Publication: Preferential Use of Sahiwal Bull Calves by Beneficiaries of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Southern Rangelands of Kenya
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2023-06-28
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European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences
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Abstract
Bull service is the most common insemination method in pastoral herds
grazing in the rangelands. To accelerate multiplication and distribution of
and access to high quality Sahiwal genetics to pastoral communities,
development agencies have promoted the use of Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ARTs) in the Kenyan rangelands. However, sustainable use of
ARTs is uncertain because pastoral herd owners attach high value to bull
calves of high genetic merits for breeding, which is a potential barrier to
technology adoption. This study assessed preferential use of ART- bull calves
among beneficiaries of the Sahiwal cattle upgrading breeding program that
were utilizing OvSynch and TAI protocol in the southern rangelands of
Kenya. Preferential use of bull calves was assessed in a choice experiment
basing on attributes associated with potential use of bull calves. Overall, the
first-choice preference was to retain the bull calves for future breeding
(54%) compared to immediate selling for income (44%). This was the firstchoice of pastoralists and agro pastoralists preferred unlike ranchers who
preferred selling bull calves for income compared to retaining for future
breeding (80% versus 20%). The preference of retaining bull calves for
future breeding was higher among women compared to male respondents
(59% versus 51%). Second choice preferences were sales for income (58%),
breeding (29%), draft power (5%), meat production and cultural practices
(3% each) and prestige (2%). Socioeconomic factors had no significant
influence on preferential use of ARTs bull calves. The results indicate that
high genetic merit bull calves are preferred for breeding, implying that bull
calves would be retained within the pastoral herds for bull service. This
presents a possible barrier to adoption of ARTs in pastoral herds for
upgrading of Sahiwal cattle breed. Policy direction need to invest in Sahiwal
multiplication and distribution of bull calves to pastoralists and agro
pastoralists. Ranchers have low preference for retaining bull calves for
breeding, so it would be best to capacitate them to invest in ARTs to multiply
breeding bulls and supply to pastoralists and agro pastoralists.
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Keywords
Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Bull calves, Bull service, Rangelands, Sahiwal.