Page 166 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Figure 7.5: Natural mating in cattle

Advantages of natural mating
(a) It reduces the need for heat detection especially for pasture mating.
(b) Breeding is done by using a known male with desirable physical characteristics.
(c) It does not require trained operators to perform the operation.
(d) Conception rate is higher when using this method.
Challenges of natural mating
(a) There is high cost of keeping breeding males.
(b) It may lead into inbreeding if the breeding male is not replaced in every 3 years.
(c) It can be a source of genital transmitted diseases if the males are not well cared.
(d) Old, sick and disabled breeding males cannot be used as sires.
(e) A breeding male that had acquired infertility may still be used undetectably.
(f) Limited number of females will be mated with one breeding male over its
lifetime.

Artificial Insemination
Artificial Insemination (AI) refers to the process of depositing semen into the
female reproductive organ by artificial means. AI is more common in cattle than
other livestock species. In cattle, the cow is inseminated only when it is observed
to be on heat 10 - 14 hours after the onset of the heat period. Semen is collected
from the male animal by artificial means using appropriate facilities and materials.
The portion of semen in diluted form or fresh is deposited into the uterus or uterine
horn of the cow by mechanical means. Placing of the semen into the female is done

Student’
Student’s Book Form Twos Book Form Three
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AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 155 10/01/2025 12:31