GOVERNMENT REVISES ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAMME
In line with the RESET Agenda, government has revised the Artificial Insemination (AI) programme according Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Fidelis Molao who was Guest of Honour at this year’s cattle farmers field day hosted by the Sandveld Ranchers Association.
Molao said the programme was revised to improve reproduction efficiency towards the ultimate goal of increasing the national herd and its genetic merit.
He stated; “The Ministry has invested over P7.5 million in beef cattle foreign semen of different breeds to complement local semen production which currently stands at 248 513 (straws). A total of 12 200 semen straws has been procured which includes 9 400 Brahman, 300 Beefmaster, 200 Black
Angus, 100 Santa Getrudis, 1 200 Charolais and 1 000 Limousine. The foreign semen will go a long way in improving our local genetic pool.”
The Revised AI programme, which reportedly started in the 2022-2023 breeding season, emphasises on the adoption of technology that includes pregnancy detection technologies and use of oestrus synchronisation for timed insemination.
The number of cattle entry per farmer to Static AI camps also increased from five to 10. During the 2022-2023 financial year, a total of 127 Inseminators were trained to facilitate uptake of the AI programme.
In addition, a total budget of over P93 million has been approved towards the upgrading of Ramatlabama National AI Laboratory and Training Centre according to Molao.
Furthermore, the Minister said the upgrading of the facility into a Centre of Excellence and a hub for processing of quality germplasm products (semen and embryos) is currently on going.
This project includes upgrading the infrastructure and introducing AI in small stock and Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer. The refurbishment is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025.
Since the launch of the Revised AI programme in November 2022, Molao said notable progress has been made in the roll out of the Revised AI programme with cattle entry in static AI camps increased from 4230 to 6530 cattle. Cattle entry per farmer also increased from five to 10 cattle.
“I am also pleased to inform you that this breeding season, Pregnancy test kits were used to detect pregnancy and to a lesser extent synchronisation was done in some Static AI camps that include Kgainyane, Chobokwane, Morupule, Dibete, Makoba and Ncojane.
It is worth mentioning that government did not manage to achieve its objective of fully utilising the synchronisation technology as the tender process for engagement of Private Veterinarians was met with some challenges that both parties have learnt lessons from,” he added.
Molao appealed to the private sector to be willing to offer their services to government for the success of the programme adding that the Ministry would soon share the overall performance results of the just ended breeding season.