The Tigray Regional Governmental State Bureau of Agriculture

Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)

Past Experiences and Next Year Plan of Dairy Synchronization in Tigray

Awet Estifanos

IPMS Workshop on Alternatives for Improving Field AI Delivery System to Enhance Beef and Dairy Production in Ethiopia

ILRI, Addis Ababa, 24-25 August 2011

04/08/2023 1

Introduction -The pain or Jealousy??

04/08/2023 2

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Introduction Con’d •Milk is needed all over the world as a food and as a source of income.

•The demand for milk and milk products is increasing from time to time in Ethiopia and world in general.

• This high demand for milk is expected to continue for the future also as a result of increasing in human population and food diversification as milk is rich in different nutrients.

Introduction Con’dAlthough it shows some progress still the

sector is lagged behind compared to its potential that can contribute to the country economy.

The main constraints of the sector are:low production potential animal breeds,diseaseinfrastructure problem, and inefficient available feed

04/08/2023 4

Introduction Con’d Tigray regional states, efforts have been doing

for a years to improve productivity of the sector using AI technique. but its development was limited by:poor heat detection unskilled AI technicians, and some logistic problems

It is still possible to improve the reproductive performance of dairy herd using efficient heat detection,

So searching other technology that could solve the problem is mandatory

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Introduction Con’dReports indicated that Synchronization and timed AI in to the reproductive managements program increases estrus detection and enhance dairy development

Therefore,

The Objective was: to study and improve efficiency of the technique using some

hormonal administration to the right animal at the right time.

Match feed available season with cattle breeding so as Decrease

calf mortality

Timed milk production

Match the milk produced with time of high consumption

(Escape fasting) 04/08/2023 6

Project Inception

The project is funded by federal government Rural Capacity Building Project (RCBP) under the Regional Agricultural Research Fund (RARF)

The project won the 250000birr from the regional competition on top of this the synchronizing hormone pg2α was also supplied from ILRI/IPMS for 200 cows and another more than 250 to be supplied soon with and some doses of sexed semen for the scaling up.

Project Inception Con’d

The Farmer

/End User

Extension

Research

04/08/2023 8

The collaborationTARI

ILRIBoARD RCBPUniversitiesNGOs

FARMER

04/08/2023 9

Target Areas The first phase of the project implemented in weredas of:

Gantafshum in kebeles/Tabias: o Buket, o Dibla, o Sasun and o mesanu and

Klteablalo in kebeles/Tabiaso Genfel, o A/sandeded, o Metseko, ando Maymesan

Second Phaseof- Woredas o Tahtay Maichewo Laelay Maichewo Adwa o Some additional from the 1st phase areas04/08/2023 10

Steps 1. Observation and discussion Tour to the woredas and discussion with woreda administration, WoARD and some farmers

2. Animal Selection and Ear tagging Physiologically and body conformation fit animals selected and tagged

3. Hormone administration and insemination pgf2α injection, inspection of heat and insemination

4. Pregnancy Diagnosis Successfully conceived animal were diagnosed for

pregnancy at the end of the first trimester 04/08/2023 11

Selection Criteria The Kebeles were selected based on:o dairy belt area of the region or vicinity to

urban and per urban for milk market (Mekelle – Wukro- Adigrat)

Market opportunity in present and near feature

o Access to the main road o Cattle populationo Animal Body condition o Season, puberty, age, lactation, gestation

In Tigray effective synchronization is possible to carry out, starting in the end of July up to end of January considering this the first phase of this project were implement mid November up to mid of January

Increased farmers interest shifted this scenario 04/08/2023 12

Selection criteria Con’d◦Own matured cow ◦Ready to adopt

technology◦ Can transfer the

technology to others

◦ Committed and energetically can work with the team especially in detecting when the animal is becoming in heat.

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Participant farmers with the team

The Animals

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Breed:• Local• Crossed• HF

Animal body condition range 4-7

from all age group and parity. • too old and highest

parity are rejected Must not have a history of

birth difficulty Having a good body

conformation

The Animals Con’d

Should be cyclic and having a CL

Age was determined and estimation information from the owner and using erupted permanent pair of incisors.

04/08/2023 15

The principle

Synchronization protocol Successful synchronization requires

control • luteal • follicular phases of the estrous

cycle. Estrous synchronization protocols is

grouped 1) prostaglandin F2α (PG) based,

2) gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) based,

3) progestin based, and

4) combination.04/08/2023 16

The principle –Con’d

A single dose of 5ml PGF2∞ intramuscular in the hipbone muscle using 10ml syringe and 10g needle

PGF2∞is given in the proestrus stage (estrus 6-30h, metaestrus 3-5d, diestrus 12d, proestrus)

PGF2∞ shorten estrus cycle by 12 days.

Therefore, PG will only work to regress the CL from days 5 to 17 of the estrous cycle

PGF2∞ regress the CL and cause the animal to exhibit standing estrus 48 to 120 hours after injection

Synchronized and inseminated animals

• A total of 198 heifers were synchronized using PGF2∞ on December to January• Most of the animals

that took two dose of semen were inseminated 48hr after the hormone • First insemination was

48hr after treatment • second insemination

was 12–24hr after first Insemination

04/08/2023 18

Summary of Results

Woreda Tabia+ve -ve

Count % Count %

G/Afeshum

Buket 18 64.3 10 35.7

Dibla 7 6.63 4 36.36

M.mesanu 16 55.2 13 44.83

Sasun 2 66.67 1 33.33

Subtotal 43 60.56 28 39.44

K/ablaloA/sanded 12 60.00 8 40.00

Genfel 10 83.33 2 16.67

Mesanu 18 69.23 8 30.77

Metseko 5 31.25 11 68.75

Subtotal 45 60.81 29 39.19

Overall 88 60.70 57 39.31

Current Endeavors

Selected Hormon Adminstrated

Abortion due to pgf2α

Absent for insemination

Insemenated

Preganancy Diagnosed

Aborted

Death

Absent at PD

200 199 6 15 178 145 4 1 (+) 28

ILRI IPMS pre.docx

04/08/2023 20

Opportunities

Strong technical and new technological back stopping from ILRI/IPMS Training to Technicians, Hormone and

sexed semen Committed and dedicated team

Efficient IA technicians (fromTARI, Wukro and Adigrat)

Interested Farmers/ Woreda Administrators to adopt the technolgy Adikisanded (KiliteAwlaelo) and Ganta Afeshum

• Smooth communication b/n TARI, BoARD and ILRI

04/08/2023 21

Opportunities cont’ed

Most cows showed pick heat at the 48th – 72nd hour after hormonal administration

o the time was fixed from experience of first work at Adigrat

04/08/2023 22

Mucus Discharge

Limitation Initially difficulty to adopt and

lack of patience of farmers • Makes it laborous • Mainly on selecting participant

farmer and heifers fitted to our selecting criteria was laborious.

Luck of follow up and heat detection by some

Poor body condition animals Luck of Integration b/n the

regional team and technical team at the beginning

Poor communication and late reporting from the technical team

23

Technical

Team

Regional Team

Limitation-cont’d Few farmers did not know

the reproductive history of their cows 6 pregnant cows abort

due to the hormone treatment.

Out of the total synchronized animals 15 were off after hormonal injection

One heifer was immature and two heifers with a reproductive problem

Limitation-cont’ed Weak or absence of handling facility

in some areas ◦ E.g. Metseko, Gemad of Kilite

Awelaelo◦ Live Eucalyptus trees were used• Slow or total failure to purchase

equipments Ear tag applicator • Delay b/n selection and

synchronization Farmers are inpatient to keep their animals longer than 20 days after selection

60 animals were selected for sexed semen 04/08/2023 25

Current Endeavors

Pregnancy has already

diagnosed for the

demonstrated cows and

heifers in the Eastern Zone

of Tigray

So far 228 heifers and cows

selected as scaling up of the

technology from

T/maichew, Aksum ,

Adwa, and additional cows

from Wukro and Adigrat

04/08/2023 26

Current Endeavors-Cont’ed

Cross centers collaboration

Women participation in Tahtay Maichew

With a relatively good handling facility

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Logical framework matrix

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Narrative summary Verifiable indicators Means of verification Important assumptionsGoal:

Enhancing Livelihoods of Smallholder dairy producers income

The livelihoods of beneficiaries increased the end of the project.

BoARD and TARI baseline data

Good weather conditions and budget availability on time

Purpose:To enhance incomes of small holder farmers

The income level of small holder farmers increased

Progress reports, annual reports, journals and proceedings

Effective farmer- Extension –research/local and international/ –linkage- Requested facilities are available on time

Outputs:

To boost and milk products market (price, supply and demand)

To create effective small holder motivate of dairy as business

Milk and processed milk products sustainable supply

The motivation of members concern on dairy business increased

Progress reports, annual reports, proceedings

- Requested facilities are available on time

Activities:- Use of sexed semen and synchronization

hormone - Feed management - Improved Disease control and husbandry

system- Improved market system

Inputs: - community cows or heifers-Synchronizing hormone- sex fixer- Forage seed - Fertilizer- Requested budget- Vehicles- Researchers and Extension agents

Monitoring- Timely animal

selection, Hormonal Adminst and Insemination

- Timely data collection, compilation, and report writing

Activity to outputRequested facilities, hormone and semen are available on time

Next Plan-2004 InterventionSr. No

Area of Intervention

Local Cows

Lactating cows

cross breeds

No of selected cows

Sexing

1 H/Wajirat 64078 10429 337 75 02 Enderta 48868 7397 1113 100 253 Mekelle 2148 352 12607 300 504 Degua Tenbien 44794 7300 460 75 255 Adigrat 30048 5032 5890 300 100

6 Wukro/Kilteawlaelo 43073 7083 1603 200 70

7 Atsibi Wenberta 28857 4634 1432 100 0

8 Saesea Tsaedaemba 37921 6088 1688 100 0

9 Adwa 43895 7339 664 150 80

10 Aksum 29251 4930 1766 150 100

11 Enda Mokoni 29789 4790 487 100 012 Ofla 53057 8510 826 100 013 E/Alaje 40620 6574 288 100 014 Ahforom 65591 15575 368 75 015 T/Maichew 41024 6792 307 75 50

Total 777828 134510 31118 2000 500

Work Plan

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Activities 2011/2012 2012

1 quarter 2 quarter 3 quarter 4 quarter 5 quarter

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Inception workshop

purchasing

Training to experts

Animal Handling Facilities construction

Farmers training

Selection

Ear taggingbrucellosis and disease treatmentPD

Administration of synchronization hormone)

Insemination of sexed semen

Work plan cont’ed

04/08/2023 31

Activities 2011/2012 2012

1 quarter 2 quarter 3 quarter 4 quarter 5 quarter

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Parturition monitoring

Calf Sex proportion identification

Workshop

Logistics

04/08/2023 32

Expenditure 2011/2012 Total1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Personal

Perdium 45,000 45,000 20,000 20,000 20000 150,000

Services 00 00 00   00 00 00

Communication services

1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 5000

Laboratory test – brucellosis and disease treatment, etc

00 20,000 00 00 00 20,000

Input

Stationary 5,000 5,000 0 0 0 10,000

Cows for training 50000 0 0 0 0 50000.00

Training cows mgt 10000 0 0 0 0 10000.00

Sexed Semen 300,000

00 00 00 00 300,000.00

PGf2 40000 00 00 00 00 40,000.00

Logistics-Cont’ed

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Expenditure 2011/2012 Total

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Miscellaneous Crush 18 crush across different areas

200,000 00 00 00 00 200,000.00

200 farmers 150,000 00 00 00 00 150,000.00

Inception workshop

50,000 00 00 00 00 50,000.00

Farmers field day 00 00 00 00 50,000 50,000.00

Transportair-ticket, etc 10,000 00 00 10,000 00 20,000

Fuel and lubricants 30,000 45,000 20,000 20,000 40000.00 155000

Total 981,000 116,000 41,000 51,000

111,000

1,300,000

Other up coming projects

Raya x Boran for improved Beef productivity o Use of synchronizing hormone with Boran Semen

o Lowland areas- for breedingo Highland areas for Beef cattle and

heifers rearingo the same replica of team from Research

and Extension will be established

04/08/2023 35