Great Lakes AID-I in Burundi: Dispelling myths and transforming cattle reproduction through artificial insemination

19 March 2024

Livestock farmers in Burundi face a significant challenge in improving livestock reproduction. This is mainly due to a lack of high-quality dairy breeds and bulls, leading to the spread of reproductive diseases through natural mounting and soaring bull maintenance costs.

Sezikeye Antoine, a lead farmer in Bugabira, Kirundo Province, noted, “Insemination is both expensive and sporadic.”

Recognizing the crucial role of a sustainable livestock system in Burundi’s development journey and the resultant impact on nutrition, health, and food security, the Great Lakes Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative Rapid Delivery Hub (AID-I GLR) has established two scaling partnerships: the first is spearheaded by La Confédération des Associations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement (CAPAD), and the second is led by World Vision. Technical backstopping is provided by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)—a technology developer. The aim is to revolutionize the national livestock system by strengthening the delivery of artificial insemination (AI) services.

AI is a meticulous process involving the insertion of semen from a bull into the reproductive tract of a female cow, typically using a specialized syringe – the AI gun. This makes it possible to rapidly, efficiently, and more predictably breed many cows with high-quality semen from genetically superior bulls.

AI implementation in Burundi is led by the National Centre for Artificial Insemination and Genetic Improvement (CNIAAG) – a division of the General Directorate of Livestock.

Sezikeye Antoine, a lead farmer in Bugabira (Kirundo Province), expresses satisfaction with three cows inseminated on his farm, previously relying on risky and budget-consuming bulls due to service disruptions. He commends AID-I GLR's efforts to establish a regular AI service in his locality.
Sezikeye Antoine, a lead farmer in Bugabira (Kirundo Province), expresses satisfaction with three cows inseminated on his farm, previously relying on risky and budget-consuming bulls due to service disruptions. He commends AID-I GLR’s efforts to establish a regular AI service in his locality.

Pregnancy can be confirmed within less than a month (28 days) after service through the presence of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in cow serum and by ultrasound techniques. This is a significant improvement over the traditional trans-rectal palpation technique, which can only provide reliable results after nearly three months (90 days). The pen-side tests are easy to perform using digital reporting and monitoring, with visually interpretable results. This also bolsters CNIAAG’s efforts to monitor genetic gains and prevent inbreeding.

The project also emphasizes the promotion of locally manufactured inputs to assure a sustainable supply chain, with locally produced semen straws and liquid nitrogen for semen conservation.

While AI is not new in Burundi, its previous scarcity, high costs, and associated rumors created resistance. AID-I GLR addresses this by providing comprehensive training for AI technicians and proper sensitization of farmers, dispelling misconceptions about AI as a cause of infertility, low success rates, weak products, and dystocia (difficult delivery). Since the AI program’s start in August 2023, more than 2,100 beneficiaries, including livestock farmers, private inseminators, and public- and private-sector partners, have been sensitized on AI.

The project trains and equips additional locally based AI technicians to operate in communities, thus reducing transport costs and ensuring service availability. The goal is to establish a community-based yet nationally connected AI service by:

  • training, monitoring, and equipping technicians
  • establishing a functional AI input supply chain
  • evaluating genetic gains at national and farm levels regularly

The AI service implemented by AID-I GLR begins with comprehensive farmer sensitization on cow reproduction physiology, AI requirements, the AI process, and the necessary follow-up. To assure efficacy, targeted AI females are carefully prepared and serviced.

For selected smallholder farmers, one or more of their cows are inseminated and monitored to confirm pregnancy. Farmers have expressed gratitude as AID-I GLR brings AI to remote villages and has helped with science-based facts, thereby dispelling widespread rumors about reproductive disorders allegedly caused by AI.

Ndayishimiye Sylvie in Muzinda (Bubanza Province) celebrates a successful pregnancy diagnosis, avoiding resorting to a bull after her cow exhibited blood drops post-insemination. She anticipates the birth of a calf valued at 1,000,000 BIF alongside the increased dairy production.
Ndayishimiye Sylvie in Muzinda (Bubanza Province) celebrates a successful pregnancy diagnosis, avoiding resorting to a bull after her cow exhibited blood drops post-insemination. She anticipates the birth of a calf valued at 300,000 BIF (USD 105) alongside the increased dairy production.

Farmers plan to contract trained AI technicians for regular insemination and pregnancy diagnoses, join farmer associations for easy access to AI services, and demand more training, equipment, and availability of quality semen straws in their villages, even if they would have to pay for them. This demonstrates their firm resolve, and assures post-intervention sustainability, with the farmers firmly in control.

Complementing farmer efforts and further buttressing the sustainability of the service, Burundi’s national artificial insemination center and provincial agriculture and livestock bureaus are actively pursuing the opportunity to establish community-based AI service providers. In the meantime, AID-I GLR has sown a seed of change to pave the way for this future by facilitating AI technician training, thus equipping them with essential practical skills and knowledge for this role in the short and long term.

Contributed by Ritha Bumwe