Cost of artificial breeding in bovines – an estimation

Abstract

.A study was conducted to estimate the cost of artificial breeding in bovines using the data (1999–2002) collected from 4 frozen semen production centres, and the randomly selected 15 out of 16 frozen semen distribution centres, 137 Veterinary Hospitals/Departments and 15 Veterinary Subcentres of the Tamil Nadu State Animal Husbandry Department. The average cost per dose of frozen semen straw worked out to be Rs 6.73. The average distribution cost per straw was Rs 8.94. In the overall average annual expenses in the State, the total annual average expense incurred for AI related activities at the AI centres was found to be Rs 12.325 million. There were 2.348 million inseminations done in cattle and 0.317 million inseminations in buffalo during the study period, which together put up to 2.665 million inseminations. With the total annual expenditure towards artificial breeding being Rs 65.373 million, total semen production cost, total distribution cost and total insemination cost were Rs 23.185 million, Rs 29.863 million and Rs 12.325 million, respectively. Accordingly, the expenditure incurred per insemination was calculated to be Rs 22.65, of which Rs 6.73 (30.15%) was towards expenses at semen production station, Rs 11.20 (49.45%) towards distribution and Rs 4.62 (20.40%) at insemination centre.