Artificial insemination service delivery by paravets of State Animal Husbandry Department (SDAH): An assessment of four states of India

The study was conducted to assess the artificial insemination (AI) and related service delivery by the paravetsof four states (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana and Odisha). Forty paravets were selected from each state makingthe total sample size of 160. Questionnaire through e-mail and telephonic survey were the methods considered forcollection of data. Various services related to AI, viz. number of AI/month, number of pregnancy diagnosis (PD)/month, average distance travelled/day, etc. were studied along with the input availability for AI. The average AIdone/month was 145 which was comparatively higher than the average number of pregnancy diagnosis/month i.e.116.5. Significant differences were also observed among the states, in case of number of AI/month and pregnancydiagnosis. Though most of the inputs were readily available to them for AI such as cryocan, AI gun, semen straw,LN2 and gloves but some of the critical inputs, viz. vehicles, waterbaths, thermometer, apron, gum-boots andcrystoscope were inadequate. The average distance/day covered by them while providing doorstep services was16.3 km but none of the respondents was provided vehicles for it. Regression analysis of various socio-personalvariables, viz. age, gender, education, job experience, annual income and number of trainings undergone on average number of AI/ month depicted that these variables together were significantly contributing to 51.8% variability in dependent variable. From the different variables, age, annual income and number of trainings undergone were the significant contributors in average number of AI service delivery per month. By seeing the results pertaining to inputs availability, it is advisable to ensure the availability of adequate vehicles, and other inputs by State Animal Husbandry Departments and to take efforts in reducing the gap between the number of AI done and pregnancy diagnosis conducted through proper monitoring to improve the effectiveness of AI. Further refresher training of the paravets on regular basis needs to be ensured to update their knowledge and skills.