By Decide Nhendo
The Department of Veterinary Technical Services in conjunction with Department of Livestock Research is embarking on a national artificial insemination programme which is targeting around 6000 cows this breeding season in a move to boost the national head.
Veterinary Technical Services Acting Director Dr Chenai Majuru confirmed the development and said the nation lost close to 500 000 cattle between 2017-2022 from the January disease and as a result a lot of farmers were left with only a few cattle, with some losing entire herds, a major setback to the country.
“In 2017-2022 the country as a whole has lost nearly around 500 000 cattle from Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), as a result many livestock farmers lost significant numbers of cattle.
“Veterinary Technical Services partnering with Department of Livestock Research started the Artificial Insemination programme to increase national cattle herd.
“This breeding season our target is to inseminate close to 6 000 cows so that we can increase the national herd from the effects of the devastating BVD,” said Majuru.
Majuru said it was important for farmers to adopt artificial insemination, taking advantage of the programme which helps herd increase, animal genetics, birth weight, disease control and natural weight of the calves.
“I encourage farmers to take advantage of this programme because it is going to improve breeds reducing inbreeding and it increases calving and conception rates helping to boost the national herd.
“Artificial Insemination also helps in improving genetic traits through selective breeding whereby farmers will select which breeds they want as some of the high-quality breeds grow fast as well as fetch good money in the market,” said Majuru.
He added that synchronization of cows used for artificial insemination is another advantage as synchronized cows can be inseminated and become pregnant at the time the farmer want it to be pregnant.
He said for dairy cows the programme will be using milk collection centers and for beef, it will be done within different communities in the country.
