Dairy Production System, Constraints and Opportunities in Ethiopia

Milkessa Gelana

doi:10.7176/jbah/11-10-03

Abstract

The literature review was conducted with the aim of compiling dairy cattle production system, main constraints and opportunities in Ethiopia. Based on their locations, there are three milk production systems; namely rural, peri-urban and urban milk production systems. Ethiopia has potential for dairy cattle production. Though Ethiopia has large dairy cattle population and favorable climatic conditions, self-sufficiency in milk production is low. The main constraints that affect milk production capacity of dairy cattle in Ethiopia includes feed shortage in terms of quality and quantity, land shortage for farming of improved forage, insufficient veterinary services, diseases, absence of improved breed, poor artificial insemination service, poor management of animals and lack of market-oriented production. So that, it is very important to introduce improved forage, increase AI utilization efficiency, and improve management practices and veterinary services. The finding of different authors conducted in different parts of the country indicated that the existence of large population of milk cows and diverse dairy animal’s genetic resources, fast growing population, change in living standard and income growth of people, rabid urbanization, growing demand and indigenous knowledge in the preservation of milk and milk products, availability of trained manpower, existence of research institutions and technologies, existence of service providers such as veterinary health and artificial insemination centers, development of infrastructural sector like road access, water supply, communication activities were the key opportunities to dairy production. Generally, even though dairy sector constrained by many factors there are still ample opportunities for dairying. Therefore; coordinated activities must be done by respective bodies to minimize the identified constraints which hamper dairy development. Keywords: Constraints, Dairy cattle, Ethiopia, Production system. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-10-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Highlights

Agriculture is the most employment industry in the world it employed 42% of the worlds’ population and more than 50% of developing countries population (Beyene et al, 2015)
The others major livestock production constraints were ranked by Mersha et al (2019) as animal health and veterinary service related problem (81.04%), absence of improved breeds (52.54%), awareness or knowledge gab among the farmers (49.78%), drinking water shortage and impurity (42.74%) and market problem (41.45%)
The study conducted by Galmessa et al (2013) showed feed shortage, livestock disease and market are the common problems in dairy production in the study area. 77.1%, 75.4% and 96.655% of the respondent ranked feed shortage; livestock disease and market are the top ranked three constraints respectively (Beyene et al, 2015)

Summary

BACKGROUND

Agriculture is the most employment industry in the world it employed 42% of the worlds’ population and more than 50% of developing countries population (Beyene et al, 2015). Most of the dairy cattle producers depend on hybrid cows and they practiced supplementary concentrate feeding (Gebresellasie, 2019) It possesses animal types ranging from 50% crosses to high grade Friesian in small to large sized farms, and contributed only 2% of the total milk production of in Ethiopia. This sector owns most of the country‘s improved dairy stock (Gobena, 2016). As indicated by Gebresellasie (2019) high feed cost, land shortage and space limitation, feed quality, availability and cost problems as well as inadequate extension and veterinary services were the major dairy production system constraints in the Urban and Peri-Urban areas of central Highlands of Ethiopia. According to study conducted by Mersha et al (2019) the major livestock production constraints described by respondents was animal feed and grazing land shortage ranked first (82.15%)

Breed related constraints and reproductive wastage

Poor access to inputs and services

DISCUSSION

Findings

CONCLUSION

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