Azage Tegegne
Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Project, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ethiopia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Adv Dairy Res
Ethiopia has 54 million cattle and ranks fifth in the world. About 12 million cows annually produce 4.2 billion liters of milk, with 75% used for household consumption. About 99% are indigenous breeds kept by smallholder farmers and produce about 1.5 liters/head/ day. In urban and peri-urban areas, Zebu x Holstein-Friesian crossbreds are used for market-oriented dairy production. Most are kept by smallholders who own 3 to 5 cows and the major feeds are grass hay, crop residues and concentrate feeds (wheat bran, maize and oil seed cakes). Milking is by hand and cows produce 5 to 10 liters per day. These producers often supply to processing plants who often test for acidity and adulteration. At farm level, milk quality is affected by poor hygiene in milking and milk handling, poor quality and cleanliness of milking and milk handling utensils. Contamination also occurs at collection centers. Our studies at farm and collection centers indicated higher proportion of adulteration and high levels of bacterial count. Aflatoxin levels in feeds and milk are high, with the highest concentration in oil cakes. Milk quality and safety pause serious threats to smallholders participating in milk marketing. Awareness creation and capacity building are required to ensure production of good quality milk and protection of consumers. Absence of a national coordinating body to develop, promote and regulate the dairy industry is a major gap to ensure smallholder participation in diary production and to enhance the contribution of the sector to the national economy.
Email: a.tegegne@cgiar.org
