The Artificial Insemination Centre in Cameroon - A Success Story

In 2007, following the approval of IAEA TCP CMR/5/015, the project team had already managed to support 200 farms on aspects related to cattle management, feeding, preventive health care, and AI services. Subsequently, the Bambui cattle centre has performed more than 500 inseminations with nearly a 70% conception rate using oestrous synchronization. Furthermore, in the last 4 years, the prevalence of Brucellosis has been reduced drastically as a result of the establishment of a control programme, use of AI and culling of infected animals.

One of the main constraints for AI in some African countries such as Cameroon is the availability and cost of liquid nitrogen for transporting semen, especially in rural areas, a key element to preserve semen for prolonged periods. The Bambui team overcame this by developing a chilled semen processing methodology using egg-yolk and coconut water in which sperm can survive for up to seven days. The initial average motility is around 75% but decreases to 60% but is still sufficient for insemination purposes. What is crucial is to keep the semen ampoules in boxes with ice once the semen is transported from the AI centre! Certainly, the sooner the cow is inseminated the better but this methodology opens great opportunities to inseminate cows in rural areas without requiring the use expensive and sometimes scarce liquid nitrogen.

Currently, AI is being conducted when farmers report cows in heat, but in the initial phase of the project, most cows were inseminated after oestrus synchronization using Prostaglandin F2a whilst more recently the Ovsynch protocol in anoestrous cows has been followed where, cows receive two injections of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) on days 0 and 9 and one injection of Prostaglandin F2a on day 7 and the insemination is done on day 9. Pregnancy in cattle is now routinely and regularly monitored using a human progesterone enzyme immunoassay kit, which was validated for cattle (Bayemi et al., 2007, Trop Anim Hlth Prod 39; 335-338).

In addition to the AI service farmers also receive technical advice on improved feeds and feeding and instruction on processing milk to produce yoghurt and ambient temperature- matured cheese as well as better access to veterinary services i.e. an integrated and sound technical package for improving livestock productivity and farmer livelihoods. Farmers are gradually accepting the proposed technology, especially AI using heat synchronization, and in consequence, the expenses/income ratio is increasing favourably.

Field days have been organized for technology transfer and to promote AI, non-pregnancy diagnosis through the analysis of progesterone in blood samples and disease diagnosis using nuclear and nuclear-related techniques, such as radioimmunoassay and ELISA. The increased capacity and technology and expertise acquired by the Centre has enabled staff to train foreign veterinarians and AI technicians from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Central African Republic and also to conduct technical consultancies in neighbouring countries.

Recently, the AI Centre has obtained a mobile ultrasound diagnostic device to facilitate pregnancy diagnosis and detection of reproductive disorders affecting the functionality of the ovaries. The laboratory has also been renovated by the Government and modern equipment installed to ensure semen quality, especially in terms of transmissible diseases. The project team is now preparing to enlarge the AI coverage by including other areas in the region as well as other regions of the country. Support to the farming community will be further enhanced as, in parallel, the laboratory will also expand its disease diagnostic services to include other livestock diseases as well as carrying out milk testing and quality control.

This successful project exemplifies the efforts of the IAEA in assisting member states to improve livestock productivity and food security and reduce poverty.