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Jigawa Research Institute (JRI) has raised some 500 cows, through artificial insemination of semen of improved cattle breeds from Brazil.
Kazaure (Jigawa), June 23, 2005 (NAN) Jigawa Research Institute (JRI) has raised some 500 cows, through artificial insemination of semen of improved cattle breeds from Brazil.
The institute had, under its livestock upgrading programme, which began in 2004, obtained the semen of Guzera, Friesian and Brown Swiss cattle from a research institute in Brazil with which it inseminated some selected local breeds.
The institute's director-general, Dr Hilton Gomez, said in Kazaure that the 500 new breed cows represented 71 per cent conception rate of the cows inseminated.
He said the institute was discussing with local government councils to find ways of expanding the programme to involve more Fulani cattle owners across the state.
The target, he stated, was to increase the reproduction efficiency and growth rate of cattle in the state thereby enhancing the gross earnings of cattle owners.
Gomez said that apart from the high rate of reproduction, the new breed cows would reduce the weaning period from about nine months to two months, adding that they had a higher milk output.
He said more semen had been ordered from Brazil for the continuation of the programme, adding that its success depended largely on the cooperation of local councils and individual Fulani herdsmen.
Gomez said the institute was seeking various ways of ensuring the availability of livestock feeds and constant water for the success of the exercise.