Studies on dairy cattle reproduction performances in Morocco based on analysis of artificial insemination data

The main objective of this study is to assess dairy cattle reproduction performances from artificial insemination (AI) database, using inseminators records from 1992 to 1998, in three AI circuits established in Settat province in Morocco. Simultaneously, a field survey was conducted in the same region, from January to April 1999, to determine main structural parameters of dairy farms which influence AI. Data set analysis has shown an increase in total number of AI performed from an average of 160 to 640 per circuit. Average conception rate was 48.1/, with a continuous increase from 44.3 to 58.6/, despite growing number of performed AI. Statistical analysis reveal a significant variation of conception rate between years, in agreement with previous works on cattle reproduction performances in harsh conditions. Mean calving interval was 404.8 days. It was significantly different between circuits (P 0.05). This result was explained by AI history in the three circuits (date of implementation) and by their structural characteristics (number of cows and length in km). The overall improvement of AI activity (more AI performed and better conception rate) could be explained by a greater inseminators' adaptation to their working environment, combined to the progressive elimination of farms with poor dairy cattle reproduction management. This trend was confirmed by discriminant analysis of field survey results, as cattle breeders with real specialisation in milk production (more than 65/ of total land devoted to forages and few sheep) have been found to be fervent AI demanders, whereas farms with more interest in cereals and sheep often stop AI. Those observations show that a continuous AI programs evaluation is urgent, in order to select dairy breeders which are really interested in that technique and to avoid the dissipation of the inseminators limited time and resources.