FRESH SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF LIMOUSIN AND SIMMENTAL BULLS AT THE ARTIFISIAL INSEMINATION CENTER, LEMBANG. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of fresh semen in Limousin and Simmental bulls at the artificial insemination center in Lembang. Results of this study showed that ejaculation frequency of Simmental bull was significantly higher than that of Limousin with the average of 5.37 and 4.60, respectively. Variables of volume, pH and motility were not significantly different between both bulls with volume ranging of 7.17 – 7.20 ml, pH ranging of 6.65 – 6.66 and motility ranging of 58.08 – 59.29%, respectively. The fresh semen colour of Limousin and Simmental bulls were indicated by dominant color of milk white color. Semen consistency of fresh semen from both bulls was moderate. The ejaculation frequency and pH variables indicated the correlation of -0.32 in Limousine bulls, meaning that the higher the ejaculation frequency, the lower the pH  (acid), but the ejaculation frequency and motility of semen had the correlation of 0,34, indicating the more the semen ejaculation frequency, the higher the motility of spermatozoa. The motility of semen had the negative correlation with pH (-0.49). The higher the pH (base), the motility of spermatozoa tended to decline. Simmental bull showed also that semen ejaculation frequency with volume had correlation of -0.40, indicating that the higher the semen ejaculation frequency yakni, the lower the semen volume. Semen ejaculation frequency had correlation of 0.5 with mortality, indicating that the higher the semen ejaculation frequency, the higher the motility of spermatozoa.Keywords: Semen, ejaculation, volume, color, consistency, pH, motility

This research was aimed to compare the small and big truncation point proportions intended to evaluate gain values of genetic improvement for Indonesian Local cow breed groups selected for Agrotechnopark (integrated bio-cycle farming system) intensification. Animal live weights were collected from 674 Indonesian grade breed cows kept by local household farmers in North Sulawesi province. Data of cows were corrected by adjusting to six years old ages. All cows were divided into three breed groups with different genetic compositions of Bali breed cow generation (BG) of 207 cows, Ongole grade cow generation (OG) of 189 cows, and Local grade cow generation (LG) of 178 cows. The genetic improvements of BG, OG and LG were analyzed involving selection intensity (i), accuracy of selection (r), and standard deviation (SD) of breed group traits under selection. Results of this study showed that the critical components was genetic development of local grade breeds by choosing small proportion of 10% truncation point for Agrotechnopark intensification of selected elite cows groups among BG, OG and LG populations with the positive live weight gains of 58.6 kg, 23.15 kg, and 28.62 kg per generation, respectively compared with larger percentages of 20% and 30% proportions of truncation points.

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF LIMOUSIN AND SIMMENTAL BULL BREEDSAT THE LEMBANG ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION CENTER. In order to provide the prominent bulls, the management process of animal selection was required for animal replacement stock. Animal selection was including the inspection of animal physical and sexual behavior.  Based on this criterion, study was conducted to observe the sexual behavior of Limousin and Simmental breed bulls at the artificial insemination center in Lembang, Bandung.  The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristic of sexual behavior of the Limousin and Simmental breed bulls.  The amount of 80 bulls consisted of 40 Limousin and 40 Simmental bulls at the age of 6 to 9 years old were used in this study.  Data collections were conducted by focal animal sampling.  Sexual behavior was observed during ten days at the time from 07.00 to 11.00 West Indonesian Time.  Data collection were started at the period of bull was introduced into teaser.Based on t-test on sexual behavior of Limousin and Simmental bulls, the results showed that (1) The time need for courtship with teaser of Limousin bull was significantly shorter (P<0,01) compared with Simmental bull; (2) Time period use for the first time to start flehmen of Limousin bull was shorter significantly (P<0,01) compared with Simmental bull; (3) Flehmen frequency of Limousin and Simmental was non significantly.Based on the observation of sexual behavior, the Limousin bull need time of the 2,22 seconds to start courthip with teaser, while Simmental bull need time of 2,77 seconds to start courtship with teaser.  The Limousin bull need time of 222 seconds to start flehmen, while Simmental bull need time of 239 seconds to start flehmen. The time periods used for the first time to mount teaser by Limousin bull were 214,87 seconds, while those by Simmental bull were 302,02 seconds. The flehmen frequency of Limousin dan Simmental bulls was similar of only one time during sexual behavior.Key Words :Limousin, Simmental, Sexual behavior, Lembang Artificial Insemination Center

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL BEEF COWS IN BOLAANG DISTRICT OF BOLAANG MONGONDOW REGENCY. This study aims to determine the reproductive performance of local beef cattle in Bolaang District, BolaangMongondow Regency. This study used local beef cattle owned by breeders who were taken as samples in several villages in Bolaang District, Bolaang Mongondow Regency. This study used a survey method to obtain primary and secondary data collection. Data analysis regarding the studied variables used descriptive analysis referring to the measurement of each variable. The results showed that service per conception was 1.38, conception rate was 70%, pregnancy period was 276.47 days, animal age of first calving was 32.022 months, and calving interval was 375.26 days. Based on these results of study, it can be concluded that the reproductive performance of local beef cattle in Bolaang district, Bolaang Mongondow regency was categorized into normal reproductive performance of local beef cattle. Key word: Reproduction, Local beef cow, Bolaang district,

THE STUDY OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION APPLICATION ON GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF LIVE WEIGHT IN ONGOLE GRADE CATTLE AT NORTH SULAWESI PROVINCE. This research was conducted to evaluate the effective application of artificial insemination compared with natural breeding on genetic improvement by grading up system involving semen sourced from Ongole bull for the Indonesian-grade cattle at rural areas in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Data on animal live weight were collected from all cows (n= 404) kept by the traditional household farmers. Data of the cows were corrected by adjusting for the six years old of age. Breeding of beef genetic ancestors used the natural breeding (NB) and the artificial insemination (AI), divided into three cow groups with the first group of NB-mating without grading up (G0 cows), the second group of AI-mating with grading up using semen of Ongole bull for the first generation (G1 cows), and the third group of AI-mating with grading up using semen of Ongole bull for the second generation (G2 cows). The genetic improvements from breeding program of each G0, G1 and G2 were analyzed involving the selection intensity (i), the accuracy of selection (r), the genetic standard deviation of the trait under selection (SDg), and the generation interval (L) expressed in years. Results of this study showed that the critical components was the genetic development of local beef cattle by grading up using semen of the selected elite Ongole bull mated by AI method producing G2 in North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. This method increased genetically four hundred percents of live weight per year under 48% to 10% proportions of elite cows at the truncation points from the animal population compared with those of the natural mating of G0 in increasing genetic development for animal genetically live weight per year.Key Words: artificial insemination, genetic development, Indonesian local-grade cattle, Ongole breed bull