Increasing the efficiency of the herd reproduction system by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farming in Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Background and Aim: In recent years, Kazakhstan has increasingly imported breeding cows for dairy and beef production. To maintain and improve their breeding qualities of reproductive function, it is necessary to constantly monitor the herd reproduction system. The aim of this study was to increase the level of herd reproduction by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan. To achieve this goal, the AlphaVision visual insemination system (IMV Technologies, France) was used, aiding to improve the artificial insemination method in farms in Northern Kazakhstan and increased the breeding rate using sexed semen to inseminate cows. In addition, the AlphaVision device was used in the differential diagnosis of certain diseases of the reproductive organs of cows. Materials and Methods: The object of the study was 200 cows (3-5-year-old) and 100 heifers (16-18-month-old) of Holstein breed. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of biotechnological methods of reproduction – the cervical method insemination with rectal fixation of the cervix (traditional method of insemination) and the AlphaVision visual insemination system, and the effectiveness of AlphaVision for diagnosing some reproductive tract abnormalities in cows was studied. In the experiment on conducting artificial insemination through AlphaVision, we have used both normal (two-sex) and sexed semen. Results: When using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, a higher percentage of fruitful insemination was noted (20.7%) than when using the traditional method. The images obtained with AlphaVision made it possible to identify cows with abnormal sexual cycles, signs of vaginitis, endometritis, cervicitis, and differentiate them by the nature of the exudate. In many cases, visual examinations of the vagina and cervix are not carried out before the traditional method of artificial insemination. For this reason, some vaginal and cervical abnormalities are not diagnosed, resulting in reduced fertility in cows. We have found that the number of genital abnormalities has increased by 30% with the increasing age of cows. Obstetric and gynecologic pathologies in high-yielding cows are noted in more than 50% of the herd. A comparative assessment of clinical manifestations of cervicitis and other pathologies of reproductive organs, using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, has been carried out for the identified diseases. With the traditional method of insemination with conventional semen, the calf yield per 100 cows for the period 2016-2019 has been 65-80% and with sexed semen 30-50%. With AlphaVision in 2020, the insemination rate was 85% conventional and 60% sexed, respectively, which was 5% and 10% higher than with conventional insemination. This was due to the improved diagnosis of some reproductive diseases in cows. Conclusion: The introduction of innovative technology, namely, the visual insemination system AlphaVision, into the practice of dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan increased the level of the herd reproduction system.