) passed the date without breeding the cow with Artificial insemination and natural mating and waiting the next cycle to use artificial insemination services. The awareness of the respondents toward inbreeding problem was 88.2% in Jimma, 76.2% in Seka and 66.7% in Kersa districts. As possible solutions, 8.3% of the repondents suggested providing of semen and necessary materials on time, 6.3% allocate adequate budget, 25% providing supports from the concerned body, 8.3% awareness creation to small holders about AI service, 10.4% expanding artificial insemination center in the country and 41.7% training artificial insemination technicians. Generally, the questionnaire surveys indicated that artificial insemination is not doing well in all the three districts of the zone. Therefore, artificial insemination service requires urgent measures to change the situation to achieve success.