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

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