Benchmark study on husbandry factors affecting reproductive performance of smallholder dairy cows in the Eastern Province of Rwanda

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify existing farmer practices that may influence reproductive performance of cows bred through artificial insemination. A random sample of 1080 households supplying milk to the milk-processing centre was drawn in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, and Kayonza districts of Rwanda between October and November 2007. Extensive grazing (71%) was the predominant production system identified with only 10% of the farmers supplementing veld pastures with barna grass during the dry season. Farmers use a variety of signs to detect estrus in cows. Among these, 'standing to be mounted' (6.83%), was rated the least while mucus discharge (35.58%) was regarded as the most important sign of heat in cows. Further, only 11.54% of the farmers invited inseminators after observing standing heat, while the majority (88.46%), observe for signs such as decreased feed intake (26.51%), 'mounting of other cows' (21.54%), clear mucus discharge from vulva (15.38%), swelling of vulva (13.85%), and 'being followed by a bull' (11.54%). Non-return to heat after service was the predominant method of pregnancy diagnosis used by about 86% of the farmers. The major reproductive problems encountered included abortion (13%), retained placenta (33%), and dystocia (37%), while tick borne diseases (27.6%) and gastrointestinal parasites (18.4%) were among the most prevalent general diseases reported. Very few farmers (1.1%) vaccinated their cattle against reproductive diseases such as brucellosis and more than 95% do not keep records. None of the respondents completed the sections requiring disclosure of critical reproductive events such as dates of service and calving. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents were below primary school education. Poor heat detection, diseases, nutrition, and lack of record keeping were the major husbandry factors identified whose performance was below expected.