Artificial insemination in Nyagatare district: Level of adoption and the factors determining its adoption
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Date
2017
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to characterize and to estimate the level of adoption of artificial insemination (AI) as well as to identify factors determining its adoption by communal farmers of Nyagatare, Rwanda. This followed the launching of the official Government AI programme in the district several years earlier. A questionnaire was used to carry out a survey of the breeding methods used for small scale dairy cows by farmers from five selected sectors of Nyagatare district of the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Of the 360 respondents, 16.9% primarily used AI, 63.1% used natural service and 20.0% used both methods for breeding. A significant percentage of respondents residing within 5km of the AI centres (79.2%; P<0.05) adopted AI whilst a significant percentage of respondents residing more than 15km from AI centres (92.5%; P<0.05) preferred natural service. A significant percentage of respondents from big families with 6-7 members were using AI (54.1%; P<0.05), whilst all the respondents from small families with up to 3 members opted for natural service (100% P<0.05). A significant percentage of respondents with secondary education (76.9%; P<0.05) opted for AI whilst a significant percentage of respondents with no formal education (98.5%; P < 0.05) opted for natural service alone. A significant percentage of respondents working in both agriculture and animal husbandry (93.1%; P<0.05) opted for AI whilst a significant percentage of respondents working in crop production and other none animal husbandry related sectors (93.2%; P<0.05) opted for natural service alone. Land size in excess of 5 hectares did not significantly influence adoption of AI. The study showed that there were several underlying factors that had the potential to influence farmers' choice of breeding methods. Chief among these factors are level of education of farmer, family size, distance to AI station and occupation in agriculture or animal husbandry.
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Keywords
Artificial insemination, Heat detection
Citation
Mushonga, B., Dusabe, J.P., Kandiwa, E., et al. (2017). Artificial insemination in Nyagatare district: level of adoption and the factors determining its adoption. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 55(1), 1-7.