How much do you know about Dairy Cattle Production in Ethiopia?

Introduction to Dairy Cattle Production and its Role in the Global and Ethiopian Economy

• Dairy cattle production is the act of raising cattle for milk production, with cows being the primary source of milk.
• Milk is a valuable commodity, with world milk production estimated at 748.7 million tons in 2011, and cow’s milk accounting for 620.7 million tons.
• In 2010, the value of milk represented 8.9% of the value of all agricultural products globally.
• Africa's cow milk production in 2004 was only one-fifth of the world average yield, with Sudan, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Algeria being the top five milk-producing countries.
• Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock inventories in Africa, with 83% of milk coming from cattle, and the sector contributing 63% to the gross value of ruminant livestock production.
• Ethiopia produces approximately 3.2 billion liters of milk from 10 million milking cows, with households consuming 85%, 8% processed into products with longer shelf-life, and 7% sold.
• Milk production is labor-intensive and provides employment opportunities, making it a crucial cash crop for smallholders.
• The dairy industry has four unique features: milk is bulky and highly perishable, strict quality regulations are required, small-scale producers dominate the industry, and milk processing is more important than in other agricultural sectors.
• The history of dairy development in Ethiopia can be divided into three phases: the Imperial Regime (1950-74), the Socialist Regime (1974-91), and the Liberalization Phase (1991-present).
• During the Imperial Regime, the modern dairy industry began to develop, with the government introducing high-yielding dairy cattle and establishing milk processing and marketing facilities.
• During the Socialist Regime, the government shifted its attention to rural producers and established the Dairy Development Enterprise to operate nationalized state farms, establish a milk collection network, and provide advisory and technical services to farmers.
• During the Liberalization Phase, the government focused on privatization, liberalization, and deregulation, and the dairy industry became more market-oriented, with the private sector playing a more prominent role.