Comparison of oestrous synchronization response and pregnancy rate
on village cows following timed artificial insemination in Kwazulu-Natal
and Limpopo Provinces”
Maqhashu A
Conference on Policies for Competitive Smallholder Livestock Production
Gaborone, Botswana, 4-6 March 2015
Agricultural Research Council-Animal production institute
Germplasm Conservation & Reproductive
Biotechnologies (ARC-GCRB)

Outline
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Materials and Methods
 Results and Discussion
 Conclusion
 Acknowledgements

≥51 million population
Per capita consumption of 13.72kg/year
7 to 13% Agricultural GDP
Affluent consumers
premium Markets
Restaurants
Wholesalers
Retailers
Integrated feedlots
Feedlots
(Where 70% of RSA
cattle are finished
before slaughter)
Developed sector
50 000 High Income
producers & 2250 Elite
Breeders
8.3 million beef cattle
Meat processors
(495 Abattoirs)
2 400 000
to
2 800 000
Slaughters
640 000
tonnes produced
Failure point: Limited direct access to
feedlot market due to people and animal
Failure point: Lack of
support targeting
individual change to fit
into RSA beef chain
35 000
tonnes
exported
Poor consumers
(cheap cuts
market)
Tanneries for automotive
industries
Hides
Export Local
Developing sector
Markets
Butchers
Auctions
Speculators
Festivities
Failure point: Very
low market off-take
Developing sector
Land reform
Farmers
15 000
Emerging Farmers
87 000
Communal farmers
3 million
Failure point: Low herd productivity
due to people & capitals
Failure point: Limited flow of
improved bull due to people &
capitals
5.7 million
Beef cattle
13 000 to
48 000
tonnes
imported
150 000 to
300 000
weaner
imported
Nedambale@2012

Time when cows show signs of heat
Time (hrs) Percentage (%)
00:00-06:00 43
7:00-12:00 22
13:00-18:00 10
19:00-23:00 25

Objectives
 To evaluate the oestrous response and pregnancy
rate following timed artificial insemination (TAI).

MATERIALS
AND
METHODS

Study site

Training of farmers

Synchronization of cows

RESULTS
&
DISCUSSION

Oestrus synchronization response
Provinces Breed types Body
conditions
score
Cows
(n)
Synchronization
response (%)
Pregnancy
rate (%)
Limpopo
Brahman ≤2.5 24 96 25
Brahman ≥3 15 100 60
Bonsmara ≤2.5 28 100 29
Bonsmara ≥3 21 100 61
Nguni ≤2.5 19 100 57
Nguni ≥3 65 100 62
KwaZulu
Natal
Brahman ≤2.5 30 100 36
Brahman ≥3 20 100 45
Bonsmara ≤2.5 31 100 35
Bonsmara ≥3 19 100 52
Nguni ≤2.5 20 100 45
Nguni ≥3 50 100 60

Conclusion
• Village cows responded successfully to
oestrous synchronization programme
regardless of geographic area and body
condition.
• Cows with BCS of ≥3 had better pregnancy
rate regardless of breed type and province.
Moreover Nguni type cows performed better
regardless of the BCS.

Implication of the study
• Technology transfer
• Information dissemination.
• Livestock improvement.

Acknowledgements
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
University of Fort Hare (UFH) & Govern Mbeki
Research Development Centre (GMRDC).
Agricultural Research Council- Germplasm
Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies
(ARC-GCRB).

THE END
THANK YOU!