{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T07:56:50Z","timestamp":1777103810343,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776729600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":20,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775001600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Reprod Domestic Animals"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock populations in Africa; however, its dairy productivity remains critically low. Artificial insemination (AI) is a key technology for genetic improvement, but its efficiency and constraints within the smallholder systems of specific regions like South Wollo are not well documented. This study employed a mixed\u2010methods approach to evaluate AI efficiency and reproductive outcomes, combining cross\u2010sectional surveys of 384 smallholder farms with a five\u2010year retrospective analysis (2019\u20132023) of AI and reproductive records from three districts: Legambo, Tenta, and Mekdela. The mean conception rate was 58.7%, with significant district\u2010level variation. Crossbred cattle performed better than local Zebu, showing earlier age at first calving (40.7 vs. 52.3\u2009months) and shorter calving intervals (13.8 vs. 16.5\u2009months). Reproductive performance was superior in highland agro\u2010ecology compared to midland areas, evidenced by higher conception rates (52.4% vs. 42.9%) and shorter calving intervals, which were attributed to longer green feed availability. Logistic regression identified body condition score (OR\u2009=\u20092.34) as the strongest positive predictor of conception, while concurrent disease (OR\u2009=\u20090.31) and poor semen storage (OR\u2009=\u20090.38) were key negative predictors. The major constraints identified were technician skill gaps, geographical inaccessibility (&gt;\u200972% of farmers lived &gt;\u20095\u2009km from an AI centre), and poor farmer knowledge of oestrus detection. In conclusion, while crossbreeding through AI holds great promise, its success is fundamentally constrained by managerial and infrastructural limitations. Therefore, a holistic strategy that integrates improved nutrition, reliable AI service delivery, and comprehensive farmer training is imperative to unlock the full genetic potential and enhance dairy productivity in smallholder systems of Ethiopia.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/rda.70203","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T07:13:50Z","timestamp":1776755630000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Constraints on Artificial Insemination Efficiency and Dairy Cattle Productivity in Smallholder Systems in Selected Districts of South Wollo, Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"61","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8629-6716","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zemedkun","family":"Diffe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Sciences College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekdella Amba University  Tulu Awulia Amhara Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_8_2_1","first-page":"45","article-title":"Gender Dimensions in Artificial Insemination Service Delivery: Evidence From Smallholder Dairy Systems in Ethiopia","volume":"9","author":"Abebe A.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_8_3_1","article-title":"A Meta\u2010Analysis of Reproductive Performance Gaps Between Indigenous and Crossbred Cattle in Smallholder Systems of Ethiopia: Implications for Genetic Improvement Programs","volume":"55","author":"Assefa H.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_4_1","unstructured":"Central Statistical Agency(CSA).2022.\u201cAgricultural Sample Survey 2021\/22: Report on Livestock and Livestock Characteristics (Volume II).\u201d"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_8_5_1","article-title":"Reproductive Performance Gaps in Smallholder Dairy Systems: Evidence From Longitudinal Data in Ethiopia","volume":"55","author":"Deribe B.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_8_6_1","first-page":"45","article-title":"Energy Deficiency as a Primary Constraint on Dairy Productivity: Endocrine Disruptions and Management Solutions in the Ethiopian Highlands","volume":"91","author":"Desta T. T.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Dairy Research"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_7_1","unstructured":"Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI).2023.\u201cNational Climate\u2010Smart Livestock Strategy (2023\u20132030).\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_8_1","unstructured":"Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).2021.\u201cMilk Production and Dairy Sector Development in Ethiopia.\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_9_1","first-page":"103","article-title":"Spatial Disparities in Agricultural Extension Efficacy: Assessing the Role of Local Infrastructure and Administrative Support in Technology Adoption","volume":"215","author":"Gebreyohannes G.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Agricultural Systems"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_8_10_1","article-title":"Impact of Heat Stress on Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle in Mid\u2010Altitude Areas of Ethiopia","volume":"56","author":"Getahun W.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_8_11_1","first-page":"45","article-title":"Artificial Insemination Adoption and Challenges in Ethiopian Dairy Farms: A Meta\u2010Analysis","volume":"12","author":"Kebede K.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Animal Science"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_12_1","article-title":"Technical Efficiency and Constraints of Artificial Insemination Services in Dairy Production: Evidence From Private and Public Systems in Ethiopia","volume":"10","author":"Lemma M.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_8_13_1","first-page":"1003","article-title":"Constraints and Opportunities in Ethiopian Livestock Production Systems","volume":"51","author":"Mekonnen H.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_14_1","unstructured":"Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).2023.\u201cAnnual agricultural sector performance report 2022\/23.\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_15_1","unstructured":"National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE).2023.\u201cAnnual economic report 2022\/23.\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_16_1","article-title":"Emerging Challenges to Artificial Insemination Services in Changing Climate: Evidence From South Wollo, Ethiopia","volume":"41","author":"Tesfaye D.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Climate Risk Management"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_8_17_1","first-page":"1782","article-title":"Genotype by Environment Interaction for Reproductive Traits in Indigenous and Crossbred Cattle Under Contrasting Agro\u2010Ecologies in Ethiopia","volume":"34","author":"Worku A.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Animal Biotechnology"}],"container-title":["Reproduction in Domestic Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/rda.70203","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/rda.70203","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/rda.70203","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T07:23:47Z","timestamp":1777101827000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/rda.70203"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/rda.70203"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/rda.70203","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0936-6768","1439-0531"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0936-6768","type":"print"},{"value":"1439-0531","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-09-09","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-03-13","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-04-21","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70203"}}