Artificial insemination on livestock might be a very technical and costly exercise. But according to local experts, it is the only way to go if top-quality genetics and enhanced production are important to you as a farmer.
During a recent session of Food For Mzansi’s Gather To Grow Twitter space conversations, hosted every Wednesday at 18:00, experts and farmers spoke on the importance of artificial insemination and how farmers can best utilise resources closer to them.
Ndumiso Gule, an agricultural consultant from Gule Agri Consulting Pty Ltd, pointed out the need for collaboration between the national department of agriculture and companies like his, in order to educate and share skills and knowledge with extension officers on the pros and cons of the artificial insemination.
“Artificial insemination is usually underused in rural provinces. For example, in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape 3-5% of the farmers in those areas are doing artificial insemination. The challenge is a lack of knowledge and benefits that come with the process of artificial insemination that people are having,” Gule said.
Spreading the word via training
Through his company, Gule has done training and he believes that by end of this year, there will be an increase in the number of people involved in artificial insemination, especially in rural provinces.
“We are still breaking the ground on having people getting interested in the process. We now have people in rural provinces through the training we provided trying to fence or separate their livestock to the one they want to inseminate.”
Know what you are doing
Dr Masindi Mphaphathi, a reproduction and physiology expert from the Agricultural Research Council, urged farmers to be on the lookout for the quality of the semen they use to inseminate their cattle.
“It is very important that when purchasing the semen, [this] is done through a reputable supplier. Ensure that the livestock is in good condition, and importantly, get someone who can do it correctly.
“Check the animals if they do not have diseases. If you use the bull, check its fertility and the quality of its semen,” he advised.
In the episode, Mphaphathi shares his thoughts on livestock that are healthy and in good condition, and their conception rate.
During the session, experts also discussed the following:
- What a successful insemination process looks like;
- What farmers need to have in place for artificial insemination; and
- Courses available on artificial insemination.
READ NEXT: Communal farmer levels up with artificial insemination
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