Livestock production systems spotlight

ETHIOPIA
Cattle sectors

Financial support provided by the United States

Agency for International Development (USAID)
 Livestock production systems spotlight
Cattle sectors in Ethiopia
1. Introduction
Policies and investments in the livestock sector are effective when they take into account the multiple
dimensions of livestock farming. These dimensions include monetary and non-monetary benefits for
producers and other actors along the value chain, such as income, food, draft power and insurance. They
also include public health and environmental dimensions, such as the availability of protein for good
nutrition and health, the use of dung for fertilizing soil, or the negative impacts of zoonotic diseases on
public health and the consequences of overgrazing for the environment.
A multi-stakeholder multi-disciplinary approach is a precondition for designing and formulating effective
livestock policies and investments, which consider and manage the trade-offs inherent in the multiple
dimensions of the sector. When stakeholders, looking at the livestock sector from different perspectives,
share a common understanding of the livestock production systems – agreeing on common descriptions
of the production systems and sub-systems – they can arrive at constructive conclusions about the pros
and cons of alternative policy actions and investments.
This brief presents a snapshot of the cattle dairy and beef production systems in Ethiopia as agreed by
key national stakeholders concerned with or affected by the livestock sector, and notably the Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries; the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources; the Ministry of Environment,
Forest, and Climate Change; the Ministry of Health; and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Ethiopian
Wildlife Conservation Authority). It is the first time these stakeholders have ever embarked on a multi-
disciplinary process to jointly define livestock production systems, particularly cattle dairy and beef
systems. This process involved a three-step approach:

• Based on their knowledge and expertise, the stakeholders agreed on a narrative description of the
cattle dairy and beef production systems.
• They have validated and improved cattle distribution maps of the FAO Gridded Livestock of the
World (GLW) and identified, for each administrative unit, the relative proportions of the different
production systems (for instance, 63 percent of milking cows are found in the mixed crop-livestock
and 36 percent in the pastoral/agro-pastoral system. The peri-urban/urban and commercial dairy
systems together have only 1 percent of the dairy cattle population (FAO and NZAGRC, 2017)).
• Stakeholders have assembled datasets, policy documents, and published and unpublished literature
on cattle dairy and beef production systems and generated statistics on the different production
systems. Geographic variables have allowed “adding-up” information from different sources.
This approach, while not perfect, has three strengths:
• It is stakeholder driven, as stakeholders’ ex-ante define the different livestock production systems.
• It allows “adding-up” scattered information by using geographical locations as the common
denominator.
• Its outputs can be visualized through combining maps and bar charts.

2. Why cattle dairy and beef production systems?

As part of the implementation of Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050 1 , the ministers responsible for
livestock, health, agriculture, and the environment have engaged stakeholders to assess the current and
long-term impact of livestock production systems on the economy and people’s livelihoods, on public
health and on the environment. To start with, they have agreed to focus on two livestock sectors. Cattle
dairy and beef were selected because of their relevance for the national economy and peoples’ livelihoods,

1
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/ASL2050.html
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their being priority commodities in the current policy framework, and their anticipated growth in the
coming decades. 2

Map 1. Cattle production systems in Ethiopia by zone (Source: GLW and Expert Consultation)

3. Dairy cattle production in Ethiopia: a snapshot

Cattle production is one of the main agricultural industries in Ethiopia. Livestock production as a whole
contributes about 45 percent to agricultural GDP (Behnke and Metaferia, 2011) – cattle being the most
important generator. Currently, the country produces over 3.8 billion litres of milk (FAO and NZAGRC,
2017) and ~1 million tonnes of beef (Shapiro et al., 2015) per year valued at USD 2.5 billion and USD
5.1 billion, respectively. Per capita consumption is approximately 19 kg of milk and 7 kg of beef per year
(Dessie and Mirkena, 2011). The sector is highly heterogeneous comprising of the traditional
pastoral/agro-pastoral and mixed crop–livestock production systems and the market-oriented intensive
specialized producers. There are around 13 million cattle keeping households 3 . Stakeholders have
identified four major dairy production systems in Ethiopia, including the commercial, the urban/peri-
urban, the mixed crop-livestock, and the pastoral/agro-pastoral systems.

3.1. Commercial dairy

The specialized commercial dairy systems involving higher levels of investment are concentrated in the
central highland plateau. In terms of scale of operation, the farms are classified as large-, small- or
medium-scale. Being licensed farms with operational business plans, they are market oriented specifically
targeting consumers in urban areas. Producers tend to have a good understanding of dairy management.

2
FAO (2017a).
3
RuLIS dataset (FAO), Agricultural Sample Survey 2014 (Central Statistical Agency, Ethiopia)

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The commercial dairy system is labour and input intensive relative to other systems. The animals do not
provide draft power but their manure is used as fertilizer.

• Number of farms: the exact number of commercial dairy farms is not known but they represent
a small fraction of total dairy farmers
• Geographic location: mainly in the central highlands near major cities and towns.
• Average herd size: >100 milking cows for large-scale; 30–100 for medium-scale; and <30 for
small-scale farms 4.
• Typical breeds: purebred exotic, high-grade or crossbred dairy animals.
• Feed type: hay, concentrated dairy mix, industrial by-products, mainly purchased, though some
farms cultivate own pasture.
• Animal health: vaccination/deworming is practised. Common health problems include
mastitis, infertility, and bTB.
• Water sources: taps or boreholes.
• Housing: standard housing or simple shelter may be provided.
• Milk yield: 15–20 litres per day per cow 5.
• Marketing: milk and milk products are usually sold at kiosks or supermarkets. A small
proportion are used for home consumption.
Driven by the unprecedented increase in demand for milk and other dairy products, commercial dairy is
a growing sub-system in Ethiopia. However, it is constrained by shortage of inputs particularly feed,
genotypes, and veterinary services. Most commercial farmers are obliged to process the milk they produce
into various dairy products but not all have the financial and infrastructural capabilities to meet such
obligations.

3.2. Urban/peri-urban dairy

The urban/peri-urban production system is an expanding production system, largely found in the
highlands and is concentrated in the Addis Ababa milk shed area as well as around the regional capital
cities where an adequate market for fresh milk is readily available. There are about 5 200 dairy farms in
Addis Ababa alone with an average herd size of 12 (Bogale et al., 2000; 2014). It is practiced by many
landless urban and sub-urban poor households. However, some businessmen and retired civil servants
also keep some dairy animals depending, wholly or partly, on hired labour. Producers are market oriented
and respond to improved technical, input supply and marketing services.

• Number of farms: the number of urban and peri-urban dairy keepers is not accurately known;
along with commercial producers they may account for a mere 1 percent of dairy cattle
population (cf. mixed crop-livestock and pastoral/agro-pastoral systems).
• Geographic location: concentrated in the Addis Ababa milk shed area and around regional
capital cities.
• Average herd size: 5–10.
• Typical breeds: high-grade or crossbred animals.
• Feed type: crop residues, hay, concentrated dairy mix, industrial by-products, mainly
purchased.
• Animal health: vaccination/deworming is practised. Common health problems include
mastitis, infertility, and bTB.
• Water sources: tap, river, borehole, and rain water.
• Housing: standard housing or simple shelter may be used.
• Milk yield: 10–15 litres per day per cow with a lactation period of ~200 days.

Based on consensus at ASL2050 stakeholder technical meeting (FAO, 2017b).

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At the stakeholder technical meeting, large-scale commercial dairy farmers said the daily milk yield per cow is
5

more than 20 liters.

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 • Marketing: The bulk of produced milk is sold to neighbours through informal channels or to
cafes and restaurants; a small amount is used for home consumption.
This is also a growing dairy production system in Ethiopia. However, it is constrained by shortage of
inputs particularly feed, genotypes, and veterinary services. Milk handling is very poor as re-used plastic
bottles and jerry cans that are difficult to clean are used for transport, and milk delivered through this
system is mainly fed to infants and children. Nowadays, urban smallholders are facing pressure from
municipalities to shut down their farms because of health and environmental issues.

3.3. Mixed crop–livestock

Mixed crop–livestock dairy production is a subsistence oriented farming system concentrated in the mid-
and high-altitude agro-ecological zones where cereals and cash crops are dominant farm activities. Cattle
are primarily kept to supply draft power needed for crop production. However, milk production is an
integral part of the production system. The bulk of the total milk produced nationally and about three
quarters of the liquid milk processed commercially is generated here.

• Number of farms: approximately 9.6 million 6

• Geographic location: mid- and high- altitude areas of Ethiopia.
• Average herd size: 4.
• Typical breeds: indigenous.
• Feed type: natural pasture, crop residues, and weeds and crop thinning.
• Management is mostly low-input, low-output traditional extensive system.
• About 65 percent of the total milking cows are found in this system and produce about 72
percent of the national annual milk output (FAO and NZAGRC, 2017).
• Animal health: vaccination against major diseases (anthrax, lumpy skin disease, contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia, pasteurellosis, and blackleg) are provided by the public sector;
individual households may use drugs sourced through both formal and informal outlets.
• Water sources: rivers, and rain water.
• Housing: open kraal, partition within family house or share the same room with humans.
• Milk yield per cow is 1.9 litres per day, on average (Felleke et al., 2010).
• Marketing: smallholder farmers either sell excess milk informally to individual consumers and
milk collectors or process it into butter and cottage cheese for sale.
Dairy production in the mixed crop-livestock system is pivotal to supplying the bulk of milk and milk
products to the Ethiopian population. However, it is not market oriented and productivity per unit of
land and per head of animal is extremely low. At the same time, poor service delivery systems,
particularly veterinary services, makes it prone to disease outbreaks and losses due to mortality and
morbidity.

3.4. Pastoral/agro-pastoral
Pastoral/agro-pastoral production is the major system of milk production practiced in the lowland
regions of Ethiopia where livelihoods are heavily dependent on livestock. Cattle dominate the livestock
population followed by camel, goats, and sheep. Cows constitute about 40 percent of the herd. Major
pastoral areas extend from the north-eastern and eastern lowlands (Afar and Somali) to the southern and
south-western lowlands (Borana and South Omo).

• Number of farms: cattle keeping pastoral/agro-pastoral households is approximated to be 3.1

million 7.

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Approximated from the total number of livestock keeping rural households and the proportion of rural
population residing in the highland areas (~13 million and 0.74, respectively)
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Approximated from the total number of livestock keeping rural households and the proportion of rural
population residing in lowland areas (~13 million and 0.24, respectively)
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 • Geographical location: lowland arid/semiarid areas.
• Average herd size per household: usually in the range of 10–20 heads of cattle but large herds
of >200 heads are common too particularly among the Borana (MoARD, 2007).
• Typical breeds: entirely indigenous breeds are kept.
• Population of milking cows in this system accounts for ~34 percent of the national milking cow
population (FAO and NZAGRC, 2017)
• Feed type: predominantly communal rangeland pastures; crop residues are used to a limited
extent in agro-pastoral areas.
• Animal health: vaccinations against major diseases (anthrax, lumpy skin disease, contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia, pasteurellosis, and blackleg) are provided by the public sector;
individual households may use drugs sourced through both formal and informal outlets.
• Water sources: boreholes, deep wells, dams, rain water, and rivers.
• Housing: night enclosures (kraals).
• Milk yield: ~1.5 litres per cow per day.
• Marketing: milk is produced for home consumption but excess milk or milk products are sold to
nearby towns or highlanders.
Due to an erratic rainfall pattern – an important factor that determines availability of feed and water –
milk production per unit area is low and highly seasonal. However, milk is usually produced in excess
during the wet season and is either sold fresh to nearby urban centres or processed into butter to be traded
with the highlanders in the peripheral markets for grains. The reliance of the agro-pastoral and pastoral
systems on the overgrazed natural resource base makes them most vulnerable to climate change.

4. Beef cattle production in Ethiopia: a snapshot

There is no specialized beef production system in Ethiopia; however, fattening of cattle and small
ruminants is an important and lucrative activity 8. Fattening or conditioning of animals for slaughter
usually takes place at well-organized commercial feedlots or simply in the backyard of smallholder
farmers. Farmers often see this as a profitable means of investing surplus cash for short term gain. Young
or old oxen are fattened depending on the supply source. Farmers close to pastoral areas tend to purchase
younger stock for feeding but in the heartland of the highlands older oxen are fattened at the end of their
productive life. Feedlot operators, on the other hand, generally fatten young and intact males. There are
four types of beef production system in Ethiopia: the commercial feedlot system, peri-urban small-scale
fattening, backyard fattening in the mixed crop-livestock system, and the pastoral/agro-pastoral livestock
production system.

4.1. Commercial feedlot

Many feedlot operations are concentrated in the central Rift Valley particularly in East Shoa zone.
Animals are entirely confined in a yard fitted with watering and feeding facilities for a finishing duration
of 3–6 months. Feedlot operators prefer the Borana cattle breed due to its high market demand; highland
Zebu originating from Arsi, Bale and Hararghe highlands are also used to a limited extent. Commonly,
intact young males are fattened based on the demand in the live animal export market. Crop residues
such as teff and barley straw form the bulk of basal diets while industrial by-products such as wheat bran,
oilseed cakes and molasses are used as supplementary feeds.

• Number of operating feedlots: ~300.

• Geographic location: predominantly East Shoa, Oromia Region.

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The feedlot system in Ethiopia involves only the fattening or finishing of adult animals for a period of 3-6 months.
Complete cycles of beef production such as the cow-calf, grower, and finisher stages are not practised. Animals that
end up in the feedlot are not necessarily raised for beef; they predominantly come from the pastoral/agro-pastoral
system (from mixed crop-livestock to some extent) as extra animals to be disposed.
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 • Minimum and maximum number of animals kept on feedlot per batch: 100 and 1500.
• Typical breed: Borana.
• Feed type: agro-industrial by-products (oilseed cakes, milling by-products, and crop residues).
• Animal health: vaccination/deworming.
• Water source: borehole or tap.
• Housing: open shelter fitted with watering and feeding troughs.
• Productivity: carcass yield per animal is 110 kg on average with a dressing percent of 45–48
(MoARD, 2007). However, higher dressing percentage (e.g. 54 – 57) and hence higher carcass
yield were reported for breeds such as Borana and Begait (MoARD, 2007).
• Annual value of production: ~ USD 211 million export revenue (ATA, 2016).
• Marketing: Targets both domestic and export markets.
The sector is currently attracting some foreign investors. For instance, Verde Beef Processing Plc. and
Allana Group, both located at Adami Tullu near Zeway, are two world-class beef operators owning fully
integrated facilities with irrigated feed production capacity and a state of the art abattoir production
facility. They are the largest cattle feedlot operators in the region with a capacity to feed, process and sell
(including export) more than 130 000 and 73 000 carcasses per year, respectively.

4.2. Small-scale cattle fattening in peri-urban areas

Smallholder farmers and landless households around urban areas fatten a few animals at a time. The
animals are often tethered and stall-fed. The fattening exercise is mostly done after the oxen have retired
from farm work/ploughing in order to replace them with younger animals. Crop residues (teff, wheat,
and barley straws) are used as basal feed whereas milling and oil industry by-products and atela (a residue
from traditional distilling and brewing) are heavily used in fattening diets.

• Geographic location: urban/peri-urban centres in the mid-altitude areas.

• Average number of animals fattened at a time: 5 (range 1–8).
• Typical breed: indigenous Zebu.
• Feed type: mainly crop residues supplemented with traditional brewery by-products (atela) and
household leftovers.
• Housing: simple shelter or tethered in open area.
• Animal health: vaccination/deworming.
• Water source: tap or borehole.
• Yield and productivity: carcass yield per animal is 110 kg on average.
• Marketing: domestic consumers particularly during Ethiopian holidays.
It is an emerging system mostly practiced by landless households or unemployed youth or women’s
groups. The most critical challenges include shortage of land and feed, and lack of rewarding market
outlets.

4.3. Cattle fattening in mixed crop–livestock production system

Traditional backyard cattle fattening is a deep-rooted and widely practiced cattle enterprise in highland
areas although it is largely a seasonal undertaking. Old oxen that retire from ploughing are commonly
conditioned and finished. Usually, marketing of fattened animals is synchronized with Ethiopian
holidays. Cattle fattening in this system almost entirely relies on locally available resources to minimize
finishing costs (Taye and Lemma, 2009). In areas like Hararghe, farmers buy young oxen from the
adjacent lowland pastoralists and use them for ploughing for few years after which they fatten and sell
them before they become old and emaciated (Bezahegn, 2014).

• Number of farms: 9.6 million (see above) practising mixed crop-livestock production.
• Geographic location: mid- and high-altitude areas of the country.

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 • Average herd size: small number of animals (1 to 4) are stall-fed per cycle. Duration of fattening
period and cycles/year range from 2–12 months and 1–3 times, respectively (Taye and Lemma,
2009; Bezahegn, 2014).
• Typical breed: indigenous Zebu.
• Share of cattle population in the mixed crop-livestock system is ~74 percent of the national total
(Felleke et al., 2010).
• Feed type: crop residues, green grass, agro-industrial by-products (a very recent practice), and
household leftovers.
• Animal health: vaccinations against major diseases (anthrax, lumpy skin disease, contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia, pasteurellosis, and blackleg) are provided by the public sector;
individual households may use drugs sourced through both formal and informal outlets.
• Water source: mainly river and rain water.
• Housing: usually kept in a compartment that is part of the family’s residence to protect from
theft, adverse weather and predators.
• Yield and productivity: 110 kg carcass per slaughtered animal on average.
• Marketing: domestic consumers particularly during Ethiopian holidays.
Crop cultivation and livestock production are strongly integrated in the mixed crop-livestock system, the
two sectors complement each other well – livestock provides power, natural fertilizer (manure) and
capital for crop production while the crop cultivation provides feed. Cattle are primarily kept to supply
draft power needed for crop production. Despite the contribution of livestock to the economy and to
smallholders’ livelihoods, the production system is not adequately market-oriented. The typical Hararghe
system is largely based on cut-and-carry feeding of individually tethered animals and hence it requires a
significant amount of labour.

4.4. Pastoral/agro-pastoral
The pastoral/agro-pastoral cattle production system is a rangeland based livestock production system
aimed at exploitation of the natural or semi-natural vegetation via domestic animals, in particular
ruminants. The main product is milk and the main function of livestock is subsistence, although social
and cultural functions are also important. Excess young males are sold off to highlanders, where they are
used as draught oxen, or to feedlot operators. Herd size is maximized (depending on labour for herding,
water drawing etc.) to ensure the highest chance of being left with a viable core herd after drought. Other
risk aversion strategies used include keeping a mix of different animal species and splitting herds into
different management units. Emphasis is put on a high proportion of females among all species to
maximize milk production and the reproductive potential of the herd to recover after a decline. Ninety-
five percent of the livestock exported from Ethiopia is supplied by the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of
Borana, Afar, and Somali. For instance, all 20 500 cattle kept on 180 feedlot centres in Oromia in 2007
were sourced from the southern (e.g. Borana) or south-eastern rangelands (Farmer, 2010).

• Geographical location: lowland arid/semiarid areas.

• Average herd size: 10–20; large herds of >200 heads are common too. Cattle population
accounts for ~25 percent of the national herd.
• Typical Breeds: indigenous breeds.
• Feed type: predominantly communal rangeland pastures; crop residues are used to a limited
extent in agro-pastoral areas.
• Animal health: vaccinations against major diseases (anthrax, lumpy skin disease, contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia, pasteurellosis, and blackleg) are provided by the public sector;
individual households may use drugs sourced through both formal and informal outlets.
• Water sources: boreholes, deep wells, dams, rain water, and rivers.
• Housing: night enclosures (kraals).
• Households do not usually slaughter for home consumption.

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 • Marketing: collectors for feedlot operators, exporters, highland farmers.
Livestock management is characterized by the adaptation of the feed requirements of the animals to the
environment through migration. Land tenure is communal. Major challenges include seasonality of
rainfall and the resulting unavailability of adequate feed and water, land degradation and deterioration
of the range ecosystem due to overgrazing and invasive plant species.

5. Conclusion
This brief presents a snapshot of dairy cattle and beef production systems in Ethiopia, as described and
characterized by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change; the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and other
stakeholders such as the International Livestock Research Institute.
This common understanding of livestock production systems will support multi-sectoral and multi-
disciplinary dialogue among stakeholders to appreciate the production, public health and environmental
dimensions of livestock and the formulation of coherent and effective policies and investments.

January 2018. The production of this document has been coordinated by Tadele Mirkena, Orsolya Mikecz and
Giuseppina Cinardi under the guidance of the Members of the ASL2050 Ethiopia Steering Committee and in
consultation with national livestock stakeholders.

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6. References
ATA. 2016. Promising investment opportunities in Ethiopian agribusiness. Agricultural
Transformation Agency. Available at:
https://www.growafrica.com/sites/default/files/Ethiopia%20Country%20Session.pdf.
Behnke, R. and Metaferia, F. 2011. The contribution of livestock to the Ethiopian economy– Part II.
IGAD Livestock Policy Initiative Working Paper No. 02 – 11.
Bezahegn, A. 2014. Small Scale Beef Cattle Fattening Practices, On-farm Performance Evaluation and
Opportunities for Market Orientation in Western Hararghe Zone, Chiro District. MSc. Thesis.
Haramaya University.
Bogale, A., Lübke-Becker, A., Lemma, E., Taddele, K. and S. Britton. 2000. Bovine tuberculosis: a
cross-sectional and epidemiological study in and around Addis Ababa. Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr.
48:71–80.
Bogale, A., Tameru, B. and Habtemariam, T. 2014. Status and control of bovine tuberculosis in
Ethiopia. Zoonotic Tuberculosis: Mycobacterium bovis and Other Pathogenic Mycobacteria: 3rd
Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. pp.109–132.
Dessie, T. and Mirkena, T. 2013. Ethiopian livestock: resource base, strategies for improvement and
use. In: Gebrekidan, B., Debela, S., Bekure, S., Bezuneh, T., Hailemariam, S., Zeleke, G. (eds.). The
state of agricultural science and technology in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Academy of Sciences. pp. 297-320.
FAO (Forthcoming). RuLIS. Rural Livelihoods Information System. FAO, Rome, Italy.
FAO and New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. 2017. Supporting low
emissions development in the Ethiopian dairy cattle sector – reducing enteric methane for food security
and livelihoods. Rome. 34 pp. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6821e.pdf.
FAO. 2017. Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM). Available at:
http://www.fao.org/gleam/en/.
FAO. 2017a. Country Brief Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7347e.pdf.
FAO. 2017b. Proceedings of the First ASL2050 Technical Stakeholder Consultation Meeting, July 20,
2017. Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Farmer, E. 2010. End market analysis of Ethiopian livestock and meat: A case study. Micro report #
164. ACDI/VOCA, AMAP, USAID.
Felleke, G., Woldearegay, M. and Haile, G. 2010. Inventory of Dairy Policy – Ethiopia, Target
Business Consultants Plc. Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
MoARD. 2007. Livestock Development Masterplan Study. Volume B: Meat Production. Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Ethiopia. 166 pp.
Shapiro, B.I., Gebru, G., Desta, S., Negassa, A., Nigussie, K., Aboset, G. and Mechal, H. 2015.
Ethiopia livestock master plan. ILRI Project Report. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Nairobi, Kenya.
Taye, T. and Lemma, H. 2009. Traditional Backyard Cattle Fattening in Wolayta: Systems of
Operation and the Routine Husbandry Practices. Eth. J. Anim. Prod. 9(1): 39-56.

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7. Appendix: Tables
Table A1: Cattle distribution by region and production system in Ethiopia

Proportion by production system (%)

Region Heads Mixed crop- Pastoral/agro-
Commercial Urban/peri-urban
livestock pastoral
Afar 1 580 313 0 100 0 0
Amhara 14 710 911 92 1 0 7
B. Gumuz 659 587 96 4 0 0
Dire Dawa 49 880 0 70 5 25
Gambella 278 584 15 85 0 0
Harari 62 401 60 10 10 20
Oromia 22 925 730 76 12 4 9
SNNPR 11 215 636 77 19 1 3
Somali 645 166 0 100 0 0
Tigray 4 578 181 71 9 10 10
Total 56 706 389 77 14 3 7

Table A2: Cattle distribution by zone and production system in Ethiopia

Mixed crop- Pastoral/agro Dairy Urban/peri-

Region Zone Feedlots
livestock -pastoral Commercial urban
Region 14 Addis Ababa NA 0 NA 0 NA

Afar Zone 1 0 997 288 0 0 0

Afar Zone 2 0 NA 0 0 0
Afar Zone 3 0 583 025 0 0 0
Afar Zone 4 0 NA 0 0 0
Afar Zone 5 0 NA 0 0 0

Amhara Argoba Sp. 18 729 2 081 0 0 0

Woreda
Amhara Waghimra 288 674 72 168 0 0 0
Amhara North Gondar 3 060 273 0 0 0 161 067
Amhara South Gondar 1 707 436 0 0 0 0
Amhara South Wolo 1 563 041 0 0 0 82 265
Amhara East Gojam 1 707 531 0 0 0 189 726
Amhara West Gojam 2 048 309 0 0 0 227 590
Amhara Awi 934 511 0 0 0 103 835
Amhara North Shoa 1 114 095 0 69 631 0 208 893
Amhara North Wolo 859 951 0 0 0 0
Amhara Oromia Zone 232 884 58 221 0 0 0

B. Gumuz Kemeshi 41 977 0 0 0 0

B. Gumuz Metekel 511 452 21 310 0 0 0
B. Gumuz Asosa 67 397 7 489 0 0 0
B. Gumuz Mao Komo 0 0 0 0 0

Dire Dawa Dire Dawa 0 34 916 2 494 0 12 470

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 Mixed crop- Pastoral/agro Dairy Urban/peri-
Region Zone Feedlots
livestock -pastoral Commercial urban
Gambella Mezhenger 16 784 4 196 0 0 0
Gambella Agnuwak 22 593 5 648 0 0 0
Gambella Nuer 0 214 153 0 0 0
Gambella Itang Special 0 0 0 0 0

Harari Harari 37 441 6 240 6 240 12 480

(Hundene zone)

Oromia Kelem Wellega 517 961 0 0 0 0

Oromia Guji 563 394 774 667 0 0 70 424
Oromia Illu Aba Bora 1 109 111 0 0 0 46 213
Oromia West Wellega 970 048 0 0 0 51 055
Oromia East Hararghe 849 810 159 339 0 0 53 113
Oromia East Shoa 803 021 57 359 86 038 28 679 172 076
Oromia Arsi 2 023 122 126 445 126 445 0 252 890
Oromia Bale 1 176 922 235 384 0 0 156 923
Oromia West Arsi 1 467 800 195 707 97 853 0 195 707
Oromia North Shoa 1 077 668 0 153 953 0 307 905
(Oromia)
Oromia East Wellega 884 869 0 0 0 46 572
Oromia Jimma 2 090 101 0 0 0 110 005
Oromia South West 828 615 0 110 482 0 165 723
Shoa
Oromia West Hararghe 847 604 99 718 0 0 49 859
Oromia West Shoa 1 554 960 0 207 328 0 310 992
Oromia Horo Guduru 626 143 0 0 0 32 955
Wellega
Oromia Borana 52 639 1 000 026 0 1 053 0

SNNP Alaba 158 527 0 0 0 8 344

Sp.Woreda
SNNP Basketo 48 774 0 0 0 0
Sp.Woreda
SNNP Kembata 353 152 0 0 0 7 207
Tambaro
SNNP Shaka 137 652 0 0 0 0
SNNP Yem Sp. 69 693 0 0 0 0
Woreda
SNNP Gedeo 107 137 0 0 0 1 082
SNNP Sidama 1 811 540 0 106 561 0 213 122
SNNP Dawro 303 640 0 0 0 0
SNNP Gamo Gofa 1 126 091 198 722 0 0 0
SNNP Hadiya 794 883 0 0 0 24 584
SNNP Kaffa 931 307 0 0 0 0
SNNP Konta Sp. 102 302 0 0 0 0
Woreda
SNNP Wolayta 758 164 0 0 0 39 903
SNNP Gurage 905 034 0 0 0 27 991
SNNP Bench Maji 97 333 227 109 0 0 0

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 Mixed crop- Pastoral/agro Dairy Urban/peri-
Region Zone Feedlots
livestock -pastoral Commercial urban
SNNP Segen People 327 466 81 867 0 0 0
SNNP South Omo 33 469 1 639 965 0 0 0
SNNP Silte 573 013 0 0 0 0

Somali Nogob 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Afder 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Doolo 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Jijiga (Fafan) 0 380 041 0 0 0
Somali Jarar 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Korahe 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Liben 0 250 599 0 0 0
Somali Shabelle 0 NA 0 0 0
Somali Shinille 0 14 526 0 0 0

Tigray Southern 495 340 50 991 109 266 0 72 844

Tigray
Tigray Central Tigray 668 330 0 39 314 0 78 627
Tigray North West 1 300 779 185 826 185 826 0 185 826
Tigray
Tigray Eastern Tigray 350 149 21 884 21 884 0 43 769
Tigray Western Tigray 422 140 153 505 115 129 0 76 753
Total 43 552 780 7 860 417 1 438 444 29 732 3 800 790

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 © FAO, 2018
I8271EN/1/01.18