Application of Artificial Insemination Technology for Dairy Breeding in Mongolia

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<Case report>

Application of Artificial Insemination Technology for Dairy Breeding in Mongolia

Jong-In Jin

¹

, Sung-Su Kim

¹

, Hyun-Tae Cho

¹

, Byung-Hyun Choi

¹

, Jung-Gyu Lee

^1,3

, Yun-Shik Kim

²

, Sam-Churl Kim

^1,3

, Kyu-Woan Cho

⁴

, Tumor Baldan

⁵

and Il-Keun Kong

^1,3,*

1

Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Program), Department of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea

2

Department of Agriculture Economic, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea

3

Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea

4

College of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea

5

School of Biological Resource and Management, Mongolia State University of Agriculture, Khanuul District, Zaisan Ulaanbaatar 210153, Mongolia

ABSTRACT

This study was focused on improvement of milk production in Mongolian dairy industry by artificial insemination (AI) technology, supported by ODA of KOICA in Republic of Korea. This program was started in January 2009 and it is in 3

^rd

years. This manuscript summarized the data especially on estrus synchronization and pregnancy establishment in dairy cows (Holstein) this year. A total of 81 dairy cows from 4 private farms (38 from Undarmal milk and that of 30, 8 and 5 dairy cows from Onjin (Enkhbayer), Jargalant, and BRM School farms respectively) were synchronized with 5 ml Lutalyse (i.m.) in the dump of dairy cows and then estrus was detected 2 to 3 days after PGF

2α

injection. The synchronized dairy cows were inseminated with 0.5 ml dairy frozen semen by conventional artificial insemination (AI) techniques. Pregnancy was diagnosed about 60 days after AI by palpation method. About 96.3% (78/81) of synchronized cows were responded to single PGF

2

α injection. Total 75 over 78 dairy cows (90.1%) inseminated were diagnosed as pregnant. The estrus induction and pregnancy rates were very effective using Lutalyse injection and conventional AI techniques in Mongolian dairy cow.

The present results indicated that AI after estrus induction in Mongolian dairy cows could be applied to dairy breeding technology for improving breeding efficiency and milk production of the country.

(Key words : estrus induction, artificial insemination, dairy cow, Mongolia)

†

This work was supported by ODA project (Grant # 03-2010-0183) and Sung-Su Kim, Hyun-Tae Cho, and Byung-Hyun Choi were supported by post-BK21 program’s scholar fellowship.

*

Correspondence : E-mail : [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Mongolia has 80% livestock of total agriculture industry, 170,000 farms are engaged, 2,176,000 of cattle that were beef and dairy cows are raised (http://www.mofa.gov.mn). This cattle number was abruptly decreased last year, because of very low temperature in the winter season (50 ℃) and scarcity of food supply. Several other farm species including camel, horse, sheep, and goat were also died from low temperature and insufficient feed supply. Despite of great application of milk in Mongolia, there are not clear differences between cow and dairy cattle, and the production of milk is also very low.

To meet the demand of milk Mongolian farmers also rearing horse, sheep, and goat. However, the total annual production is about 500 thousand ton milk that is much insufficient for

the country. Therefore, it's really considerable to improve the breed of owing to many problems with big differences in milk qualities (Mongolian National Program of Animal Husbandry, 2010).

The risks of the livestock industry and its influencing fac-

tors are related with several factors; natural factors are diffe-

rences in ecological zones, climate changes, pastoral water supply,

pastoral vegetation and carrying capacity, and economic fac-

tors are poor infrastructure, weak rural banking & financial

structure, shortage of the capital and cash, and lack of legal

structure for the animal insurance, social factors are weak ca-

pacity for risk management, isolated location of herders, insu-

fficient management structure during natural disasters, limited

availability of professional livestock services and increased num-

ber of unskilled and inexperienced herders. Ways of reducing

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pplies and water management, risk management, veterinary and breeding services, pastureland tenure and fodder supplies.

However, the average milk production in Mongolia is still low amount of 2,500 to 2,600 kg per cow per year and so Mongolian government want to improve the milk production efficiency by AI and other new assisted reproductive tech- nology. My research team had been conducted AI with frozen semen of Korean Holstein dairy cows in Mongolian dairy cattle for 3 years since 2009 (Kwon et al., 2009; http://www.

koica.go.kr, 2011). This study was conducted to confirm the possibility of application of AI technology in Mongolian dairy cow and improve the reproductive efficiency and milk pro- duction amount in the near future in Mongolia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1. Project Summary

This project was decided to support the nearby region of Ulaanbaatar and Halheugol by Department of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University under the financial support from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, and Mongolian State University of Agriculture for 5 years term (April 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013) (http://www.koica.go.kr, 2011). From 2

^nd

year this project expanded the items as con- sulting of reproduction, nutrition and feed, breeding and agri- culture economics fields. But this report was focused only on animal reproduction field such as AI consulting.

2. Supply of Frozen Dairy Semen

All of materials including of dairy frozen semen was su- pplied from Republic of Korea and so 3

^rd

grade dairy frozen

evaluated by palpation for selection of cows with normal re- productive physiology. Cows having a normal corpus luteum were injected (i.m.) with 5 ml Lutalyse (PHARMACIA, Bel- gium) for estrus induction. The estrus characteristics were de- tected 2 to 3 days of Lutalyse injection and all information were recorded accordingly. Most of the dairy cows in Mon- golia are grazed with dairy bull in the natural pasture to save the feeding and so it is not easy to separate and protect the estrus female with male one. Therefore, all female dairy cows were separated from dairy bull for 2 months before induction of synchronization.

4. Artificial Insemination of Estrus Dairy Cow

All of the cows that were detected the estrus, were inse- minated with frozen Korean dairy cow semen by conventional AI methods. Those cows were not conceive in first AI were re-inseminated by same frozen semen. Most of Mongolian ar- tificial inseminator, veterinarian, farmer and related students were trained about AI through participated in this AI project.

5. Pregnancy Diagnosis and Production of Offspring

Pregnancy was diagnosed by palpation of uterus of all inse- minated cows approximately 2 months after AI. Pregnant cows were separated by color painting on the coat hair to control them. Most of pregnant cows were delivered their offspring next spring. The sex ratio and body weight of calves were re- corded accordingly.

6. Statistical Analysis

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using

SAS (Statistical Analysis Program, 2002) and significant value

was analysis by Duncan new multiple range test. A p value of

less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

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Fig. 1. Artificial insemination of Mongolian dairy cow (A) and demonstration of AI to Mongolian farmers, students and some artificial inseminators (B).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. Current Situation of Livestock in Mongolia

About 12 millions domestic animals were decreased in last (Table 1) due to extreme cold winter and unavailability of feeds. It means that total animal heads was dropped to 25.7%

compared with previous year, of which were horse by 301.0 thousand (13.5%), cattle by 423.3 thousand (16.3%), camel by 7.5 thousand (2.7%), sheep by 4.8 million (24.9%), goat by 5.8 million (29.4%) (http://www.mofa.gov.mn, 2010).

Mongolian cattle do not possess distinct beef or dairy cha- racters. All female cows are generally used for milk produc- tion and that of male animals for beef production. Total cattle milk production in Mongolia comes from dairy cows and beef cows though beef cow produce very little amount of milk.

Milk production of Mongolian dairy cow is about 2,500 to

Table 1. Number of livestock in Mongolia Species of

livestock

No. of animals of each year

2008 2009 2010

Camel 266,400 277,100 269,600

Horse 2,186,900 2,221,300 1,920,300

Cattle 2,503,400 2,599,300 2,176,000

Sheep 18,362,300 19,274,700 14,480,400

Goat 19,969,400 19,651,500 13,883,200

Total 43,288,400 44,023,900 32,729,500

(http://www.mofa.gov.mn)

2,600 kg per year which is about 3 to 4 fold lower than ave- rage production of Korean dairy cows (8,500 kg per year/cow).

Therefore, farmers and Mongolian government want to increase the total milk production of their dairy cows through appli- cation of new dairy cow breeding technology, just as AI with frozen semen of high yielding dairy cow semen. My research groups want to transfer the AI technique and support AI equip- ments by ODA financial support from KOICA (Kwon et al., 2009; http://www.koica.go.kr, 2011). This project produced a numbers of dairy offspring with high genetic make-up for milk yield performances through un-interrupted implementation of synchronization and AI for last 3 years.

Mongolian people like to drink milk, but there is scarcity in milk supply from the domestic production. Therefore, the milk is expensive in Mongolia and it cost higher than Korean milk price. Milk production as well as price of milk is highly variable according to season of the year. Milk production is abruptly dropped in winter resulting higher cost in winter com- pared with summer. Therefore, special attention is needed to increase milk production efficiency of Mongolian dairy cows.

2. Efficiency of Estrus Induction in Mongolian Dairy Cow

The dairy cows were synchronized for induction of estrus

with single dose of PGF

2

α injection (i.m.) and then estrus was

checked up for AI with frozen semen. As shown in Table 2,

81 cows were selected from the total 128 heads in 4 farms

through observation of corpus luteum status and then given

PGF

2

α injection. Among 81 cows subjected to PGF

2

α injec-

tion, 78 dairy cows (96.3%) were responded to estrus induc-

tion treatment and these animals were inseminated with frozen

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Total 128 81 78 (96.3)

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Values with same superscript were not different among each farm (p<0.05).*

semen after checking the estrus by conventional AI method.

The estrus induction rate did not differ among dairy cows of four farms and the synchronization rate was higher com- pared to Korean dairy cows. The main reason may be the en- vironment differences between Korea and Mongolia. Mongo- lian farmers raise their domestic animals by grazing in the pasture during spring to early autumn, except winter, and then housing during only winter, because of reducing the feeding cost. Although body condition score is poor, most of dairy cows have good health condition, especially reproductive system as uterus, ovary and vagina. Moreover, Mongolian dairy cows did not have any experience to get PGF

2

α hormone and so ex- pressed a good response for PGF

2

α injection. Another possible important factor regulating high response to PGF

2

α may be the absence of obesity in Mongolian Dairy cows. Cattle raising system allow the cattle to graze whole day in the pasture which as well as results heavy exercise for the cows. However, most of the Hanwoo and dairy cows in Korea have limited scope for exercise as they are managed in the stall feeding system with high quality rich diet feeding regimen. These could affect reproductive efficiency of Korean dairy cows.

3. Pregnancy and Production of Dairy Cow by AI System Total 75 out of 78 inseminated cows conceived as pregnancy was diagnosed by palpation analysis approximately 60 days after AI (Table 3). Pregnancy rates were higher in the cows of Undarmal milk and Onjin farms than those in the Jargalant and BRM School farms (p<0.05). Most of dairy cows were analyzed the pregnancy after only 1 time AI with frozen semen.

among each farm (p<0.05).

It is very higher pregnant rate compared with our country that is almost over 2 or 3 times AI to do it. What is different bet- ween Mongolia and Korea? Undarmal milk and Onjin farms were bigger compared with Jargalant and BRM School farms and so could be affected a management condition and feeding condition. Actually, Mongolian bigger dairy farmer is more earn the income and so can be supported better management condition and good feeding condition also.

This data got from only 1 time AI in individual cow and so very surprised the pregnancy data compared with Korea. The main reason is the management condition that facilitates heavy exercise opportunity, grazing, and feeding system without grains-oriented feeds. In contract Korean dairy cow has many limitations to express the reproductive ability such as limited exercise space, grains-oriented feeding and meat score rating.

My research group produced number of dairy offspring during 3 years as shown in Fig. 2. Most of them are still growing well and healthy in their living. The delivery labor does not affect parturition success of F

1

dairy calves (Mongolian dairy female cow × Korean dairy frozen semen). Considering small size of Mongolian dairy cows compared to Korean dairy cows we used low grade semen for AI to avoid dystocia and other pregnancy related problems. Over 70% offspring was male, but all of farmers want to get female offspring for production of dairy cow replacement stock.

4. Mongolian Animal Husbandry Type and Application of AI Tech- nology

Mongolian animal husbandry system can be divided into 4

different types: 1) traditional semi-nomadic pastoral system

(camels, horses, cattle, sheep and goats are grazed together), 2)

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Fig. 2. Production of dairy offspring by artificial insemination of frozen semen in Mongolia.

intensive development of traditional animal husbandry, 3) inten- sive farm: dairy cattle farm, beef cattle farm, mutton sheep, dairy goat, poultry and pig farming, honey bee-keeping, and

Fig. 3. Forward the AI insemination equipments into Mongolian dairy farmer and consulting of AI, genetic breeding, nutrition, economic and marketing to Mongolian dairy farmers and Mongolian State University of Agriculture’s students.

reindeer, and 4) semi-settled intensive livestock farms. Recently intensive farm is sharply increasing in all of animal species.

As shown in Table 4, intensive dairy and beef cattle farm was

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