Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi

The status of the artificial insemination (AI) program in Malawi was analysed exemplary in one of three small scale dairy farming regions. Data available from the Blantyre milk-shed area showed that the government controlled artificial insemination program applies a breed substitution strategy resul...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Chagunda, Mizeck G.G., Wollny, C.B.A., Bruns, E., Kamwanja, L.A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1998
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/4048
_version_ 1855540014610382848
author Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.
Wollny, C.B.A.
Bruns, E.
Kamwanja, L.A.
author_browse Bruns, E.
Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.
Kamwanja, L.A.
Wollny, C.B.A.
author_facet Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.
Wollny, C.B.A.
Bruns, E.
Kamwanja, L.A.
author_sort Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The status of the artificial insemination (AI) program in Malawi was analysed exemplary in one of three small scale dairy farming regions. Data available from the Blantyre milk-shed area showed that the government controlled artificial insemination program applies a breed substitution strategy resulting in an increase of high grade Holstein-Friesian x Malawi Zebu crosses (>7/8 Friesian) from 388 in 1985 to 1228 cows in 1994. The semen is locally produced at the national AI center. Data for the estimation of breeding values of sires is not available. The annual number of inseminations per AI technician was very low (average 145 p.a.) suggesting low efficiency of the program. Logistics were the most significant constraint. The results suggest that the artificial insemination program for the small-scale farmers in Malawi requires a thorough revision. An inventory of the Malawi dairy cattle population and its genetic composition are recommended to provide basic information for the development of an appropriate breeding program. A cost efficient recording scheme is needed to provide meaningful data on the biological and economic efficiency of dairy cattle production in the small-scale sector in Malawi. The promotion of open locally based nucleus herds through participation of farmers and regular exchange of sires is recommended.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace4048
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 1998
publishDateRange 1998
publishDateSort 1998
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace40482023-02-15T13:09:35Z Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi Chagunda, Mizeck G.G. Wollny, C.B.A. Bruns, E. Kamwanja, L.A. The status of the artificial insemination (AI) program in Malawi was analysed exemplary in one of three small scale dairy farming regions. Data available from the Blantyre milk-shed area showed that the government controlled artificial insemination program applies a breed substitution strategy resulting in an increase of high grade Holstein-Friesian x Malawi Zebu crosses (>7/8 Friesian) from 388 in 1985 to 1228 cows in 1994. The semen is locally produced at the national AI center. Data for the estimation of breeding values of sires is not available. The annual number of inseminations per AI technician was very low (average 145 p.a.) suggesting low efficiency of the program. Logistics were the most significant constraint. The results suggest that the artificial insemination program for the small-scale farmers in Malawi requires a thorough revision. An inventory of the Malawi dairy cattle population and its genetic composition are recommended to provide basic information for the development of an appropriate breeding program. A cost efficient recording scheme is needed to provide meaningful data on the biological and economic efficiency of dairy cattle production in the small-scale sector in Malawi. The promotion of open locally based nucleus herds through participation of farmers and regular exchange of sires is recommended. 1998 2011-06-30T16:46:42Z 2011-06-30T16:46:42Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/4048 en Limited Access Chagunda, M.G., Wollny, C.B.A., Bruns, E. and Kamwanja, L.A. 1998. Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi. Archiv für Tierzucht 41 (1/2): 45 -51
spellingShingle Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.
Wollny, C.B.A.
Bruns, E.
Kamwanja, L.A.
Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title_full Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title_fullStr Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title_short Evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small-scale dairy farms in Malawi
title_sort evaluation of the artificial insemination programme for small scale dairy farms in malawi
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/4048
work_keys_str_mv AT chagundamizeckgg evaluationoftheartificialinseminationprogrammeforsmallscaledairyfarmsinmalawi
AT wollnycba evaluationoftheartificialinseminationprogrammeforsmallscaledairyfarmsinmalawi
AT brunse evaluationoftheartificialinseminationprogrammeforsmallscaledairyfarmsinmalawi
AT kamwanjala evaluationoftheartificialinseminationprogrammeforsmallscaledairyfarmsinmalawi