Research consultancy

 

 

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

 

CHAPTER  ONE

 

 

1.1.       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  17th  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,  ] 780).

 

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;

 

 

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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   satellite   centres  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 equipment  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   50,0001=  per  straw,  sexed  semen  currently   costs  between  shs

 

180,000/=   and shs. 300,0001=.

 

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).

 

 

 

 

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1.2.      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.

 

1.3.      Statement   of the  problem

 

Artificial  insemination   is  a good  modem   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 fanners  have very poor local breeds  of cattle producing  low yield of milk and beef.

 

The research  is intended  to find out why the people  9ih~l.lisi        sub-county  do not use Artificial insemination.  It will also compare  the percentage  o~;’i~[    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.

 

1.4.      General   objective

 

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

 

 

1.5.      Specific  objectives

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1.6.      Research   questions.

 

  1. What methods  of breeding  do cattle keepers use?

 

  1. Which method  of breeding  cattle is used by the highest percentage  of cattle keepers?

 

  1. 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).

 

 

 

 

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1.8 . Scope of the study

 

Geographical  scope

 

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The study will be carried  out in Kyampisi  Sub County in the five parishes  which  include Ntonto, Ddundu,  Kabembe,  Bulijo  and Kyabakadde.                          VV’lqf’  c {      Ll p~

 

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

 

 

 

Factors that favour the use of AI; Artificial  insemination

Availability  of semen Availability  of inseminators Availability   of transport

Adoption  of AI will depend  on the following  factors;

Skilled farmers

Availability  of funds

1<E<,—–,–::;:3I>l        Availability  of animals Ability to communicate  to inseminators

Positive  attitudes  towards  the use of AI

 

 

 

 

 

Jntervening    variables

Other methods  of breeding   “77

Shortage  of funds

Failure to observe  animals  on heat

Shortage  of inseminators

Lack of transport  for inseminators

Poor communication

 

 

Source:   Self-developed,   2019

 

 

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CHAPTER   TWO

 

 

 

2.1. Introduction

 

 

The chapter reviews  the literature  related to this study, the major theme  ofthe   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   20th   Century,   most especially  in the developed  world  where  modem  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).

 

 

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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,  Oceania  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,

 

 

 

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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

 

 

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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  vanous   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;

 

 

 

 

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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 -aI1961)

 

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

 

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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

 

 

 

 

 

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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 fetus for 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).

 

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The major advantages  of choosing  to use natural mating in a cattle herd is the reduction  oflabour 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

 

 

 

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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)

 

 

 

 

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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   III 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.

 

 

 

 

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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   with  in 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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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 Nakifuma  Mukono  district,  its geographical  coordinates  are 0° 40′  0″ North  and 32° 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

 

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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;

 

 

 

 

 

Qualitative  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.

 

 

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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)

 

3.5.3.   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  whatit   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 this will help the researcher  to have 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

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.

 

 

 

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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

 

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

 

Data  analysis  has  multiple   facets  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  as 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 themes that will be developed.

 

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

 

Thereafter,  the statistics  acquired  from tallies  and frequencies  will be used  to analyze  data using

 

Statistical  Package  for Social  Scientists  (SPSS  16.0)

 

 

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.

 

20

 

 

.,_

 

 

 

Appendix  1.

 

 

References

 

 

~   ~/l~t~::J

 

 

Almquist  .1. 0  (1959).  Insemination  techniques.  Reproduction  in domestic  animals.

 

 

Almquist.  J.O (1959).  Insemination  techniques.  Reproduction  in domestic  animals. Anderson,  J. 1944. The periodicity  and duration  of Oestrus in Zebu and grade cattle.

 

Ansi Okstate (2013):  Breeds  of livestock  Ayrshire  cattle

 

 

Archbald  L. F. (1993).  In current  veterinary  therapy. Baxlery,  Henry (2012):  Breed calf rearing  comparisons.

 

Bhatta  Charya.   P.  (1962)   Development    of  artificial   insemination   in  India.  In   the  semen  of animals and artificial  insemination

 

Briggs   H.M  and  D.M:   Modem   breeders   of  livestock.   Forth   Edition   Macmillan   publishing company  1980.

 

Brouce KJ. Uhrincat.  M. Sock, M 2008 “Genetic  behavior  in cattle”

 

 

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

 

 

C.H. Eckles (1923): Diary  cattle and milk production

 

 

Dassanayake,  L. Holland,  E. Hoole  B.1. & Martin,  I.C.A  1961. The use of deep frozen Aberdeen. Angus semen from Australia  for artificial  insemination  of native  cattle.

 

David Bateman  2005: Red poll cattle.

 

 

E.S.E Hafez (1993) reproduction   in farm animals  6th edition. Ensminger  M.E (1993).  Dairy cattle science.

Erwin    Kinsey    (1992):    Diary    farming.    Manual    integrated    small    holder.    Heifer    project

 

international.

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

;:.

 

Gang  war,  P.C ‘Branton,   C.  and  Physiological   responses   of  HoI  stein  heifers  to  control  and natural climatic  conditions.

 

Hall  I.G.  Branton,   C  and  Evans,  D.L.  1959.  Estrus,  oestrous   cycles,  ovulation   time,  time  of service and fertility  of dairy cattle  in Louisiana.

 

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.

 

Joseph Mukiibi  (2001): Agriculture  in Uganda  volume I General  information  by NAARO/  CTA. Judith Bell (2000): Doing  you research  project.

Kaaya   H.  Bashasha,    B.   and   Mutetikka,    D.  2005.   Determinant    of  utilization    of   artificial insemination  services  among  Ugandan  dairy farmers

 

Mbowa,  S. Shinyekwa,   1.  and  Lwanga,  M. M. 2011  dairy  sector  reforms  and transformation   in

 

Uganda  since  1990s.

 

 

Mukiibi  K, 2001 Agriculture   in Uganda.  General  information  by National  Agriculture  Research

 

Organization  (NARO).

 

 

Nakimbugwe,  H. Solkne,  I. William,  A. 2004 open nucleus  cattle breeding  program  in the lake

Victoria crescent  region  of

 

Nishikawa,   Y.  1964.  History   and  development    of  artificial   insemination    in  the  new  world. Rakha, A.M, IGBOEUIG.  Hale D. 1970.

 

Ray Herren  (2000): The science  of animal  agriculture.  Second Edition.

 

 

Row  son,  L.E.A  (1959)  collection,   dilution  and  storage  of  semen  in reproduction   in domestic animals.

 

The oestrous  cycle of zebu and sanga breeds  in centred Africa. Weston, Nicole  (2007) New Angus.  Third Pounders  at MC Donald’s.

William  J.A. Payne  (1990):  Livestock  management  in the tropics  2nd   Edition.

 

 

23

 

 

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  .

 

  1. Address/  location  of the respondent                                                                     (Parish)

 

  1. Gender of respondent
  2. a) Male  D  b) Female   D

 

  1. Age of respondent

 

 

  1. a) Below 20 years

 

  1. c) 31- 40years D
  1. b) 20-30 years D
  2. d) Above 40 years D

 

 

  1. Marital  status of the respondent
 

a)   Married Db)

Single D 
c) Widow/ er D 

d) Separated/  divorced

D

 

  1. Education  level of the respondent
  2. a) PrimaryD                       b) Secondary  D

 

 

  1. c) Tertiary
  1. d) UniversitYD

 

 

  1. e) Others (specify) .

 

  1. What breeds of cattle  do you keep?                                                                                                     .

 

  1. How many herds of cattle do you have on your farm?

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

  1. Out of the herds of cattle you have on your farm, how many herds of cattle are;

 

  1. a) Indigenous  cattle                                                                        (in numbers)

 

  1. b) Exotic breeds                                                                                 (in numbers)

 

  1. c) Cross breeds                                                                                  (in numbers)

 

  1. When did you adopt exotic breeds?

 

 

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

 

 

  1. Is your farm fenced?
  2. a) Yes D  b) No  D

 

 

  1. How do you keep your animals?
  2. a) Zero grazing  D b)   Tethering          D c)   Herding            D d)   Others

 

 

  1. Which method of breeding cattle do you prefer?
  2. a) Artificial  insemination    D
  3. b) Natural mating  D

 

  1. Give reasons for your preference

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Have you ever accessed AI in your farm?
  2. a) Yes D

 

  1. b) No  D

 

  1. c) If yes who does the AI?

 

 

 

lfno,  why?                                                                                                                             .

 

  1. How much do you pay for AI? .

 

26

 

 

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

…………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

  1. How many times do you service your cow before conceiving?
  2. a) One       D
  3. b) Two       D
  4. c) Three      D
  5. d) Four times  D

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Another comment?  . Thank you for your co-operation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

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- County Mukono  District

 

This  is  for  the  fulfillment   of  the  requirements   for  the  award   of  a  Bachelor   of  Science   III

 

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

 

  1. Tittle of the respondent

 

  1. Institution

 

  1. Gender of the respondent

 

  1. Age of the respondent

 

  1. Gender of respondent

 

  1. Marital  status of the respondent

 

  1. Education  level of the respondent

 

  1. On average  what is the size of the farm in this Sub- County?  (in acres)

 

  1. What are the types of breed of cattle kept in tis Sub County?

 

  1. What is the average number of cattle kept by the farmers  in the Sub-County?

 

  1. How do the farmers keep their animals in Kyampisi Sub-County?

 

  1. What method of breeding is commonly  used by the farmers  in Kyampisi  Sub- County?

 

  1. Why do they prefer to use that method in No. 13 above?

 

  1. How much is charged for the AI dose?

 

  1. How many times on average do you service a cow before it conceives?

 

  1. What are the challenges of using AI in Kyampisi Sub- County?

 

  1. Suggest ways of overcoming the challenges mentioned  in No.  17.
  2. Any other comment? Thanks for your co-operation.

28

 

…..

 

 

 

 

Appendix   4

 

Observation  checklist  for farmers

 

Area of study/ Sub County:  KYmrrpj_~i

 

Parish                                                                               . Check for the presence  of:

ITEM                                        IN PLACE/  YES                               NOT PRESENT

 

Fenced  pastures

 

Big stock Small stock Local animal Exotic  animal Mature   bulls

Farm size

Small  (0-1 acre)

 

 

Medium   (1-3acres) Big (3-above  acres)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

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