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This study aims to categorize smallholder dairy farming systems through multivariate analysis. Nonlinear categorical principal component analysis (NLPCA) was used to lessen 35 variables into 4 sets of uncorrelated components. These four categories are environment-genetic interaction, management, hygiene, and genetic-related factors. Besides, within the two-step cluster analysis, a variable cluster membership was created that identified which family belonged to which cluster. For comparison purpose, hierarchical cluster analysis was used. A two-step cluster analysis results showed that most farms (41.50% and 31.90% in peri-urban and urban areas, respectively, had been in cluster 1 at the same time as most farms (66.70%) of urban areas had been in cluster 2. Overall, most (31.00% and 34.00%) of farms have been in clusters 1 and 2, respectively. Most farms in peri-urban areas had been challenged with scarcity of feed, mastitis, and animal sickness than farms within the urban and rural farming systems. Forming farmer groups as a cooperative to supply offerings together with feed processing devices, artificial insemination, and health services is usually recommended to triumph over such hassle. In addition, on account that it is primarily based on a couple of criteria, the category system evolved in this study depicts a lot better dairy farming systems with admiration to the variety of the components and the relative contribution of each component to dairy farming than do the single-criterion classifications. Hence, the results of such classifications should be seen as a start line from which to efficiently compare the modern extension system and eventually design the high-quality-fit extension models for a heterogeneous populace of smallholder dairy farmers.

The present study aims to assess age at first service and calving, calving interval, open days, and number of service per conception of dairy cows under small holder in Siltie zone, Ethiopia. To do so, a total of one hundred eighty sample size was selected from three selected districts of Siltie zone purposively. Data were collected through interviews with household heads using a detailed and pre-tested questionnaire. All data collected from demographic information and management practices of dairy cows were analyzed using SPSS software, version 27.0 while all data obtained from reproduction performances of dairy cows were analyzed using SAS version 9.4 in the General Linear Model (GLM). In this investigation, we found that long age at first service (41.34±12.23, 37.561±85 and 30.87±8.65), for indigenous and (31.12±10.23, 27.24±7.35 and 25.45±8.45) for crossbred dairy cows in rural, peri‑urban and urban, months, respectively. Generally, the dairy cow were characterized by long time taken to reach age at first services and calving, long calving interval and, open days in the study area. Therefore, selective breeding program should be applied rather than rely only on AI/Bull service crossbreeding. Moreover, supportive materials that used for grinding and mixing feed such as fodder and crop residue should be provided for small holder producers by respective institutions.

In Ethiopia, farmers are practicing animal husbandry under different production systems. However, the production and reproduction performance of dairy cows are very low due to the reasons such, the low genetic capacity of the indigenous cow for milk production, substandard feeding and poor health care. By considering this, the paper is aims to review the status of production, reproduction and management practices of indigenous and crossbred dairy cow. A number of research works have been done since two last decades to evaluate and improve the production and reproduction performance of indigenous and crossbred dairy cow in the country. On this basis, the average milk yield was not being exceeded 2liters per day for indigenous dairy cow. On the other hand, the average age at first service was ranged between 18.7 and 24 months for crossbred dairy cow. Further, the average age at first calving was being extended to 48.9 and 37.95 months for indigenous and crossbreed dairy cow, respectively. Regarding management practices, more farmers are using separate house for their dairy cow and they haven’t experience of record keeping in different parts of the country. Moreover, stall feeding was the primary feeding method which has been reported by many authors. Therefore, it should be emphasized to enhance improved management practices by the dairy farmers.