Dairy Production Potential, Opportunities and Challenges in Nedjo District, West Oromia, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has substantial potential to improve household nutrition, generate income, and create employment through the dairy sector. This study assessed the opportunities, challenges, and productivity potential of dairy production in the Nedjo District, West Oromia, Ethiopia. The district was purposively selected, and 180 dairy-producing households were sampled using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, and analyzed using SPSS (Version 20). The predominant livestock production system was a mixed crop–livestock. The mean household cattle holdings were 10.07 ± 6.27 in the midland and 10.31 ± 3.1 in the lowland, while average dairy cow holdings per household were 3.78 ± 2.32 and 3.69 ± 1.06 in the midland and lowland, respectively. The mean daily milk yield of local cows differed significantly (P < 0.001) between agro-ecologies. Crossbred cows produced 6.5 ± 0.5L and 7.25 ± 0.36L per day in the midland and lowland, respectively, with an overall mean of 6.8 ± 0.57L. Major constraints to dairy production included poor-quality and insufficient feed, limited grazing land, restricted access to and high cost of formulated feeds, inadequate extension services, suboptimal animal management, and lack of market-oriented production. Addressing these challenges could enhance dairy productivity and contribute to livelihoods in the study area.