Cost of artificial breeding in bovines an estimation

Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79 (12): 1245 1251, December 2009 Cost of artificial breeding in bovines an estimation M THIRUNAVUKKARASU 1 Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 051 India Received: 25 June 2008; Accepted: 17 August 2009 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. Key words: Artificial breeding, Bovines, Cost Artificial breeding, a crucial strategy introduced to ensure productivity enhancement of cattle and buffaloes in India some four decades back, has tremendously increased milk production from 17 million tonnes in 1950's to about 90 million tonnes today to make India the topper in milk production across the world. This impressive growth in Indian dairy sector, made possible by the artificial breeding efforts, assumes greater significance, especially when crop sector fails to absorb the bulging rural labour force. The artificial breeding technology has historically been the first generation of modern reproductive biotechnologies (Thibier 1990). Despite its unequivocal importance for genetic improvement of bovines, only very few surveys had been conducted in the last two decades. After Bonadonna and Succi (1980) surveys in 1980, there were only 2 partial surveys published by Chupin (1992) in the developing world and Chupin and Thibier (1994, 1995), tentatively covering 3 periods (1980, 1985 and 1991) in developed countries. The value of these data, as recognized by the authors, had some limitations due to the long interval of 5 years or more and to the irregular responses of some countries to the 1991 survey. As far as India is concerned, while Agarwal et al. (1994) Present address: Professor and Head, Department of Animal Husbandry, Statistics and Computer Applications, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai 600 007. 57 evaluated the artificial breeding process in Himachal Pradesh, Sivaselvam and Prabaharan (1987) and Prabaharan and Sivaselvam (1988) estimated the cost of production of frozen semen and liquid semen, respectively, at the semen bank attached to Madras Veterinary College. Also, Singh et al. (1995) and Arun and Jain (2002a, 2002b) also attempted similar estimates. In the recent past, reports across the country indicate the cost of producing a frozen semen straw ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 12 (Government of India 2004). One drawback in all these estimates is that they had all estimated only the cost of semen production and the costs involved from production of semen of deposition of the same in the uterus of oestrous animals are seldom available. Further, as the conception rate was estimated to be lower at 34.53% in cows and 25.52% in buffaloes in Tamil Nadu (Thirunavukkarasu and Kathiavan 2006) through a field survey (results of which were also documented by the Government of Tamil Nadu (2005), resulting in a loss of Rs 2066.39 million to the dairy farmers in the state every year due to conception failures in bovines at current prices, estimating the cost of artificial breeding of bovines assumes importance to assess the economic losses arising due to conception failures in bovines. Hence, considering the dearth of documented evidence on the cost of artificial breeding, this study was conducted to estimate the cost of artificial breeding of bovines in Tamil Nadu, including not only the

1246 THIRUNAVUKKARASU [Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79 (12) cost of production of semen, but also costs of distribution and insemination. MATERIALS AND METHODS To estimate the cost of production of frozen semen straws, the 4 frozen semen production centres of the Tamil Nadu State Animal Husbandry Department, viz. 3 District Livestock Farms (DLF) of Uthagamandalam, Hosur and Abishegapatty, and 1 Exotic Cattle Breeding Farm (ECBF), Eachenkottai were selected. For calculating transport and distribution charges of semen straws, out of 16 Frozen Semen Distribution Centres that distribute semen and liquid nitrogen (LN 2 ) to various insemination centres, 15 of them were selected. To gather details on the costs incurred at insemination centres, 137 Veterinary Hospitals/Dispenaries and 15 Veterinary Subcentres spread over all the seven agroclimatic zones were randomly selected. Suitable interview schedules were designed for collection of data relating to the period from 1999 00 to 2001 02 at various levels. Besides data on maintenance cost of bulls including feed and fodder, health care and labour; data on semen processing and preservation costs including cost of straws, dilutors, LN 2 and other consumables were gathered to work out the variable cost of semen production. Details on salary of staff, electricity and water charges, stationeries and telephone charges, interest on investment and depreciation of durable assets were collected to compute fixed cost. To estimate the distribution cost of frozen semen straws and LN 2, data on salaries to technical and nontechnical staff, transport expenses including fuel and repair charges, repair and maintenance charges of LN 2 containers and LN 2 cost were collected. Costs incurred at the artificial insemination (AI) centres like salaries to staff, cost of consumables and depreciation of durable assets were also gathered and analysed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Cost of semen production The average annual cost (calculated from the 3 years data of 1999-00,2000-01 and 2001-02) of frozen semen straws produced in different frozen semen production stations of the state is given in Table 1. The overall cost of bull maintenance (cost of feed,fodder,wages to labourer, and animal health-care expenses) in all the semen production stations combined together was estimated to be 52.12% of the total variable cost incurred for frozen semen straws production. Arun and Jain (2002b) also reported almost similar finding. While this cost formed the highest proportion in District Livestock Farm (DLF), Abhishepatty (67.61%), the same was the least in Excotic Cattle Breeding Farm (ECBF), Eachenkottai (45.27%) among the cattle semenproducing stations. It also needs emphasis that the semen processing and preservation cost is almost equal at 47.88%. Again, the proportion of total fixed cost to the total cost of semen production had been more or less similar, ranging from 17.93% in DLF, Abishepatty to 19.81% in ECBF, Eachenkottai. The average cost per dose of frozen semen straw worked out to be relatively lower at DLF, Hosur (Rs 5.13), which could be attributed to the large number of straws produced at this station, spreading out the overhead charges among them and thus reducing the cost per dose. The production cost at other stations appeared to be more or less similar (Rs 7.88 in ECBF, Eachenkottai Rs 8.33 in DLF, Uthagamandalam and Rs 9.01 in DLF, Abishepatty). Thus, the overall cost of frozen semen production per straw for the whole state was estimated to be Rs 6.83. However, Arun and Cost particulars Table 1. Annual average cost of frozen semen straws production (Rs 000) DLF Abishega- Uthaga- Hosur ECBF, Overall patty mandalam Eachenkotai Bull maintenance 1 461.37 2 322.78 3 117.45 2 887.36 9 788.969 (67.61) a (59.79) a (49.05) a (45.27) a (52.12) a Semen processing and preservation 700.11 1 562.28 3 238.34 3 490.88 8 991.61 (32.39) a (40.21) a (50.95) a (54.73) a (47.88) a Total variable cost 2 161.48 3 885.06 6 355.79 6 378.24 18 780.57 (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (82.07) b (80.30) b (81.91) b (80.91) b (81.00) b Total fixed cost 472.13 953.09 1 403.34 1 576.00 4 404.56 (17.93) b (19.70) b (18.09) b (19.81) b (19.00) b Total cost 2 633.61 4 838.15 7 759.12 7 954.24 23 185.12 (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) No. of straws produced 292 298 580 810 151 1257 100 9543 339 3908 Cost per dose (in Rs) 9.01 8.33 5.13 7.88 6.83 a Figures in parentheses indicate percentages to total variable cost; b figures in parentheses indicate percentages to total cost. 58

December 2009] COST OF ARTIFICIAL BREEDING IN BOVINES 1247 Table 2. AI centres covered by distribution centres Distribution centre No. of AI Centres Clinician Veterinary Veterinary Sub- Extension office Mobile Total centre/poly hospital dispensary centre of animal unit clinic husbandry Coimbatore 1 17 40 137 19 1 215 Cuddalore 2 12 74 202 35 5 330 Dharmapuri 2 4 44 138 18 3 209 Dindigul 0 6 29 129 13 1 178 Erode 2 10 50 126 20 4 212 Madurai 1 7 49 366 21 2 446 Ramanathapuram 0 4 17 27 0 0 48 Salem 1 6 43 137 19 6 212 Sivagangai 0 2 24 95 0 12 133 Thanjavur 4 17 93 217 35 6 372 Thiruchirapalli 2 12 71 192 32 4 313 Thirunelveli 1 8 38 102 19 2 170 Thiruvannamalai 1 5 36 77 3 3 125 Uthagamandalam 1 2 8 31 4 3 49 Vellore 1 8 37 100 17 3 166 Total 19 120 653 2 076 255 55 3 178 Jain (2002b) estimated the cost of frozen semen to be higher at Rs 16.55 and Rs 17.18 per straw, which could probably due to the less volume of production of semen at the station where the study was carried out. Contrary to this, Singh et al. (1995) reported a very low cost of production of Rs 2.40/dose of 0.50 ml that could be attributed to the year (1991 92) to which the data relate. Again, Arun and Jain (2002a) reported a very higher cost of production of chilled semen which could be due to high volume of semen needed to produce one dose. Frozen semen straw and LN 2 distribution Details of AI centres to which LN 2 and frozen semen straws were distributed from various distribution centres across the State are given in Table 2. The AI centres covered by the distribution centres, viz. Madurai (446), Thanjavur (372) Cuddalore (330) and Thiruchirapalli (313), were very much higher, as these distribution centres coverage areas included more than one district, with Madurai covering Theni district too, Thanjavur covering Thirvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts also, Cuddalore including Villupuram district and Thiruchirapalli covering Perumbalur and Karur districts in addition. In total, these sampled distribution centres had covered 3 178 AI centres (88.97%) out of the total 3 572 centres catering to the State. The number of frozen semen straws distributed from the distribution centres in the study period is furnished in Table 3. Despite inter-year differences in the number of straws distributed in various distribution centres, the overall quantity of straws distributed in the State remained largely the same across the 3 years (3.449, 3.482 and 3.494 million in 1999 59 Table 3. Number of frozen semen straws distributed (in million) Distribution centre 1999 00 2000 01 2001 02 Average Coimbatore 0.523 0.512 0.320 0.452 Cuddalore 0.337 0.341 0.331 0.336 Dharmapuri 0.188 0.158 0.209 0.185 Dindigul 0.110 0.113 0.116 0.113 Erode 0.203 0.198 0.209 0.203 Madurai 0.330 0.311 0.305 0.315 Ramanathapuram 0.019 0.019 0.023 0.020 Salem 0.274 0.270 0.268 0.271 Sivagangai 0.048 0.046 0.063 0.052 Thanjavur 0.191 0.384 0.487 0.354 Thiruchirapalli 0.313 0.377 0.359 0.350 Thirunelveli 0.375 0.307 0.317 0.333 Thiruvannamalai 0.121 0.122 0.120 0.121 Uthagamandalam 0.009 0.009 0.010 0.009 Vellore 0.268 0.206 0.200 0.225 Total 3.449 3.482 3.494 3.339 00, 2000 01 and 2001 02 respectively) in the State, with the annual average remaining at 3.339 million. It needs mention that, if the number of straws distributed could be taken as a proxy for the number of inseminations done in the State, around 3.45 to 3.50 million, had been done every year. Needless to reveal, in the areas covered under semen distribution centres such as Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Thirunelveli, Cuddalore and Madurai, an average of more than 0.3 million insemination had been performed per annum in the last 3 years, with Ramanathapuram and Uthagamandalam districts recording only 20,000 and 9,000 inseminations per annum.

1248 THIRUNAVUKKARASU [Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79 (12) Table 4. Quantity of LN 2 distributed and used (in 000 litres) Distribution centre 1999 00 2000 01 2001 02 Average Coimbatore 62.88 67.95 69.69 66.84 Cuddalore 45.26 51.69 51.43 49.46 Dharmapuri 28.56 28.78 29.02 28.79 Dindigul 25.27 21.72 24.64 23.88 Erode 30.78 30.59 34.58 31.98 Madurai 65.87 62.86 66.69 65.14 Ramanathapuram 9.39 7.64 7.78 8.27 Salem 37.36 31.77 24.82 31.32 Sivagangai 46.98 56.90 41.54 48.47 Thanjavur 57.76 58.14 63.00 59.63 Thiruchirapalli 45.73 49.35 52.42 49.17 Thirunelveli 53.05 54.05 58.30 55.13 Thiruvannamalai 21.83 22.64 19.38 21.28 Uthagamandalam 5.21 5.58 5.40 5.40 Vellore 49.70 32.50 29.85 37.35 Total 631.42 621.46 610.13 621.00 The quantities of LN 2 distributed, which is an essential medium in which frozen semen straws need to be preserved before straws could be used on bovines in oestrous, to various AI centres from the distribution centres are presented in Table 4. As the quantity of LN 2 required for any AI centre depends on the number of frozen semen straws it makes use of during the period, the figures presented in this table display an almost perfect positive association to the figures presented in Table 3. That is, the distribution centres such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Thirunelveli, Cuddalore and Thiruchirapalli, which had distributed more number of straws and also distributed/used more amount of LN 2 with of course some minor overlapping between them in terms of quantum of LN 2. However, as the use and loss of LN 2 depend largely on the size and quality of LN 2 containers and the frequency with which the LN 2 container is opened for picking straws out or for topping with LN 2, these variations are not to be unexpected. As expected, the quantity of LN 2 used in Ramanathapuram and Uthagamandalam district was less, owing to the less number of straws distributed/used. On an average, the quantity of LN 2 distributed across the State stood at 0.621 million litres, with 0.631, 0.621 and 0.610 million litres being distributed and used during 1999 00, 2000 01 and 2001 02 respectively. The details of costs incurred for the distribution of frozen straws and LN 2 to various insemination centres from the semen production and distribution centres of the State are furnished in Table 5. The average annual distribution cost of frozen semen straws and LN 2 was calculated to be Rs 29.861 million for the State as a whole, of which a major proportion of Rs 27.745 million (92.91%) went as salaries of personnel engaged in semen disribution, while an amount of Rs 1.751 million (5.86%) was incurred towards transport of LN 2 and frozen semen straws. 60 Table 5. Average annual distribution cost of LN 2 and frozen straws (in Rs lakh) Distribution centre Salaries 1 Transport 2 LN 2 cost 3 Total Coimbatore 28.25 1.20 0.53 29.98 (94.23) (4.00) (1.77) (100.00) Cuddalore 16.91 1.91 0.33 19.15 (88.30) (9.97) (1.72) (100.00) Dharmapuri 18.04 1.06 0.39 19.49 (92.56) (5.44) (2.00) (100.00) Dindigul 3.06 0.84 0.03 3.93 (77.86) (21.37) (0.76) (100.00) Erode 26.47 0.87 0.26 27.60 (95.90) (3.15) (0.94) (100.00) Madurai 35.97 2.07 0.30 38.34 (93.82) (5.40) (0.78) (100.00) Ramanathapuram 19.75 0.44 0.02 20.21 (97.72) (2.18) (0.10) (100.00) Salem 26.23 1.80 0.26 28.29 (92.72) (6.36) (0.92) (100.00) Sivagangai 26.24 1.06 0.26 27.56 (95.21) (3.85) (0.94) (100.00) Thanjavur 23.39 1.77 0.36 25.52 (91.65) (6.94) (1.41) (100.00) Thiruchirapalli 31.12 1.30 0.47 32.89 (94.62) (3.95) (1.43) (100.00) Thirunelveli 10.50 0.99 0.34 11.83 (88.76) (8.37) (2.87) (100.00) Thiruvannamalai 2.54 0.77 0.03 3.34 (76.05) (23.05) (0.90) (100.00) Uthagamandalam 4.57 0.45 0.02 5.04 (90.67) (8.93) (0.40) (100.00) Vellore 4.41 0.98 0.05 5.44 (81.07) (18.01) (0.92) (100.00) Total 277.45 17.51 3.65 298.61 (92.91) (5.86) (1.22) (100.00) 1 Include salaries drawn for both technical and non-technical staff; 2 includes fuel, repair/maintenance and transport charges; 3 depreciation cost and LN 2 usage; figures in parentheses indicate percentage to total. It is worth mentioning that the cost of LN 2 was only 1.22% of the total distribution cost. Across the distribution centres of the State, although the total distribution cost of straws and LN 2 appeared to be inconsistent with the amount of straws and LN 2 distributed by them, in some distribution centres where relatively a high quantum of straws and LN 2 had been distributed like Thirunelveli and and Vellore, the distribution cost was estimated to be very low at Rs 3.34 lakh and Rs 5.44 lakh per annum, respectively, obviously due to the low salary component involved in these centres and because of the thin staff employed than that might have been required to carry out the tasks. However, in Ramanathapurm distribution centre which catered to less number of artificial insemination centres, the distribution cost was higher indicating the fact that more staff

December 2009] COST OF ARTIFICIAL BREEDING IN BOVINES 1249 Table 6. Cost of distribution per frozen straw across the distribution centres Distribution Average Average number Distribution centre annual of straws cost per straw distribution distributed per (Rs) cost (Rs lakh) annum (lakh) Coimbatore 29.98 4.52 6.63 Cuddalore 19.15 3.36 5.70 Dharmapuri 19.49 1.85 10.54 Dindigul 3.93 1.13 3.48 Erode 27.60 2.03 13.60 Madurai 38.34 3.15 12.17 Ramanathapuram 20.21 0.20 101.05 Salem 28.29 2.71 10.44 Sivagangai 27.56 0.52 53.00 Thanjavur 25.52 3.54 7.21 Thiruchirapalli 32.89 3.50 9.40 Thirunelveli 11.83 3.33 3.55 Thiruvannamalai 3.34 1.21 2.76 Uthagamandalam 5.04 0.09 56.00 Vellore 5.44 2.25 2.42 Total 298.61 33.39 8.94 had been deployed than that might be required for the less task to be performed, as almost 98% went for salaries alone. This fact is reinforced by the less proportionate cost spent on transport and LN 2. This implies the necessity to re-deploy excess personnel from the centres of this kind to the other needy centres to improve the efficiency of the semen distribution system in the State. The average cost of distribution per frozen semen straw calculated from the 3 years data is presented in Table 6. It could be seen from the table that the average disribution cost per straw was to be Rs 8.94 for the wole State. Altough many distribution centres incurred almost a similar cost, some other centres reflect an alarming difference in the distribution cost, incurring an extermely high cost, for example Ramanathapuram (Rs 101.05), Udagamandalam (Rs 56.00) and Sivagangai (Rs 53.00) distribution centres and a few others a less cost, for example Vellore (Rs 2.42), Thiruvannamalai (Rs 2.76), Dindigul (Rs 3.48), Thirunelveli (Rs 3.55) and to a little extent, Cuddalore (Rs 5.70) and Coimbatore (Rs 6.63) distribution centres. Although the high distribution cost is justifiable in hilly areas such as Uthagamandam, the very high cost in Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai Centres reinforces the fact that they supplied to too few AI centres, thus escalating the cost of distribution to unsustainable levels. This again calls for an urgent need to merge these centres to bring down high overhead charges with regard to semen distribution. This could be justified by looking at the low costs of distribution incurred in distribution centres, which cater to relatively large number of AI centres, distributing more number of straws and more of LN 2. 61 Expenses incurred at insemination centres for AI The expenses incurred at insemination centres of different agroclimatic zones of the State are given in Table 7. While the overall average anual expenses incurred at the chosen AI centres of various zones ranged from Rs 17 491.36 in High altitude zone to Rs 110 909.25 in Noth estern zone, total annual expenses in the chosen 151 centres was found to be Rs 521 021.95. Although comparison of absolute expenses between the zones could not be made owing to the differing number of AI centres chosen from each zone and also due to the magnitude of AIs performed in different zones, the proportions of contributions of different components to the total expenses at the AI centres appeared almost similar across the zones. For example the proportion of expenses on salaries worked out to be in the range of 37.93% in Cauvery delta zone and 42.45% in High Altitude zone. Again, the expenses on depreciation of durable assets ranged from 0.93% in Southern zone to 1.15% in North Western zone, obviously with an exception of High Altitude zone to 1.15% in North Western zone, where this cost element was higher at 3.71% which could be attributed to the possibility of faster/higher wear and tear in inclement weather conditions. Expenses on consumables formed a greater proportion among all the cost components and were almost similar in all the zones at around 60%, except the High altitude (53.84%) and High rainfall (56.42%) zones. From the data collected from 151 AI centres across the State, it was estimated that the average annual expense incurred per AI centre for AI related activities was Rs 3 450.47, of which Rs 2 059.39 (59.68%) was for consumables, Rs 1 351.02 (39.15%) for salaries of personnel engaged in AI activities and Rs 40.06 (1.16%) on depreciation on durable assets. From these figures so calculated, the expenses were extrapolated for the whole State where there are 3 572 AI centres, the total annual average expense incurred for AI related activities at the AI centres was Rs 123.25 lakh. Of this total annual cost, Rs 73.56 lakh (59.68%) went for expenses on consumables, Rs 48.26 lakh (39.16%) for salaries and the rest Rs 1.43 lakh (1.16%) on depreciation of durable assets. Number of AI done The details of the average number of AI done during the study period in AI centres falling under the selected semen distribution centres of the State are furnished in Table 8. The cumulative average figure shows that there were 23.48 lakh inseminations in cattle and 3.17 lakh inseminations in buffalo, which together put up to 26.65 lakh inseminations. In cattle category, there were more than 10% of the total inseminations done in areas covered under Thanjavur, Cuddalore and Coimbatore distribution centres, while expectedly there were only around 1.00% or even less number of inseminations in areas covered under Sivagangai, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram and Uthagamandalam Centres. As far as buffaloes are concerned, Erode (20.06%), Thanjavur

1250 THIRUNAVUKKARASU [Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79 (12) Table 7. Average annual expenses for AI at AI centres (1999 02) (Rs) Zone No. of AI Salaries Depreciation Consumable Total centres chosen North Eastern 29 43 157.15 1 044.00 66 708.10 110 909.25 (38.91) (0.94) (60.15) (100.00) North Western 24 32 601.05 986.16 52 148.00 85 735.21 (38.03) (1.15) (60.82) (100.00) Western 26 36 102.65 1 015.52 55 138.20 92 256.37 (39.13) (1.10) (59.77) (100.00) Cauvery Delta 27 31 786.03 894.02 51 114.10 83 794.15 (37.93) (1.07) (61.00) (100.00) Southern 31 40 706.04 945.46 59 945.40 101 596.90 (40.07) (0.93) (59.00) (100.00) High Altitude 5 7 425.80 648.54 9 417.02 17 491.36 (42.45) (3.71) (53.84) (100.00) High Rainfall 9 12 225.39 516.14 16 497.20 29 238.73 (41.81) (1.77) (56.42) (100.00) Overall 151 204 004.11 6 049.84 310 968.00 521 021.95 (39.15) (1.16) (59.68) (100.00) Average/Centre 1 1 351.02 40.06 2 059.39 3 450.47 (39.15) (1.16) (59.68) (100.00) State* 3 572 4 825 845.53 143 094.00 7 356 141.00 12 325 080.53 (39.15) (1.16) (59.68) (100.00) *Figures extrapolated for the whole State from the data collected from the sample centres; figures in parentheses indicate percentages to total. Table 8. Annual average numbers of AI done (1999 02) Table 9. Annual total expenditure incurred for artificial breeding Distribution centre Cattle No. of AI done Buffalo Coimbatore 278 896 (11.88) 21 258 (6.69) Cuddalore 301 389 (12.83) 16 721 (5.26) Dharmapuri 134 196 (5.71) 22 587 (7.10) Dindigul 19 490 (0.83) 3 944 (1.24) Erode 130 500 (5.56) 63 770 (20.06) Madurai 175 789 (7.49) 7 510 (2.36) Ramanathapuram 17 101 (0.73) 394 (0.12) Salem 178 279 (7.59) 51 167 (16.09) Sivagangai 24 928 (1.06) 940 (0.30) Thanjavur 346 592 (14.76) 56 027 (17.62) Thiruchirapalli 161 552 (6.88) 18 504 (5.82) Thirunelveli 137 912 (5.87) 8 152 (2.56) Thiruvannamalai 111 213 (4.74) 2 504 (0.79) Uthagamandalam 8 889 (0.38) 201 (0.06) Vellore 214 742 (9.14) 18 334 (5.77) Total 2 348 241 (100.00) 317 972 (100.00) Grand total 2 666 213 Figures in parentheses indicate percentages to total. (17.62%) and Salem (16.09%) centres constituted more than 50.00% of inseminations done during the study period. Cost components of artificial breeding of bovines All the cost components involved in artificial breeding activities in the State Department of Animal Husbandry are 62 cost component Cost incurred No. of straws Cost/ (in Rs 000) distributed insemination* and used for (Rs) insemination Semen straws 23 185.12 3 393 908 6.83 (30.15) production cost Distribution/ 29 863.00 2 666 213 11.20 (49.45) transportation cost Insemination cost 12 325.08 4.62 (20.40) Total 65 373.20 22.65 (100.00) *Total insemination done was 2 666 213 as per Table 8; figures in parentheses indicate percentage to total. given in Table 9, which presents an overall view of the expenses. With the total annual expenditure towards artificial breeding being Rs 653.73 lakh, total semen production cost, total distribution cost and total insemination cost were Rs 231.85 lakh, Rs 298.63 lakh and Rs 123.25 lakh respectively. Accordingly, the expenditure incurred per insemination was calculated to be Rs 22.65, of which Rs 6.83 (30.15%) was towards expenses at semen production station, Rs 11.20 (49.45%) towards transportation/distribution and Rs 4.62 (20.40%) at insemination centre. Although the average expenditure incurred for each insemination is worked out to be Rs 22.65 [of which Rs 6.83

December 2009] COST OF ARTIFICIAL BREEDING IN BOVINES 1251 (30.15%) was towards expenses at semen production station, Rs 11.20 (49.45%) towards transportation/distribution and Rs 4.62 (20.40%) at inseminatin centre], the State Government has been highly subsidizing the price of insemination and it charges only Rs 15/insemination (which had been raised only recently from Rs 12). This recently raised cost per insemination still appears to be very low, considering the fact that the farmers were willing to pay even Rs 116.39 and Rs 139.29 for effecting pregnancy in their cows and buffaloes, respectively, by availing incentre services, besides being ready to offer a higher amount of Rs 190.83 and Rs 214.29 if the breeding services are delivered at doorsteps (Kathiravan and Thirunavukkarasu 2006). Further, it was reported by Thirunavukkarasu and Kathiravan (2006), using a logistic regression analysis, that if the variables-species, stage of lactation, reproductive disorder, distance to artificial insemination centre and month of insemination could be optimized, the likelihood of conception could increase. Also, the public veterinary centres were still the major bovine breeding service providers and notwithstanding this, the practice of natural breeding remained to be an important mode of breeding (Kathiravan and thirunavkkarasu 2007). The absence of a foolproof data management system to gather, store, analyse and report the data about artificial breeding activities in the State is highly felt. Hence the recording system, being followed currently, needs a complete revision and a new automated recording and information system needs to be developed to effectively plan for sustainable progress in dairy sector. REFERENCES Agrawal S B, Bhupal Singh, Raina V S, Raj Vir Singh and Karan Singh. 1994. A statistical evaluation of artificial insemination programme in Himachal Pradesh. NDRI (ICAR), Karnal. Arun Pandit and Jain D K. 2002a. A study of chilled semen production in an organized farm. Indian Dairyman 54 (3): 51 57. Arun Pandit and Jain D K. 2002b. Cost of frozen semen production A case study. Agricultural Economics Research Review 15 (1): 41 49. Bonadonna T and Succi G. 1980. Artificial insemination in the world. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Animal Artificial Insemination. Vol. 5, pp. 655 67. Madrid, Spain. Chupin D. 1992. Resultats d une enquete sur l etat de l insemination artificielle dans les pays en development. Elev. Insem., 252: 1 26. Chupin D and Thibier M. 1994. Resultats d une enquete suri etatede I insemination artificielle dans les pays developpes. Elev. Insem 263: 1 18. Chupin D and Thibier M. 1995. Survey of the present status of the use of artificial insemination in developed countries. World Animal Review 82: 58 68. Government of India. 2004. Agenda notes on the Conference of State Ministers of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi, December 11, 2004 (http://dahd.nic.in/agendadec11.doc accessed on 30.11.2005). Government of Tamil Nadu, Policy Note 2005 06, Animal Husbandry Department Demand No. 6, p. 33 (http:// www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/pdf/animal husbandry.pdf accessed on 30.11.2005). Kathiravan G and Thirunavukkarasu M. 2006. Willingeness to pay for bovine breeding services: The case of rural India. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 5(4): 325 29. Kathiravan G and Thirunavukkarasu M. 2007. A Survey on Livestock Services Use Pattern in southern Peninsular India. Research Journal of Animal Sciences 1(4): 128 35. Prabaharan R and Sivaselvam S N. 1988. A study on cost of production of liquid semen (buffalo) in Tamil Nadu. Indian Veterinary Journal 65 (6): 547 48. Singh D V, Tripathi V N and Dave A S. 1995. Cost estimates of artificial insemination in dairy cattle in Mehsana A case study. Indian Veterinary Journal 72 (11): 1229 31. Sivaselvam S N and Prabaharan R. 1987. A study on cost of production of frozen semen in Tamil Nadu. Cheiron 67 (4): 141 44. Thibier M. 1990. New biotechnologies in cattle production. Proceedings of the 7th Congress of the F.A.V.A. pp. 513 24. 4 7th November. 1990, Pattaya, Thailand. Thirunavukkarasu M and Kathiravan G. 2006. Economic losses due to conception failures in artificially inseminated bovines. Indian Veterinary Journal 83 (2): 196 99. Thirunavukkarasu M and Kathiravan G. 2006. Predicting the probability of conception in artificially inseminated bovines A logistic regression analysis. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 5 (6): 522 27. 63