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Constraints associated with the use of Artificial Insemination (AI) and Natural Service (NS) in smallholder dairy herds in Tanga and Morogoro, Tanzania


N L Kanuya
J E Mlangwa
J E Shoo

Abstract

This study was aimed at identifying constraints, opportunities and defining appropriate strategies for achieving better livelihood outcomes among 228 (Tanga) and 174 (Morogoro) smallholder dairyfarmers‟ households (HHs). A structured questionnaire was administered by direct interview of randomly selected HH heads. Of the respondents in Tanga/Morogoro, 67.3/45.0% preferred the use of NS and 32.7/45.0% preferred AI. AI service was available to 63/66.7% of the HHs in Tanga/Morogoro. In Tanga, AI services were provided by private practitioners (38%), government agents (32.4%) and projects/NGOs (20.7%) whereas in Morogoro government agents (52.3%) and private practitioners (39.1%) were the service providers. Of the 80.2/68.4% HHs using AI, the main problems related to AI service were poor results as shown by repeat inseminations (58.2/54.9%) and high costs (23.93/19.6%) charged. Problems related to the use of NS in Tanga were too many repeat services (42.6%) and low calf quality (34%) while in Morogoro problems associated with use of NS were too many repeat services (42.9%) too long distance to bull location (30.6%), high cost 10.2% and low calf quality (10.2%). In conclusion, attaining of high pregnancy rates and lowering of service costs would contribute to adoption of AI by smallholder dairy farmers because they attach a higher value to an AI-calf compared to one from NS. For successful intervention in addressing identified constraints, further studies are needed to find out underlying causes of the reported low conception/pregnancy rates following AI.

Keywords: Smallholder dairy herds, constraints and opportunities, AI, NS


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eISSN: 2714-206X
print ISSN: 0856-1451