ARF-3 Final factsheet: Ethiopia healthy cows
“The objective of this project was to improve quantity and quality of milk produced by peri-urban smallholders with zero-grazing dairy systems, as well as improving the position of women. This participatory action research combined activities at both fieldand laboratory level, based on the following research questions:
– Field level: What are the results of implementing the Natural Livestock Farming (NLF) 5-layer strategy in two communities in terms of cattle health and milk quality?
– Laboratory level: Which milk quality testing techniques are most adequate to establish an effective control system?
Special emphasis was given to promoting the use of medicinal plants for cattle health and improving calf management. The project has shown significant improvement of animal health, as well as reduced use of antibiotics, improved milk quality, increased farm income and improved position of women. The outcomes of this pilot are now used to support the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture to improve milk quality and reduce anti-microbial resistance, and to scale up the strategy in (other) dairy programs. In 2020 the activities were expanded with a survey on the effects of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of dairy farmers.”
