Comparative study of artificial insemination versus natural mating methods on the quality of Bali cattle calves

Abstract

The aim of this research is a comparative study of artificial insemination versus natural mating methods on the quality of Bali cattle calves. A total of 571 calves were born from 74 cows in 2007; 99 cows in 2008; 100 cows in 2009; 99 cows in 2010; 100 cows in 2011; and 99 cows in 2012, respectively. Breeding has been implemented with a program of selecting livestock based on body weight at the age of one year. The scope of this research was as follows: the impact of the implementation of the artificial insemination (AI) program compared to natural mating (NM) on the improvement of calf performance (birth weight, weaning weight, and one year body weight) of bali calves. The results showed that the mean birth weight of male Bali calves using the mating method (AI vs NM) were 17.88±1.59 kg and 18.01±1.44 kg, respectively, while the calf birth weight of calves bali females, was: 18.09±1.26 kg, and 17.78±1.21 kg, statistically not significantly different (P