The Potential use of Artificial Insemination in sustainable Breeding of Dairy Goats in Developing countries: A Case Study of Norwegian Dairy Goats' in Tanzania

Abstract

Acquisitions of live breeding dairy goats from abroad have been expensive undertakings and of late have faced tight veterinary regulations due to major disease outbreaks, Alternative strategies of acquiring new genetic material have, therefore to be tested out in order to avoid inbreeding. The use of frozen semen was investigated in Tanzania in order to increase the genetic pool and allow Tanzanian farmers to benefit from the progress of the Norwegian breeding programme, In February 2002, 46 dairy goats, including 12 first-fresheners belonging to farmers in Mgeta-division in Morogoro, Tanzania were selected for insemination, Oestrus was synchronised in all goats and followed by insemination, Twenty-five (54%) goats conceived, but only 20 goats (43%) completed the gestation period. Twenty-seven kids were born alive, of which 10 were twins and 3 were triplets. Only one kid died during first four months of life. In the next trial, a total of 20 does were inseminated, out of which 11 conceived. With this 55% conception rate, a total of 13 kids were born, out of which three died shortly after birth. Norwegian bucks born in Mgeta were introduced to three villages in the lowlands of Tanzania for upgrading local goats. Lack of resources is, however, an obstacle for comprehensive recording schemes and progeny testing. Therefore, a breeding pyramid with detailed recording and performance testing of approximately 500 breeding does belonging to Mgeta farmers has been proposed, This opens up possibilities of insemination of some of these does with semen from Norwegian elite bucks on a regular basis, thereby benefiting from the comprehensive ongoing breeding programme, in that country. Bucks from Mgeta may then be moved to the lowlands for siring F₁-crosses to be used for milk production. It is concluded that occasional imports of semen from Norway for use in selected herds at Mgeta and later distribution of the resultant bucks /lation-wide, may be a feasible strategy for improving the genetic base of goats in Tanzania for milk production. Mgeta Goat Breeders Association and its Norwegian counterpart could operate such a scheme with assistance of scientists in both countries thereby contributing substantially to improved human nutrition in Tanzania.

Keywords: Dairy goats, aliificial insemination, breeding, farmers' associations

Tanzania J.Agric.Sc. (2007) Vo·J.8 No.1, 19 - 24