Artificial insemination and breeding in the goat in France

Abstract

In France, goat artificial insemination (AI) plays an important role in the milk intensive production system to control reproduction and, in conjunction with progeny testing, to improve milk production. About 60 000 goats were inseminated in 1996 with deep frozen semen after induction of oestrus and ovulation by hormonal treatment. 95 % of AI was performed before the sexual season. Efficiency of this method was about 65 % of kidding rate. In 1996, 290 000 lactating goats were officially recorded. The selection schema, aiming to improve protein yield and protein content, benefits from an AI young buck sampling program. AI allows higher selection intensities for male selection, adequate genetic evaluations through genetically connected herds, and monitoring and selection of bucks for major genes like the alpha s1- casein gene. In order to further develop AI, a cooperative action between the partners of the dairy goat industry (research, agricultural extension and farmer organizations) is operating since 1992 to reduce the variability of fertility rates. This program includes improvement of the control of reproduction by hormonal treatments, AI conditions, embryonic mortality and pseudopregnancy.