Effect of farmer characteristics on reproductive performance of pigs under natural mating and artificial insemination systems in Manggarai Regency, Indonesia

This study examines the effect of farmer characteristics on reproductive performance of pigs under natural mating (NM) and artificial insemination (AI) systems in Manggarai Regency, Indonesia. Reproductive performance was evaluated using service per conception (S/C), conception rate (CR), and non-return rate (NRR) as key indicators of  fertility outcomes. A total of 100 pig farmers who had implemented both mating systems were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews and field observations from November 2025 to January 2026. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the effect of farmer characteristics, while independent sample t-tests were used to compare reproductive performance between NM and AI system. The results showed that AI achieved significantly better reproductive performance than NM, as indicated by lower S/C (1.35 vs 1.68), higher CR (92% vs 82.67%), and higher NRR (90% vs 84.6%) (p < 0.05). Farmer characteristics, including farming experience, knowledge, attitudes, and skills, significantly influenced reproductive performance in both systems. In the AI system, psychological factors such as motivation and perception also had a significant effect. These findings indicate that AI is more effective in improving reproductive performance; however, its success is strongly dependent on farmer capacity. Therefore, strengthening farmer knowledge, technical skills, and motivation through continuous training and extension services is essential to optimize reproductive outcomes.