As part of efforts to enhance Fiji’s Livestock Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture has sent eight officers for Artificial Insemination (AI) training at the Livestock Improvement Cooperation in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Artificial insemination is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive tract of a female animal. This measure is often adopted to improve livestock production.
The Ministry’s Senior Agriculture Officer (Beef/Dairy) Ulaiasi Tadulala said the training will help dairy farmers fight against Tuberculosis and Brucellosis.
“From this training, the Ministry will also be looking at expanding and improving nucleus breeding herd of New Zealand Dairy cattle at various Research stations using Artificial Insemination.”
“This will greatly assist Dairy farmers and will overlook the establishment of an Artificial Insemination Service for Dairy and Beef Cattle in Fiji,” he said.
“The Western Division will be an area of interest for the Ministry to improve its Dairy production,” he said.
Moreover, under the 2014-2016 Livestock Rehabilitation Program, $1million has been allocated to import approximately 200 live breeding cattle from New Zealand.
“In addition to this, trace back of cattle imported from New Zealand and Australia since 2012 will be conducted for diseases,” he said.
The one week training which ends this Friday (13/02) includes staff of the Animal Health and Production and the Livestock Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
DEPTFO