Research proposal

Research proposal

THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AMONG CATTLE KEEPERS IN MUKONO DISTRICT A CASE OF KYAMPISI SUB-COUNTY.

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction

This chapter presents background of the study, the problem statement, purpose, objectives of the study, research questions, study scope, and significance of the study.

• Background of the study

As we understand more about the physiological process in food producing animals, we become capable of manipulating these animals to increase their productivity.

As new technologies develop in agriculture, new industries also develop. The Artificial Insemination industry is a result of application of science to agriculture.

The primary reason for Artificial Insemination and hence this industry is to speed up the rate of genetic improvement. This is accomplished by greatly increasing the selection differential, where one highly selected sire is mated with thousands of females.

Although the commercial use of Artificial Insemination is recent (1937), the sequence of events leading to today’s industry traces back to the 17^th century. It was in 1677 when a spermatozoa was seen through the newly discovered microscope and when in Italy in 1780, it was discovered that a dog could be impregnated with cellular portion of semen (Leeuwen hock, 1977 and spallanzenii, 1780).

It was observed that spermatozoa could be inactivated by cooling and reactivated later (spallanzenii, 1780). By 1933 in Russia a method of collecting semen had been developed and they had started inseminating horses, cattle, sheep and swine (Wanow, 1933).

Research with cattle Artificial Insemination has been in progress in the United States and by 1939 seven Artificial Insemination (AI) cooperatives had been developed (Perry 1939).

Approximately 60% of dairy cows in the US are artificially inseminated. This is below the use of AI in European dairy areas such as Denmark, Holland and England where over 90% of cattle are artificially inseminated (Perry 1939).

Although the method of collecting semen and inseminating have been available for many years, it is unlikely that the commercial industry would have developed as rapidly without certain significant researched discoveries. Among these include;

The development of semen extenders which would protect sperm cells against temperature shock and thereby allow cold storage, the realization that the bull semen could be extended to breed large numbers of cows from each ejaculation and the discovery of the methods for frozen storage of bull spermatozoa (Philip and Lardy (1939).

It is generally considered that cattle producers use AI in their herds because

it offers service to genetically superior sires, it allows the maintenance of a herd closed to new animals and thus provides disease protection,  a dangerous bull needs not to be kept on the farm and organized breeding management and record services are provided (Polge 1949).

Artificial insemination was introduced in Uganda in 1954 at Entebbe livestock demonstration farm where experiments were for the first time conducted on indigenous cattle (Rollinson, 1954).

The bank of deep frozen semen had been established at Entebbe with 514 doses of Nganda semen and 55 doses of exotic semen of jersey and Guernsey breed (Marpels, 1959).

The country has got 79 government and private insemination satellitecentres country wide. Presently 2.5% of cattle farmers in Uganda have embraced Artificial insemination to boost their beef and dairy products output, (the National Animal Genetic, Resources Centre and Data Bank, 2016).

Recent findings have seen the equipments of the semen laboratory with new machinery and this has increased the population potential from 2,500 doses to 15,000 doses of affordable quality semen per week. The artificial breeding centre, Entebbe also imports semen including sexed semen from countries like U.S.A, Canada, Europe, UK, South Africa and New Zealand with the aim of responding to different farmer needs, (Kiffudde, 2016).

Government is in final stages of establishing regional semen centres in order to bring the services nearer to the farmers across all regions of the country (Mugerwa, 2016).

Ordinary semen costs averagely 50,000/= per straw, sexed semen currently costs between shs 180,000/= and shs. 300,000/=.

Artificial insemination has proven to be most affordable method to improve the genetics potential of any herd worldwide and maximizes the good genetics of   male parents. Uganda farmers need to take this opportunity and embrace the benefits of this technology (Kiffudde 2016).

• Definitions

Artificial insemination is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive tract of a female. Artificial insemination is commonly used instead of natural mating in many species of animals because of many benefits it can reap.

• Statement of the problem

Artificial insemination is a good modern method of improving the quality of local animal to boost their production in terms of milk and meat.

The government of Uganda under the ministry of Agriculture, animal industry and fisheries has implemented Artificial insemination services in many districts, Mukono inclusive. Mukono district has an Artificial insemination office and inseminators.

The use of artificial insemination would be a cheap method for the farmers to improve their local breeds of cattle to get good quantities of milk and meat so as to better the family income. But the majority of farmers are not using Artificial insemination. They prefer to use Natural methods of breeding cattle.

The use of artificial insemination would be a very cheap method for farmers to improve their local breeds of cattle in order to get good quantities of milk and quality meat so as to better family income.

The farmers have very poor local breeds of cattle producing low yield of milk and beef.

The research is intended to find out why the people of Kyampisi sub-county do not use Artificial insemination. It will also compare the percentage of using artificial insemination and those using natural breeding method. Then finally the research will find out why one method has got a higher percentage than the other one.

• General objective

To examine the challenges of application of Artificial Insemination in Kyampisi Sub County.

• Specific objectives

1. To examine the method of breeding cattle used by the farmers in Kyampisi sub-county.
2. To compare the percentage of people using natural breeding methods and those using artificial insemination
3. To establish why the percentage of one method is higher than the other one.

• Research questions.

1. What methods of breeding do cattle keepers use?
2. Which method of breeding cattle is used by the highest percentage of cattle keepers?
3. Why is that method in two above used by the highest percentage of cattle keepers?

1.7. Significance of the study.

Many cattle keepers, inseminators and extension workers are hoped to find this work of great importance because it will high light the recommendations to be taken in order to encourage cattle keepers to use Artificial insemination.

Artificial insemination enable the use of the best sires and dissemination of valuable genetic material seen in small farms (Hanter, 1982) farmer will be encouraged to use AI in order to improve their local breeds and get better yields from them.

The study will provide high lights to the inseminator in relation to maintaining the quality of semen during transit and when in storage.

According to a veterinary officer, one of the reasons why cows fail to conceive through AI is because the semen may be dead, but then the problem may not be the inseminators themselves but semen handling (Mugerwa 2016). The semen is got from Kampala and transported to the villages and in the process; it certainly gets affected in many ways.

The study will provide recommendation to the government, more specifically the ministry of agriculture animal industry and fisheries to set up more insemination satellites centres so as to bring the services nearer to the people.

The country has got 79 government and private insemination satellites centres all over the country.

Presently 2.5% of the cattle keepers in Uganda have embraced AI to boost their beef and dairy product output, (The National Animal Genetic, Resource Centre and Data Bank, 2016).

The study will therefore provide recommendation to the extension workers to disseminate the AI technology to the farmers so as to increase the percentage of farmers using AI.

In European countries, Den mark, Holland and England over 90% of their cattle are artificially inseminated (Perry, 1939).

• . Scope of the study

Geographical scope

The study will be carried out in Kyampisi Sub County in the five parishes which include Ntonto, Ddundu, Kabembe, Bulijo and Kyabakadde.

1.8.1. Participant scope

These will include inseminators, cattle keepers and extension workers.

1.8.2. Content scope

Emphasis will be focused on the method of breeding used by cattle keepers, the breeds used for Artificial Insemination, the importance people attach to Artificial Insemination and the challenge faced by cattle keepers of Kyampisi Sub County.

1.8.3. Time scope.

The time scope of 6 months has been considered because this is the time the researcher will take to analyze documents and collect data from the area.

1.9. Conceptual flame work

The research study was guided by the following conceptual flame work

Independent variables                                                          Dependent variables

        Intervening variables

Source:  Self-developed, 2019

CHAPTER TWO

2.1. Introduction

The chapter reviews the literature related to this study, the major theme of the study is focused in this exercise to understand better Artificial insemination worldwide, Artificial insemination in Uganda, the methods of breeding and the benefits of Artificial insemination.

2.2. Artificial insemination world wide

The adoption of Artificial insemination worldwide started in the early 20^th Century most especially in the developed world where modern animal husbandry practices and animal health care are practiced. These countries are mainly in Europe and America. In the developing world the adoption of AI is still very low due poor animal husbandry practices and animal health care.

The percentage rate of adoption of AI in these countries is below 5percent.

Artificial insemination is a globally accepted method of breeding cattle and is also effective for other species.

An estimated worldwide total of 150 million cows is artificially inseminated. (Banadonna and Succi, 1980)

In 1936 to 1938, an AI cooperative was established in New Jersey, modeled after the Denish system.

The improvement of livestock production which has been so remarkable in many industrialized countries, particularly in the last two decade, is due to the integrated effect of rapid development in several fields of industry. Increased food production, improved animal health, better husbandry, and the breeding of animals with the necessary genetic potential for improved performance are the most important of these developments.

In developing countries, however, the parallel improvements in livestock production have generally been inadequate, and one of the principal limiting factors has been lack of genetically improved animals (Bond, 1972).

There are different ways of increasing the number of genetically improved animals. Selection within the existing local population may be practiced, but this method often has to be ruled out because of the low genetic bases with which one has to start. The importation of superior breeding stock is too costly to be adopted on that scale.

Problems of adaptability also arise when high yielding cattle are transferred from temperate to tropical/ sub-tropical environments.

Crossing local female with superior imported sires is another method adopted at different periods by many developing countries.

With the advent of artificial insemination, the principle of cross breeding was given a new instrument for implementation on a large scale at a comparatively low cost (hall, 1959).

In spite of the efforts made to introduce large scale AI breeding services in several developing countries, growth in the use of AI has generally not been very strong, although there have been notable exceptions.

However, some estimates of global application of AI give an idea of its use in developing countries, Banadonna, 1972.

Based on the survey of the situation in 1961 and 1962, it was estimated that approximately 59 million cattle in the world were being artificially inseminated at that time.

Of the world total, some 56 million were in Europe, North America, Occania and Japan, leaving only about 3million artificially inseminated cattle in the rest of the world. In the recent world survey information received from 52 countries and these reported that more than 88 million cattle had been submitted to AI in 1970, (Macdowel, 1972). Of these Europe, the United States, Canada, News land, Australia and Japan accounted for 73 Million and the rest of the world for about 15 Million.

Roughly 10% of the world’s population of cattle was being subjected to artificial insemination by the end of 1960s. However, there is great variation in the incidence of inseminated animals both between and within Geographic regions. On the basis of the total population of cattle, it may be estimated that about 30 percent are artificially inseminated in Europe, North America, Australia, Newland and Japan, while the corresponding figure for the rest of the world is around 4 percent (Banadonna, 1972).

Notable exceptions are Cuba where about 1.5 million cows representing 50percent of the country’s dairy cows are served and Kenya were about 500,000 inseminations are recorded annually.

Artificial insemination is a comparative sophisticated method of animal husbandry. Its impact on cattle development is closely linked to the simultaneous introduction of reasonable standard of animal nutrition, disease control and husbandry, and infrastructure.

Unfortunately this has not always been recognized, and in some cases, AI has been purely adopted as a technical method of getting cows in calf. The aim of cattle improvement increased and more economical cattle production has usually forced in such cases. It is therefore necessary to emphasize that any AI scheme aimed at large scale improvement of national herd must be supported by programmes for the improvement of the closely allied sectors of animal husbandry and animal health. It should be recognized in this connection that AI techniques and organization used in industrialized countries do not necessary apply to developing countries. There are several constraining factors specific to these countries which call for specific solutions. (Dassanryake 1961) these specific solutions include;

Incentives to farmers;

In developing countries the large scale application of AI has played a key role in livestock improvement, particularly in respect of dairy cattle.

This was largely due to the promise of economic advantage that the technique had to offer.

It would thus be reasonable to assume that basic precondition for successful introduction or extension of AI services in developing countries would be the provision of economic incentives to farmers to breed improved animals, (Gang war, Branton and, Evans, 1961).

There are also certain basic technical qualities required of an AI service. Once an AI service is introduced, it should be available at all times, and not to be allowed to collapse because of inadequate resources or because of conflicts among representatives of the component disciplines of genetics, veterinary science, animal husbandry and economics, whose close cooperation is essential for the program. (Nishikawa, 1964).

Staffing an A.I service:

The execution of an A.I breeding service requires specialized staff at various levels. The importance of well-trained inseminators is sometimes over locked. The success of an A.I scheme is depended on its reliability and on its technical results which are to a large extent governed by the link that the service has with the farmers, namely, the inseminators. Inseminators must therefore be well trained and must undertake their job as a full time responsibility (Rakha et-al 1970).

Organization of field services;

In addition to reliability and good results, the successful extension of our A.I. breeding service is dependent on its ready availability of farmers. The pattern developed in industrialized countries where a central office receives orders by the telephone for inseminators and inseminators move from one farm to another by car, is usually not applicable in developing countries. Different systems have been allowed to resolve local difficulties, (Settergren, 1969).

In Kenya A.I. crushes are sometimes used for the provision of routine field veterinary services. This system offers the advantage that some of the services essential for the development of livestock production can be made available at the same location. It should be tested further, and applied in countries with relatively low cattle densities and reasonably good road communication. (Cannon, 1972).

Heat detection;

Heat detection has been reported to be one of the major management problems in developing countries in connection with A.I, (Dassanayake et al, 1961)

Zebu cattle show less intensive symptoms of heat and remain in oestrus for a shorter period than temperate and tropical cattle, (Branton, et al, 1961).

Recording;

An efficient information system is a necessary component of an A.I. breeding service. First, the actual conception rates per bull, per inseminator and per area would need to be recorded. Complete information on the number and performance of inseminated animals in various areas is also essential, (Idboeli et-al 1970).

Supply of semen;

The long term preservation of semen by deep freezing allows considerable flexibility in arrangements for the supply of semen in the initial phase of an A.I. programme. The semen can often be imported and domestic semen production postponed to later phase. Another important implication of the use of frozen semen is that the semen production unit can be geographically independent of the actual A.I. field work (Holland –al 1961)

Costs;

The cost of an AI breeding services varies widely among countries, and mainly depends on cattle density and the number of cows served. In the initial stages, with a small number of animals being inseminated, the cost per cow is high.

In industrialized countries, A.I. costs per cow vary between the equivalent of 40 and 75 litres of milk, depending on cattle density, the intensity of selection of sires, the cost of progeny testing and other evaluation activities.

The major expenses of an A.I. breeding services are represented by the wages of personnel, which in many instances amount to over 80 percent of the total valuable costs, (Stone el al, 1959).

2.3. Artificial insemination in Uganda

AI was introduced in Uganda in 1954 at Entebbe Livestock demonstration farm where experiments were conducted for the first time on indigenous cattle. The bank of deep frozen semen was established at Entebbe in 1959 with 514 dozes Nganda semen and 58 dozes of exotic semen of jersey and Guernsey breed, (Marples, 1959).

The animal breeding centre formally artificial breeding centre (ABC) at Entebbe has bulls from which semen is collected, diluted and frozen. The private sector through the commissioner of veterinary services also imports breeding materials (Semen, embryos etc.) from USA and uses ABC facilities for storage, (Mukiibi, 2001).

Since 1991 more sub- centres are have been opened by ABC and by private organizations. ABC supports them by training, supplying semen, AI equipment and liquid Nitrogen for storage of semen. The country has now got 79 government and private artificial insemination satellite centres country wide (Batungi, 2016).

Presently 2.5 percent of cattle farmers in Uganda have embraced artificial insemination to improve their beef and dairy product output, (Batungi, 2016).

Artificial insemination is an important technique that offers several advantages over natural mating in developing countries for breeding dairy cows. A major benefit of the technique is that it offer excellent possibilities to improve livestock genetically especially for small scale farmers so that their productivity is enhanced (Rodriguez-Martinazi, 2012).

In urban and peri-urban farming environment in Uganda, dairy farmers are faced with hardship of feeding their cattle and cannot afford the luxury of keeping a bull simply to breed one or two cows they keep for milk production for these farmers it will be advantageous to use a well-functioning AI service to avoid the cost feeding and management for a bull. Import of exotic milking cattle breed and Artificial insemination services in Uganda started in 1960s, (Nakimbugwe et al 2004).

AI services were formally being offered by the government institutions but of recent the private sector has taken on the service in the country. At first AI service in Uganda was a public sector service, now AI technicians have a variety of employment other than the government for example cooperatives AI organizations, NGOs and self-employed. There are two institutions that give courses for AI technicians in Uganda. Namely; The veterinary faculty at Makerere University and National Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC) in Entebbe, (Lwanga 2011).

There a few different semen vendors (SVUs) in Uganda that provides semen dozes to the AI technicians; The government agencies, but also the NGOs and private actors. There is only one SVU that produces dozes locally in Uganda, that is why imported semen (from for example USA and Europe) constitute a large part of the market, (Shinyekwa, 2011).

The use of AI in Uganda slightly improving especially in the central region, but still very low in other areas like in the North. The use of AI in Uganda has increased from approximately 5percent in 2004 to 7percent in 2008 but it is still rather low relatively to other countries. There is also big variation with in the country with the highest adoption in the central part and only 2percent use in Northern part of the country, (Mbowa, 2011).

In one study by (Kaaya, 2005) the adoption of AI was 36percent in 3 districts in central Uganda reasons for not adopting being fragile and too big fetusfor cows to deliver, (Mbowa, 2011).

2.4. Methods of breeding cattle

2.4.1. Natural mating

Care should be taken in the choice of a bull to ensure that he has no obvious defects in these testicles, penis, legs or other general features.

He should be free from diseases. Tests can easily be conducted to test the viability of his semen. He should be an appropriate breed for our heifer cow, and not of same family line (father, mother, son, etc.). one should consult a livestock officer before choosing a breeding bull if you do not know whether the bull could function or whether he is fit to serve your heifer/ cow.

When a bull is stimulated by a cow or a heifer in heat, his penis stiffens. He mounts the cow or heifer, introducing his penis into her vulva and ejaculate sperms. If the sperm meets the ovum and conditions are right, it enters the uterus where it attaches to the uterine wall and grows in a fetus, the pre-mature calf (Hafez, 1993).

If fertilization does not take place, or conditions are not favourable in the uterus, such as infection, the egg passes on out of the cow, appearing as bloody discharge, the day after end of heat cycle. Then another 18 to 21 days must pass before another cycle can begin and a subsequent breeding.

When improper heat detection occurs, a heifer/ cow bred too early or too late will not conceive. Care should be taken to bring two animals together at the right time. (Kinsey 1993).

The major advantages of choosing to use natural mating in a cattle herd is the reduction of labour and ease of just placing a bull in with the nominated group of cows or heifers. A sire can only physically mate with a small number of cows per year, generating a small number of calves per year, (Zane, 2018).

In any livestock breeding enterprise there is a basic requirement for natural mating. There are numerous ways to improve the reproductive efficiency of a herd through natural mating.

Uganda.

Breeders that choose to use an assisted reproductive technique to improve their genetics and fertility almost always use some degree of natural mating in their herd, (Archbald, 1993).

Bull does all the work, so not spending hours heat detecting each day.

No facilities needed, cow can get bred out in pastures, (Zane, 2018)

Although natural mating poses the highest risk for venereal transmission of diseases, the other risk factors will increase the threat of contaminating a population of bulls.

Managerial and hygienic procedures in the housing and bedding of bulls are important factors that must not be overlooked because of the possibility of the colonization of the penis by certain bacterial, (Samper, 2009). With natural mating one cannot match each bull to each cow and sometimes multiple bulls need to be used to breed heifers versus cows.

If replacement heifers are being retained a new or different bull is needed to breed the replacement heifer too.

Bulls must be fed and cared for even when they are not out breeding cows.

High quality bulls cost a lot of money versus the cost to purchase semen from A.I sire, (Samper, 2009)

2.4.2. Artificial insemination

Artificial insemination is done by taking semen from the chosen bull and putting it into a cow when she is on heat. Bulls that are chosen for Artificial insemination have already sired highly productive daughters. Artificial insemination will only be effective if the farmer or his stock man can recognize when the cow is on heat and ready to be served.

Insemination at a wrong time will be a waste of time and money. It is not uncommon in the tropics for cows to be inseminated three or four times before they get pregnant, not because the signs of heat are not recognized properly. The heat period can be very short. More than half the heat periods in a herd will be less than 12 hours long.  About half the heat periods are likely to happen at night, increasing the difficulty of detection. (MacDonald at el, 1985).

Observation is the key to heat detection. Watch the cow quietly at least three times a day for about twenty minutes each time. The best times to watch the cows are:

Early in the morning before milking, early in the afternoon and as late at night as possible. It is useless to watch the cows at milking or feeding time or when they are being moved, as real signs of heat are unlikely to be at those times.

Early warning signs: signs that a cow is about to come on heat are:

Licking or sniffing and chin resting

Either of the cows may be coming on heat, not just the one that licks, sniffs or rest its chin.

The cow is on heat when:

She stands willingly to be mounted by another cow and does not try to escape.

She mounts another cow from the front and watches her to see if she also stands to be mounted.

This is called “standing heat” stage.

Addition signs of heat are:

There is temporary drop in milk yield.

Restlessness, bellowing, swollen and reddened vulva lips and a clear thin, mucous discharge hanging from the vulva or sticking on the wall.

Using records. If records of the cow’s heat period are kept, it will be easy to know when to watch her for signs. (Ensminger, 1993)

The cow should not be served six weeks after calving. After that, each heat period comes every 20-22 days until the animal is pregnant again (Macdonald, at el 1985).

It has been repeatedly proven that Artificial Insemination produces an equal number of male and female offspring. The common complaint about Artificial Insemination, that it only produces bull calves is false. Normally Artificial Insemination should be preferred, if available for the first 2-3 breeding or heat cycle after calving.

If the cow still has not conceived (continue cycling) natural mating (a bull is usually recommended). It is better to try a surer means to get a cow into a calf as soon as possible, for the economics of keeping empty cows is very poor, and it’s better not to take the chance again that Artificial Insemination may fail. (Arch bald, 1993)

The risk of failure is likely greater than that of natural mating in other words, but value of Artificial Insemination sired offspring is far greater, so it is worth the first few times around.

However, it should be noted that the quality of the calves do not only depend upon genetics, but also on the environment in which they are raised (Kinsey, 1993).

2.5. Benefits of AI

Artificial Insemination in farm animals offers several advantages for genetic improvement, disease control and economical aspects (Hunter, 1982). These include;

Enables the wide spread use of outstanding sires and dissemination of valuable genetic material even in small farms.

Facilitates progeny testing under a range of environmental and managerial conditions, thereby further improving the rate and efficiency of genetic selection.

Leads to improved performance and potential of the national herd and permits coordination of a breading policy on national basis.

Accelerates the introduction of new genetic material through the export of semen and reduces international transport costs.

Enables the use of deep frozen semen after the donor is dead thus aiding preservation of selected lines.

Permits use of semen from incapacitated or origospermic males.

Reduces the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

It’s usually essential after synchronization of oestrus in large groups of animals.

Provides a necessary research tools for investing many aspects of male and female reproductive physiology.

It eliminates problems of mating large bulls to small heifers. (Etgen at el 1978)

When breeding season is over you do not have a bull or a lot of bulls to feed and keep from tearing down every fence on the property.

Allows the ability to produce consistency within the calves by using a single sire or similar genetic line of bulls.

Calves can be borne closer together through synchronization.

Even the smallest herd can get cows bred within budget rather than purchasing a bull to breed 2, 3 or even 15 cows (Humiton, 2007)

CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

3.0.Introduction

This chapter describes the methods used in the study of an investigation of the application of Artificial Insemination among cattle keepers in Mukono District, Kyampisi Sub-County. It describes the research design, the study area, study population, sample size and sampling procedure, control and data analysis methods.

3.1. Research design

A cross sectional survey research design will be used in the study.

It is appropriate since it is intending to collect information from a population at a particular time. Focus will be put on collecting information about the application of artificial information among cattle keepers in Mukono district, Kyampisi Sub County. This research design is proposed because it is a design of investigation that can generate data from many variables and among different categories of people and enables quantification, in addition to being easy to manage and administer.

3.2. Description of the study area

Kyampisi Sub County is located in Mukono District on the Eastern side of Kampala. It has five parishes which include Ntonto, Ddundu, Kalembe, Bulijo and Kyabakadde. It is situated in NakifumaMukono district, its geographical coordinates are 0^o40’ 0” North and 32^o 56’ 0” East.

3.3. Study population

The human population will include male the female cattle keepers, inseminators, and extension workers. These categories of people will be used in the study because they are believed to be knowledgeable about the research variable under investigation.

3.4. Sampling procedure

The inseminators and extension workers in each parish will purposely be selected for the study. Purposive sampling will be ideal because the samples will be already known to the researcher. Cattle farmers from the 5 parishes will be selected by random sampling. This method of sampling will be used because it allows equal chances of samples to be selected without prior knowledge of their existence hence high level of study reliability. (Amin 2005)

3.5. Method of data collection.

The researcher will collect primary data using the following instruments;

3.5.1. Interview survey

Quantitative data will be collected from in-depth interviews. They will be conducted with key informants (the inseminators and extension workers) since they are the key managers of Artificial Insemination.

In- depth interviews are good at generating a lot of information from respondents, especially when probing is administered.

The researcher will construct an interview guide.

The interview will require giving more information verbally in a face –to face collegial relationship. The results will be compared with respondents from the other beneficiaries. (Bell, 1997).

It is an effective method of conducting a survey and a use of an interview has got the following advantages: if the interview is granted there is no problem with non response, the interview provide opportunity for an in-depth probing and elaborating and classification of item if necessary, completion of the survey can be externalized, there tend to be more success with obtaining responses to open ended items and interviews has used with individual from whom data cannot otherwise be obtained (Wiersma at el, 2005).

3.5.2. Questionnaire survey

For quantitative data, semi- structured questionnaires will be used to obtain information from the respondents. They will be distributed to all the respondents selected from the study in the category. 20 cattle farmers will be randomly sampled and given questionnaires from each parish.

Questionnaires are preferred for they give respondents confidence to give their own opinion and express their minds in the absence of the respondents. They thus give objective responses. Questionnaires are a good way of collecting certain type of information quickly and relatively cheaply as long as you are sufficiently disciplined to abandon questions that are superfluous to the main task. (Bell 2002)

The effect of a good questionnaire study is directed towards constructing good items and avoids both the inclusion of useless items and omission of necessary items (Wiersma at el, 2005)

• Observation

This will be used to physically observe what the farmers actually do and some parameters like the number of and exotic cattle one is having, the system used while raring animals and the size of the farm. The researcher will be able to observe none verbal reactions from respondents with the aid of the observation checklist which will guarantee accuracy.

3.6. Quality control

3.6.1. Validity

This refers to the extent to which a method of collection presents what it is supposed to do or the extent to which a method of data collection measures what it is supposed to measure (Bell, 1997). The validity of the questionnaire will be established by using an expert judgment method that is recommended by Amin, 2005. Concerning the validity the researcher will contact a number of selected people to rate the instruments and describe the researcher to half a valid instrument. The instrument will be regarded valid based on people’s advice. The following formula will be used to test validity index.

C.V.I= Number of items regarded relevant by judges

Total number of items

C.V.I= n

N

Where C.V.I = Content validity of instruments

n= Number of items indicated relevant

N= Total number of items in the questionnaire

After performing the calculation, the research instruments will be considered valid if the average rate of the questionnaire was found to be above 0.75.

3.6.2. Reliability

According to (Bell, 1997), there are several devices for checking reliability in scales and tests, such as test alternative forms method or split half method. However, she advises that these methods may not be necessary unless one is attempting a test or a scale. Thus, as she recommends, reliability of this study’s instruments will be ascertained by pre-testing the questionnaires and interview guide in the field.

The reliability of instruments will be tested using the Cronbach method. After the test, the instrument will be found reliable to a co-efficient adopted for use.

3.7. Data analysis

3.7.1. Quantitative data

Quantitative data from in-depth interviews will be analyzed descriptively. Themes will guide the analysis of data.

Quantitative data will be analyzed manually along the major theme that will be developed.

3.7.2. Quantitative data

Completed questionnaire will be checked, coded and entered into the computer for analysis.

Cross tabulations, frequency table, and descriptions will be used to describe the findings.

3.8. Ethical considerations

The individual rights of the participants will be considered. The researcher will seek for the consent of all respondents, assuring them confidentiality of their responses.

When human beings are being used as study participants in research investigations, care must be taken in insuring that the rights of these respondents are protected. The researcher will respect human dignity by not revealing the identity of the respondents in the study. The letter of introduction got from the University seeking permission to conduct the study after being directed by the supervisor to do so, will be presented to the respondents in the study area for permission to conduct the study. Once permission is granted the researcher will distribute questionnaires to the respondents and the next stage after this will be analyzing data collected from the respondents.

Appendix 1.

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Burke. Tom Kurkschff.Rance long (2004) “The birth of the breed” Angus legends

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E.S.E Hafez (1993) reproduction in farm animals 6^th edition.

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Jezieski. TA. Posdluzny. M (1984): “Quantitative analysis of social Behavior of different cross breeds of dairy cattle kept in loose housing and its relationship to productivity” Applied animal behavior science.

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Appendix 2

Questionnaire or cattle farmers

Dear respondent,

I am Mukasa David Mwesigwa a student of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, carrying out a research study on the topic, The Application of Artificial insemination among cattle keepers in Mukono District a case of Kyampisi Sub- County.

This is for the fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree.

Therefore you rest assured that the information given will be used for only academic purposes and will be treated with total confidentiality.

1. Name……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Address/ location of the respondent………………………………………..(Parish)
3. Gender of respondent
4. Male b) Female
5. Age of respondent
6. Below 20 years b) 20-30 years
7. c) 31- 40years d) Above 40 years
8. Marital status of the respondent
9. Married b) Single
10. c) Widow/ er d) Separated/ divorced
11. Education level of the respondent
12. Primary b) Secondary
13. c) Tertiary d) University
14. e) Others (specify)……………………………………………..
15. What breeds of cattle do you keep?…………………………………………………………….
16. How many herds of cattle do you have on your farm?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Out of the herds of cattle you have on your farm, how many herds of cattle are;
10. Indigenous cattle ………………………………………… (in numbers)
11. Exotic breeds ……………………………………………….(in numbers)
12. Cross breeds ………………………………………………..(in numbers)
13. When did you adopt exotic breeds?
14. Less than one year
15. 2-5 years
16. 6 and more years

………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. From where did you get your cattle?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. What is the size of your farm? (in acres)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. Is your farm fenced?
14. Yes b) No

14. How do you keep your animals?
15. Zero grazing
16. Tethering
17. Herding
18. Others …………………………………………………………………………………………
19. Which method of breeding cattle do you prefer?
20. Artificial insemination
21. Natural mating
22. Give reasons for your preference

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

17. Have you ever accessed AI in your farm?
18. Yes
19. No
20. If yes who does the AI?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

If no, why? …………………………………………………………………………..

18. How much do you pay for AI?………………………………………………………

19. How do you communicate to the inseminator when the cow is detected on heat?

…………………………………………………………………………………………

20. How many times do you service your cow before conceiving?
21. One
22. Two
23. Three
24. Four times

21. Which problem do you encounter when mating/ serving your cow

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………

22.Suggest ways you think can be employed to solve such problems.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………

23. Another comment? …………………………………………………………………..

Thank you for your co-operation

Appendix 3

Interview for the key informants

Dear respondent,

I am Mukasa David Mwesigwa a student of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, carrying out a research study on the topic, the application of Artificial Insemination among cattle keepers in Kyampisi Sub- CountyMukono District

This is for the fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree.

Therefore you rest assured that the information given will be used for only academic purposes and will be treated with total confidentiality.

1. Name of the respondent
2. Tittle of the respondent
3. Institution
4. Gender of the respondent
5. Age of the respondent
6. Gender of respondent
7. Marital status of the respondent
8. Education level of the respondent
9. On average what is the size of the farm in this Sub- County? (in acres)
10. What are the types of breed of cattle kept in tis Sub County?
11. What is the average number of cattle kept by the farmers in the Sub-County?
12. How do the farmers keep their animals in Kyampisi Sub-County?
13. What method of breeding is commonly used by the farmers in KyampisiSub- County?
14. Why do they prefer to use that method in No. 13 above?
15. How much is charged for the AI dose?
16. How many times on average doyou service a cow before it conceives?
17. What are the challenges of using AI in KyampisiSub- County?
18. Suggest ways of overcoming the challenges mentioned in No. 17.
19. Any other comment?

Thanks for your co-operation.

Appendix 4

Observation checklist for farmers

Area of study/ sub countyKyampisi.

Parish……………………………………………….

Check for the presence of:

DATA ANALYSIS

According to Mays and pope (1996) analysis of data is a process of inspecting, cleaning transforming and modeling data with the goal of highlight useful information, suggesting conclusions and supporting discussion making.

Data analysis has multiple facts and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, in different business, science and social science domains.

Therefore, data from the study will be analyzed in order to present the findings and information. This will be done using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Qualitative data from in-depth interview will be analyzed descriptively.

Themes will guide the analysis of data qualitative data will be analyzed manually along the major them that will be developed.

Qualitative data from completed questionnaire will be checked, coded together to generate tallies and frequencies. Therefore relating findings will help researcher to form themes and sub-themes.

Thereafter the statistics acquired from tallies and frequencies will be used to analyse data using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS 16.0)