Commercial breeding of cattle through artificial insemination, or embryo transplant as alternative to bull-dependent natural service could benefit Botswana’s beleaguered export beef industry with the Botswana Meat Commission at the controversial flashpoint, because it is the most scientific, economic and practical breeding method applied in modern farming practice, writes Zeff Kajevu.
Artificial Insemination (AI) sustains a vibrant national beef herd, by offering the most effective method of controlling various coital diseases and other infections disseminated through the male through natural service. Only semen from bulls of proven held status is used.
According to the Director of Animal Production, Dr. T.K. Phillemon-Motsu, for the on-farm AI programme, it costs P7 000 to purchase AI equipment, P400 for the semen and inseminator and P270 for the maintenance of the semen during the off-breeding season. All these cost combined are lower than the cost of a bull, its care and maintenance. For instance, the prices of bulls including the versatile Simmental breed ranges from P20 000 to P125 000. Due to capable manpower and resources AI conception rates for Botswana range from 82 percent to 84 percent; which are considered good by world standards. Before the introduction of AI, conception rates estimates at the cattle posts averaged 46 percent.
Speaking to InDepth in Gaborone, Dr. Phillemon-Motsu said: “AI, introduced in Botswana in the mid-1960’s, offers the most economic method of breeding as it eliminates repeated buying of quality bulls which are expensive for both the average and well-established commercial breeder. With AI, bulls of proven genetic merit can be used to serve thousands of cows per one breeding season across the whole country, rather than serving fewer cows for an individual farmer. For instance, one ejaculation has been used to inseminate over 300 cows as against one in natural service. Furthermore, for farmers with breeding herds of less than 25 cows, it removes the need to keep a bull.
“Semen from bulls of proven genetic merit can be imported from all over the world which is much more economic than the importation of live bulls. The semen of a bull in Europe, United States or Australia can be imported very cheaply to Botswana as transportation is relatively cheap. For farmers in fenced areas, record keeping of insemination and calving dates which is inherent in an AI programme as compared to natural service will help in management decisions such as cows inseminated during the breeding season can be pregnancy tested 6 weeks after insemination to determine whether conception has taken place. Or else the cows would be removed from the herd early enough for repeat insemination or natural service.
“Experience has shown that where comprehensive record keeping is practiced, their value as an essential management tool is soon realized. For farmers in communal grazing areas, AI restricts breeding to the breed of bull required. This becomes otherwise very difficult to enforce at the cattle posts, where bulls roam with the cows all the time.”
The Animal Production Director said farmers who rely on AI have the advantage of allowing a bull dying now to be used 5 years later as the semen can be stored up to that period. However, the biggest challenge of implementing AI in communal areas stems from the lack of fenced land, making it difficult to separate bulls from cows. Given the indiscriminate and continuous mating coupled with lack of commitment and poor record keeping, AI becomes a very difficult undertaking. The fact that at least 80 percent of the cattle in Botswana reside in this sector further exacerbates the challenges.
Dr. Phillemon-Motsu encouraged farmers using AI to plan breeding programmes and place semen orders well ahead of time to avoid rush hour blunders. The cows should be in good condition when they calve and gain mass during the breeding season. During insemination, farmers should deposit semen in the uterine body, immediately in front of the cervix opening for the best results, 12 hours after cows go in heat. Although adapting AI programmes to the natural habits of cows is a best practice, if not properly managed, the bio-technology will not assist in getting infertile cows in calf.
Giving a brief background of the introduction of AI in Botswana, Dr. Phillemon-Motsu said the Ministry of Agriculture mapped out strategies to provide maximum benefits to farmers through the bio-technology.
In the process, the Government built 14 AI camps through the country where land was available for farmers to use. With the introduction of the National Policy on Agriculture in 1990, one of the objectives was to promote targeted subsidies through the on-farm AI programme.
“Under the on-farm AI programme, farmers with fenced land are encouraged to apply AI with all technical assistance provided by the Government. Government provides training at no cost and sources all equipment to use, including semen and liquid nitrogen for farmers, at cost. In its efforts to make AI the universal mode of beef production, the Government is always willing to support any livestock development initiative, including AI; however, it is upon farmers’ interest to drive this initiative.
“Botswana derives AI benchmarks from fast developing countries such as Brazil and South Africa.”
As all other livestock, including chickens, equines, dogs can benefit from AI, the Government is in the process of building capacity on small stock and pigs with the intention of piloting AI in these species. Embryo Transplant (ET), another grey area in the making involving hitting the ground running has created interest in animal breeding techniques which, however, fewer farmers have shown interest in and needs capacity building. ET, widely used in livestock in developed countries such as the US, is another assisted reproduction technique that can help breeders achieve rapid advances in the genetic make-up of their herds.
