DOI: 10.11648/j.innov.20260702.12 ISSN: 2994-7138

Review on Milk Production Performance of Dairy Cattle in Ethiopia

Ediris Meko
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This review paper is aims to overview the Milk Production Performance of Dairy Cattle in Ethiopia to recommend strategic intervention for improving milk production performance that match the population growth and strengthen the contribution of the dairy industry in Ethiopia's national economy. Dairy production systems were categorized into 2 main systems: rural or traditional dairy production system which includes (pastoralists, agro- pastoralists, and mixed crop–livestock producers) and urban and peri-urban dairy systems. In Ethiopia, dairy production is based on subsistence smallholder farmers and most of the production comes from local dairy cattle, which results in low production and productivity and does not meet with the growing demand for milk. To commensurate milk production with the demand local dairy cow breeds are being improved through crossbreeding with exotic breeds. Crossbred dairy cows have more milk production performances than local breeds due to heterosis effect. Indigenous breed cows which produces low milk yield, contributes the main milk production that account for ninety seven percent of the total milk production of Ethiopia. The average lactation length for local breeds is six months, while the average lactation length of exotic breeds is 305 days and results in higher milk yields under intensive management. However, milk production performance of the cows is being affected by poor quality and unaffordable feed resources, animal diseases like mastitis and climatic stresses.

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