MGHD 2018

Background: Dairy farmers in Rwanda face numerous challenges in their production levels related to low Artificial Insemination success rate. Due to poor knowledge on heat period detection. It is apparent that those beneficiaries do not have the ability to track the estrous period of their cows to maximize their cows’ potential. Their ability to detect exactly when their cows are on heat can help increase success of artificial insemination. If they miss out this period, they lose out on income from milk and the nearest family also miss out the calf. This study aimed to increase the artificial insemination success rate among Girinka beneficiaries in Huye district from 40% to 60% by April 2018. Method: A training was provided to 74 GIRNKA cattle farmers in in Huye district. The two-day training focused on heat period detection, estrus cycle and manifestation of cows in heat period. Results: The overall average knowledge on cattle estrus cycle significantly increased from 37.16% pre-intervention to 92.34% post-intervention (P= 0.008 and CI= 0.50, 0.61). All six questions about the knowledge of participants showed significant increase statistically, with the knowledge of estrus cycle having the biggest increase in knowledge score from 31% preintervention to 95.9% post intervention, 65% improvement (P<0.001, CI= 0.53, 0.77). The smallest increase in knowledge score was related to knowledge on heat period of cows, increased from 55.4% pre-intervention to 98.65% post-intervention, 43% improvement (P <0.001 and CI= 0.31, 0.55). The AI success rate significantly increased from 44% preintervention to 58.7% post-intervention (P<0.001, CI = 12.20%, 16.77%). Conclusion: Training farmers on heat period detection, estrus cycle and manifestation of cows in heat period can increase the success rate of AI and is recommended to provide the same training to other GIRNKA beneficiaries. Keywords: Artificial insemination (AI), estrus, cattle, heat detection.