Effectiveness of Artificial Insemination after Estrus Synchronization in Dairy Cattle Breeding in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract The study aimed to investigate Effectiveness of Artificial Insemination after Estrus Synchronization in Dairy Cattle Breeding in Mirab and Misrak Badawacho districts. Ninety respondents were randomly selected and interviewed from two districts and six kebeles. Also, 90 cows were selected for evaluation of prostaglandin-based estrus synchronization's effectiveness. Descriptive statistics, and chi-square tests used to analyze the data. The average age at first service for female native and crossbred cows were 41.9 ± 5.3 and 30.9 ± 3.1 months, average daily milk yield (1.7 ± 0.5 and 6.31 ± 1.2 liters), average lactation length (8 ± 1.0 and 9.71 ± 1.0 months), average age at first calving (50.85 ± 3.95 and 39.35 ± 8.1 months), average calving interval (23.4 ± 4.2 and 21.4 ± 2.85 months), average days open (208.2 ± 36.2 and 148.4 ± 36.8) for local and crossbred, respectively. Natural pasture and crop residue were dominant feed sources, and cattle were typically housed with household members. The purpose of rearing cattle in the contemplate area is milk followed by the source of income, meat, traction, and manures. Most of the respondents (85.6%) used the pond as a source of water for their cattle in both districts. The respondents showed a preference for female cattle with high milk yield, reproduction ability, good temperament, and coat color and natural coupling was the greenest method acting of reproduction. Major procreative problems in dairy were failure to cycle and poor conception rate in the study areas. The potency of artificial insemination after estrus synchronization has an overall conception rate (57.8%) after 60 + days of pregnancy diagnoses. Conception rate has not shown a significant difference at P < 0.05 between the district, age, and Body condition Score, but there is no a significant difference between breed, parity, and time of insemination. This low pregnancy rate is due to several factors related to management, heat detection problem, seminal fluid quality, and artificial insemination time. The study suggested using appropriate animal selection for artificial insemination, trained AI (Artificial Insemination) technicians, and farmer awareness to improve the effectiveness of synchronization and efficiency of artificial insemination.