Collaborative learning empowers dairy farmers to improve herd health and welfare management in Ada'a District, Ethiopia

Urban and peri-urban smallholder dairy farming plays a crucial role in Ethiopia’s milk production.

However, challenges in breed improvement, nutrition, and herd health management limit the productivity of the dairy sector.

Since 2022, the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity has been working with dairy farmers and private and public animal health service providers in two regions of Ethiopia to deliver an innovative herd health and welfare management package that includes training, mentoring and advisory support, and preventive and treatment services for priority animal diseases.

On 9–10 July 2024, a training workshop engaged 15 dairy farmers including seven women, one private health service provider and two public animal health experts from Ada’a District in an experiential and collaborative learning process on herd health and welfare management.

The workshop, which was held at the Erer Farmers’ Cooperative Union in Bishoftu, used a problem-solving and advisory approach, empowering farmers to apply new knowledge to address dairy herd health and welfare management challenges.

Photo: Cattle in Afar Ethiopia (ILRI/ Fiona Flintan)