Effect of Body Condition Score on the Success of Artificial Insemination in Sumba Ongole Cattle under Smallholder Farms

Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle are a local breed found exclusively on Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Artificial insemination (AI) failure in SO cattle is often not caused by the technology itself, but by one frequently overlooked factor: Body condition score (BCS). This research aimed to determine the effect of BCS on the success rate of AI in SO cattle at smallholder farms in East Sumba Regency. The study employed a randomized block design with three BCS category groups: low (≤2.50), moderate (2.75-3.00), and high (≥3.25), with each group containing 30 experimental units. The results showed that BCS had a significant effect (p<0.05) on AI success. The BCS group of 2.75–3.00 demonstrated the best AI success rate, with values for Non-Return Rate-1 (NRR-1): 63.33%, NRR-2: 50.00%, Conception Rate (CR): 50.00%, and Services per Conception (S/C): 1.27. This was followed by the BCS ≥3.25 group with NRR-1 (46.67%), NRR-2 (33.33%), CR (33.33%), and S/C (1.40). The BCS ≤2.50 group showed the lowest AI success, with NRR-1 (23.33%), NRR-2 (16.67%), CR (13.33%), and S/C (2.33). BCS significantly affected the success of AI in SO cattle, with the ideal range of 2.75–3.00 serving as a practical benchmark for AI implementation. These findings provide practical implications for livestock extension officers and farmers, emphasizing that proper BCS monitoring and good feed management should be implemented in AI programs to improve the reproductive efficiency of SO cattle.