Abstract

This study was undertaken to characterize and to estimate the level of adoption of artificial insemination (AI) as well as to identify factors determining its adoption by communal farmers of Nyagatare, Rwanda. This followed the launching of the AI programme in the district several years earlier. A survey of the breeding methods used for small scale dairy cows by farmers from five selected sectors of Nyagatare district of the Eastern Province of Rwanda was carried out by means of a questionnaire. Of the 360 respondents, 16.9% primarily used AI, 63.1% used natural service and 20.0% used both methods for breeding. A significant percentage of respondents residing within 5km of the AI centres (79.2%; P

Key words: Artificial insemination, heat detection, natural service