Abstract
The Use of Artificial Insemination (AI) Technology in Improving Milk, Beef and Reproductive Efficiency in Tropical Africa: A Review
Highlights
Reports have shown that, the rapid means of improving milk, beef production and reproductive efficiency is to combine the adaptability and hardiness of the Bos indicus with the genetically high reproductive and milk yield potentials of the Bos taurus through cross-breeding .To utilize the genetic advantage of the cross-breeding, many decades ago, Nigeria imported several Holstein Friesian (HF) sires for cross-breeding with the local breeds, especially Bunaji (White Fulani) cows
The rapid means of improving milk, beef production and reproductive efficiency is to combine the adaptability and hardiness of the Bos indicus with the genetically high reproductive and milk yield potentials of the Bos taurus through cross-breeding .To utilize the genetic advantage of the cross-breeding, many decades ago, Nigeria imported several Holstein Friesian (HF) sires for cross-breeding with the local breeds, especially Bunaji (White Fulani) cows. This effort resulted in a considerable improvement in milk production .The results of studies conducted at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Nigeria, on the performance of Friesian-Bunaji crossbreds indicated an improvement of about 60% in milk yield of the first cross, and further increase in the level of Friesian blood resulted in an additional gain in yield, but with decreasing magnitude and marked reduction in calving interval and age at first calving
Other techniques encompassed by assisted reproduction technologies (ART) include the following: in-vitro fertilization (IVF) where fertilization takes place outside the body; intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) which is a single spermatozoon caught and injected into an oocyte; embryo transfer (ET) where embryos that have been derived either in-vivo or in-vitro are transferred to a recipient female to establish a pregnancy; gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT) where spermatozoa are injected into the oviduct to be close to the site of fertilization in-vivo; and cryo-preservation where spermatozoa or embryos, or occasionally oocytes are cryo-preserved in liquid nitrogen for use at a later stage
Summary
The objectives of the study are to review AI practices as rapid means of improving milk, beef production and reproductive efficiency in tropical Africa. AI is one of the assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) used in many domestic species including bees and human beings. AI allows for faster and increased genetic improvement in cattle allowing for improved herd performance and productivity. It is the most commonly used assisted reproduction technologies (ART) in livestock, revolutionizing the animal breeding industry during the 20th century. In contrast to medical use, where intrauterine insemination (IUI) is used only occasionally in human fertility treatment, AI is by far the most common method of breeding in intensively kept domestic livestock, such as dairy cattle (approximately 80% in Europe and North America), pigs (more than 90% in Europe and North America) and turkeys (almost 100% in intensive production). The other assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) in animals are generally confined to specialist applications or for research purposes, since the cost would be prohibitive for normal livestock breeding.
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