Abstract:
Ethiopia is endowed with cattle population which plays vital role in enhancing smallholder income, food security of households and foreign earnings of the country. But, the productivity per animal is low. To solve the cattle productivity problem, crossbreeding through AI is one of the solutions under operation in Ethiopia. However, the adoption of AI is constrained and determined by several factors. This research was intended to assess the perception of farmers towards the AI technology, to evaluate the effect of AI on productive and reproductive performance on dairy cows and identify the determinants of farmers’ adoption of AI technology in Laelay-maichew district, Tigray, Ethiopia. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select the sample respondent required for the study. Five kebelles were selected randomly and based on the probability proportional to the size of 67 and 88 of adopters and non-adopters, respectively identified out of total 155 respondents in the District. The primary data were collected through individual interviews, focus group discussion and key informants interviews using semi-structured interview and check list. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard-deviation), inferential statistics and econometric model (binary logistic model) were employed to describe the study results and identify the determinants of farmers to adopt improved breeding method of AI. The result of inferential statistics shows that out of the fifteen variables, thirteen variables showed significant difference between the adoption categories at 1%, 5% and 10% significance level. The study showed that 87%, 92.6% and 75% of respondents had positive perception towards the yielded better milk, fast growing ability of offspring and AI profitable, respectively. On the negative side, the study sample believed that the AI has associated risk of crossbred cows; sensitive to feed scarcity (77.4%) and disease (64.6%) as well as has high production cost of post conception (56.1%). The productive performance which is average milk yield under smallholder with extensive management of crossbred dairy cows was found 5.7l liter and indigenous gave 1.67 liter per cow per day which showed significant difference. Similarly, the age at first service and first calving of indigenous dairy cattle was found 44 and 55months respectively, whereas crossbred cattle was 31.67 and 44 months, respectively earlier than the indigenous breeds. Besides, the result of econometric model revealed that out of the fifteen variables, eight variables specifically, access to credit facilities and mobile phone, social participation, obtain formal training, frequency of extension contact, have knowledge about the crossbreeding method and perception towards of AI profit were found positively and participation in off-farm activities negatively affected adoption of improved AI breeding method. The current finding showed that farmers accessed to credit and mobile phone, participate in formal training and social and extension organization, more extension contact, having knowledge about AI and positive perception to AI profit, the more intended to adopt improved breeding method of AI. Therefore, the OoARD of the districts needs to work improve the Adoption of AI that promote credit service, create training opportunities, strengthen extension contact, mobilization to participate in extension organizations, aware about the AI technical knowledge, profitability and diversified the agricultural activity options