Comparison of oestrous synchronization response and pregnancy rate on village cows following timed artificial insemination in Kwazulu-

Natal and Limpopo Provinces”

Maqhashu A

Conference on Policies for Competitive Smallholder Livestock ProductionGaborone, Botswana, 4-6 March 2015

Agricultural Research Council-Animal production instituteGermplasm Conservation & Reproductive

Biotechnologies (ARC-GCRB)

OutlineIntroductionObjectivesMaterials and MethodsResults and DiscussionConclusionAcknowledgements

≥51 million populationPer capita consumption of 13.72kg/year 7 to 13% Agricultural GDP

Affluent consumers premium MarketsRestaurantsWholesalersRetailers

Integrated feedlots

Feedlots(Where 70% of RSA cattle are finished before slaughter)Developed sector 50 000 High Income producers & 2250 Elite Breeders

8.3 million beef cattle

Meat processors (495 Abattoirs) 2 400 000 to 2 800 000 Slaughters

640 000 tonnes produced

Failure point: Limited direct access to feedlot market due to people and animal

Failure point: Lack of support targeting individual change to fit into RSA beef chain

35 000 tonnes exported

Poor consumers (cheap cuts

market)

Tanneries for automotive industries

Hides

Export Local

Developing sector Markets ButchersAuctions

Speculators Festivities

Failure point: Very low market

off-take

Developing sector Land reform

Farmers15 000

Emerging Farmers87 000

Communal farmers3 million

Failure point: Low herd productivity due to people & capitalsFailure point: Limited flow of

improved bull due to people & capitals

5.7 millionBeef cattle

13 000 to 48 000 tonnes imported

150 000 to 300

000 weaner importe

d

Nedambale@2012

Time when cows show signs of heat

Time (hrs) Percentage (%)

00:00-06:00 43

7:00-12:00 22

13:00-18:00 10

19:00-23:00 25

Objectives

To evaluate the oestrous response and pregnancy rate following timed artificial insemination (TAI).

MATERIALS

AND

METHODS

Study site

Training of farmers

Synchronization of cows

RESULTS

&

DISCUSSION

Oestrus synchronization response Provinces Breed types Body

conditions score

Cows(n)

Synchronization response (%)

Pregnancy rate (%)

  Limpopo

Brahman ≤2.5 24 96 25

Brahman ≥3 15 100 60

Bonsmara ≤2.5 28 100 29

Bonsmara ≥3 21 100 61

Nguni ≤2.5 19 100 57

Nguni ≥3 65 100 62

  KwaZulu Natal

Brahman ≤2.5 30 100 36

Brahman ≥3 20 100 45

Bonsmara ≤2.5 31 100 35

Bonsmara ≥3 19 100 52

Nguni ≤2.5 20 100 45

Nguni ≥3 50 100 60

Conclusion• Village cows responded successfully to

oestrous synchronization programme regardless of geographic area and body condition.

• Cows with BCS of ≥3 had better pregnancy rate regardless of breed type and province. Moreover Nguni type cows performed better regardless of the BCS.

Implication of the study• Technology transfer

• Information dissemination.

• Livestock improvement.

Acknowledgements

Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

University of Fort Hare (UFH) & Govern Mbeki Research Development Centre (GMRDC).

Agricultural Research Council- Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies (ARC-GCRB).

THE END THE END

THANK YOU!