Rwanda stops importation of bull semen

RARDA is targeting to inseminate about 75,000 cows and heifers this year—representing a 35 percentage increase over those inseminated last year The Rwanda Animal Resources and Development Agency (RARDA), which is amalgamated with other institutes to form the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAD) has stopped the importation of bull semen. This follows positive results from locally produced semen that was inseminated into local cows and heifers, which are giving off-springs. Dr. Theogene Rutagwenda, the Director General of RARDA said that about 25,000 calves have been produced out of the 49,000 inseminated cows and heifers as of the weekend. “There are also over 60 percent of the inseminated cows and heifers still pregnant,” he said. “There won’t be need of importing exotic bull bovine semen since the locally produced one has yielded positive results,” he added. As a government policy, Rwanda has been importing exotic bull bovine semen from South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom to improve animal production, and consequently help improve household incomes. Rutagwenda said that importation may only be necessary, “if there is need for a certain breed of cow that we would like to try out in the country.” He revealed that the agency is targeting to inseminate about 75,000 cows and heifers this year—representing a 35 percentage increase over those inseminated last year. The exercise was started in April last year after RARDA, through the Ministry of Agriculture imported two Friesian and three Jersey bulls from South Africa in 2007. The bulls were oriented to adapt to food and environment, and staff was also trained on how to extract semen and inseminate. The bulls are said to produce 2,000 doses (straws) of semen per week and costs a farmer about Rwf1,500 to have his single local cow or heifer artificially inseminated. Local cows and heifers, when inseminated produce improved breeds (hybrids), which have high milk and quality beef production. The crossbreeds are also believed to be more tolerant of inadequate nutrition, disease and insects, which is an issue for farmers. It has been argued that steadily increasing the number of hybrid cows in the country is helping to address the individual milk requirement of at least 200 litres per annum as milk importation also lowers. Ends

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Rwanda stops importation of bull semen