Kamuli farmers worried as OWC cows fail to conceive

Kamuli- Farmers in Mbulamuti Sub-county, Kamuli District, say the Friesian cows distributed under government’s Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme have failed to conceive through artificial insemination, a technique devised for the genetic improvement of farm animals.

The farmers say they spend a lot of money on using the method to fertilise the animals yet they never conceive, which forces them to opt for the natural fertilisation method.

Mr Hassan Ssali, who received a Friesian cow in November 2016, says it has failed to conceive through artificial insemination on three occasions, first in December 2016, then in March and May last year.

“It was after I took it to a bull for mounting that it conceived. Each time a veterinary doctor comes to inseminate the cow, he is paid Shs40,000 and sometimes one is forced to pay for his transport since most of us are based in rural areas,” says Mr Ssali.

“I have spent more than Shs200,000 on artificial insemination to have my cow conceive but it has not been successful. It was until when a friend advised me to take it for bull mounting at Shs20,000 that it conceived and is about to deliver,” he adds.
Mr Ismail Byansi, who received a cow in 2016, says it failed to conceive thrice under artificial insemination.

“I was told my cow was infected and I bought drugs that were inserted into its stomach but they did not yield any positive results. Not until I took it to a friend’s farm for bull mounting at Shs20,000 did it conceive,” Mr Byansi says.

He adds that government should establish why their animals cannot be fertilised under artificial insemination.
He adds that under OPW, government should distribute bulls to farmers for fertilisation than artificial insemination, which has proved ineffective.

However, Dr Ronald Ntenywa, a veterinary doctor, said there are various factors hindering the cows from conceiving, notably poor feeding of the cows by their owners.

“These cows are different from the local breeds, which are common in our communities. Poor feeding, bad fertility timing to ascertain when the cow is on heat and the farmers’ reluctance or failure to communicate to the veterinary officers in time are some of the factors,” Dr Ntenywa says.

According to Dr Ntenywa, farmers face many challenges ranging from lack of training on how to handle the cows, especially their shelter and feeding.

The chairman of farmers in the sub-county, Mr Sam Bege, says in the last quarter, they received about 25 cows under OWC project but some of them died due to poor feeding and inadequate treatment.

Expert speaks out
“Some of the project beneficiaries lack financial support to treat the cows when they fall sick and to buy animal feeds such as maize brand. Others do not clean where these animals sleep,” he says.

The special presidential assistant on OWC and poverty alleviation, Ms Hellion Namutamba, while monitoring one of the presidential model farms in the sub-county, last Friday, said: “I am aware of some challenges that have been reported through the field officers and coordinators such as the irregular distribution of some items to the beneficiaries.”

“Leaders will be held responsible for failing to promote government projects intended to fight poverty and those with corrupt minds meant to divert the programme for selfish interests will be arrested,” she added.

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