Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia

This study aimed to evaluate the selection practice and fertility of bulls recruited and used for frozen semen production. Data were collected through key informant interviews and longitudinal measurement of fertility and morphological traits of bulls. The preservice morphology and fertility data we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zeleke Tesema, Shanbel Besufkad, Demelash Kassahun, Belay Derbie, Aschalew Abebe, Tesfaye Zewdie, Alemnew Araya, Erdachew Yitagesu, Liuelseged Alemayehu, Bulla Agegnehu, Solomon Gizaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Advances in Agriculture
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/aia/2111569
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850182836399636480
author Zeleke Tesema
Shanbel Besufkad
Demelash Kassahun
Belay Derbie
Aschalew Abebe
Tesfaye Zewdie
Alemnew Araya
Erdachew Yitagesu
Liuelseged Alemayehu
Bulla Agegnehu
Solomon Gizaw
author_facet Zeleke Tesema
Shanbel Besufkad
Demelash Kassahun
Belay Derbie
Aschalew Abebe
Tesfaye Zewdie
Alemnew Araya
Erdachew Yitagesu
Liuelseged Alemayehu
Bulla Agegnehu
Solomon Gizaw
author_sort Zeleke Tesema
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to evaluate the selection practice and fertility of bulls recruited and used for frozen semen production. Data were collected through key informant interviews and longitudinal measurement of fertility and morphological traits of bulls. The preservice morphology and fertility data were collected from 2011 to 2022 from 193 candidate bulls. About 908 records of 68 bulls were used to evaluate the semen quality of bulls used for frozen semen production. The result of this study revealed that private small-scale dairy farms (71.7%), along with research centers (18.87%), constituted the major source of improved bulls utilized for semen production. Bulls were not selected based on their estimated breeding value, but rather based on the milk yield performance of their dam, conformation, growth, and health status. Bulls were extensively utilized for long periods, up to six years, without knowing their genetic superiority. Bulls selected for semen production had good semen volume, concentration, mass motility, individual motility, and live cells, which were higher than the minimum standard. The results of this study indicated that bull selection for frozen semen production was as per the predefined bull selection standard in terms of fertility and morphological traits. However, further progeny and pedigree tracing must be carried out on selected superior bulls. The absence of selection for genetically superior bulls based on estimated breeding value, an extended service length, overutilization of few bulls, and absence of a recording system may cause inbreeding and adversely affect the productivity, fitness of crossbred animals, and sustainability of dairy cattle production.
format Article
id doaj-art-0b93a73d0b8c410b8b8d2912d75c48f7
institution OA Journals
issn 2314-7539
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-0b93a73d0b8c410b8b8d2912d75c48f72025-08-20T02:17:32ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2314-75392025-01-01202510.1155/aia/2111569Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in EthiopiaZeleke Tesema0Shanbel Besufkad1Demelash Kassahun2Belay Derbie3Aschalew Abebe4Tesfaye Zewdie5Alemnew Araya6Erdachew Yitagesu7Liuelseged Alemayehu8Bulla Agegnehu9Solomon Gizaw10Debre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterAndassa Livestock Research CenterSirinka Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterDebre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterLivestock Development InstituteInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)This study aimed to evaluate the selection practice and fertility of bulls recruited and used for frozen semen production. Data were collected through key informant interviews and longitudinal measurement of fertility and morphological traits of bulls. The preservice morphology and fertility data were collected from 2011 to 2022 from 193 candidate bulls. About 908 records of 68 bulls were used to evaluate the semen quality of bulls used for frozen semen production. The result of this study revealed that private small-scale dairy farms (71.7%), along with research centers (18.87%), constituted the major source of improved bulls utilized for semen production. Bulls were not selected based on their estimated breeding value, but rather based on the milk yield performance of their dam, conformation, growth, and health status. Bulls were extensively utilized for long periods, up to six years, without knowing their genetic superiority. Bulls selected for semen production had good semen volume, concentration, mass motility, individual motility, and live cells, which were higher than the minimum standard. The results of this study indicated that bull selection for frozen semen production was as per the predefined bull selection standard in terms of fertility and morphological traits. However, further progeny and pedigree tracing must be carried out on selected superior bulls. The absence of selection for genetically superior bulls based on estimated breeding value, an extended service length, overutilization of few bulls, and absence of a recording system may cause inbreeding and adversely affect the productivity, fitness of crossbred animals, and sustainability of dairy cattle production.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/aia/2111569
spellingShingle Zeleke Tesema
Shanbel Besufkad
Demelash Kassahun
Belay Derbie
Aschalew Abebe
Tesfaye Zewdie
Alemnew Araya
Erdachew Yitagesu
Liuelseged Alemayehu
Bulla Agegnehu
Solomon Gizaw
Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
Advances in Agriculture
title Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
title_full Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
title_short Appraisal of Selection Practice and Fertility of Bull Used for Frozen Semen Production in Ethiopia
title_sort appraisal of selection practice and fertility of bull used for frozen semen production in ethiopia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/aia/2111569
work_keys_str_mv AT zeleketesema appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT shanbelbesufkad appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT demelashkassahun appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT belayderbie appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT aschalewabebe appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT tesfayezewdie appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT alemnewaraya appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT erdachewyitagesu appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT liuelsegedalemayehu appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT bullaagegnehu appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia
AT solomongizaw appraisalofselectionpracticeandfertilityofbullusedforfrozensemenproductioninethiopia