Artificial insemination in a developing country : a tool for better production

Abstract

During August and September of 2002, I spent six weeks in Loja, Ecuador working with the Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja agriculture department on an Expanding Horizons project. The goal of this project was to introduce artificial insemination (AI) to the small farmers of Loja, Ecuador and set up a cooperative group that will continue to use artificial insemination in that area. The project consisted of four 1-week seminars, which served to introduce the farmers to the theory and practice of AI as well as set up the group that will form the cooperative. The participants of the seminar had access to sperm from three bulls from which to choose ten insemination straws. Genex donated the semen for this project with the goal of helping to initiate the use of AI in Loja, Ecuador. The materials and supplies used for this project were purchased with funds from a grant from the Lincoln Ellsworth Foundation as part of an Expanding Horizons project. This paper will talk about artificial insemination and its use as a tool for better production in a developing country, with focus on the work and data collected during my trip to Loja, Ecuador.