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COW

Cow Breed Improvement in Ari Zone

BACKGROUND

The Ari Zone in the South Ethiopia Region is one of the remote areas of Ethiopia that continues to face challenges related to animal health, declining livelihoods, rural poverty, and child malnutrition. Although Ethiopia possesses the largest cattle population in Africa, dairy productivity remains low due to poor genetic potential, limited feed resources, and inadequate animal health services.

To address these challenges, the Ari Zone launched initiatives aimed at improving cattle breeds through synchronization, artificial insemination, and deworming services. Although local demand for these services was very high, the zone was unable to fully deliver on its objectives due to resource constraints, particularly shortages of synchronization hormones, deworming drugs, and veterinary expertise. Consequently, prior to 2024, the performance of the zone in the areas of breed improvement, fodder development, and animal health services remained limited and inadequate.

EXISTING INITIATIVE

In 2023, representatives of IPADA and the Allegro Foundation visited the Ari Zone to explore local development needs, existing initiatives, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. During discussions with zonal and woreda (district) officials, the Ari Zone Department of Agriculture formally requested support from IPADA to address critical resource gaps and strengthen its dairy development efforts.

Based on several factors, including the existence of local initiatives, the severity of the challenges, the strong demand from communities, and the availability of committed partners—IPADA decided to join the dairy transformation initiative. The intervention focused on synchronization, artificial insemination, fodder development, and deworming activities.

IPADA team, from left to right: Berihu, Gebre and Felipe, together with the Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Mekelle University and a representative from Wolayta Sodo University, with the materials brought from Spain.

Near Jinka: mass vaccination.

Presentation and insemination in Agulae, Tigray.

Presentation of the project at Mekelle University.

Aguale, Tigray: When there is no cattle crush for vaccination, a post is used instead.

    COLLABORATION

    Collaboration enables partners to combine ideas, resources, and expertise while reducing risks, costs, and implementation challenges. This was clearly demonstrated through the cow breed improvement project.

    The collaborating institutions included IPADA (Ethiopia), the Allegro Foundation (Spain), Jinka University (Ethiopia), the University of Bologna (Italy), Telefónica (Spain), and the Ari Zone Department of Agriculture (Ethiopia).

    Each partner contributed according to its comparative advantage. The Ari Zone Department of Agriculture, together with woreda and town administrations, was responsible for mobilizing farmers, identifying and screening cows, and providing liquid nitrogen, semen, and veterinary professionals. IPADA and the Allegro Foundation covered the costs of synchronization hormones, deworming drugs, consumable supplies (including gloves, multivitamins, OXY, Shiz, Sablon, alcohol, and iodine), and part of the training expenses, including per diems for local trainers and trainees. IPADA also provided fodder seeds, seedlings, and cuttings to participating farmers.

    Jinka University covered the costs of sexed semen, provided training venues and facilities, and offered logistical support. The University of Bologna contributed high-level technical training delivered by prominent experts from Europe.

    ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

    The major project activities included synchronization, artificial insemination, provision of fodder seeds, seedlings, and cuttings, distribution of deworming drugs, and training of veterinary professionals.

    As a result, by June 2024, a total of 2,640 cows had been inseminated through both mass campaigns and regular service programs. Synchronization hormones were administered to approximately 1,000 cows, while sexed semen was used for 43 cows. The project benefited a total of 2,158 people, including 2,093 men and 65 women.

    The first year of implementation was successful and generated strong interest among both local communities and government authorities.

    Given the broad support and positive results achieved, the project continued during the following year. Although the report covering the period from July 2024 to June 2025 has not yet been finalized, the number of cows inseminated during this period is expected to exceed the previous year's achievements.

    SUSTAINABILITY

    The project is expected to be sustainable for several reasons. First, dairy transformation remains a national development priority, ensuring continued government support for years to come. Second, local governments are expected to remain committed to achieving national development targets, which will help sustain implementation efforts. Third, breed improvement has proven to be highly beneficial and profitable for participating households, making long-term community engagement highly likely.

    In addition, the growing demand for milk and dairy products is expected to strengthen market opportunities and further enhance the sustainability of the initiative.

    FUTURE PLAN

    Demand for breed improvement services continues to increase across the Ari Zone. To date, only a relatively small proportion of livestock-owning households have been reached compared to the overall need. IPADA has received requests from various communities and districts seeking support for breed improvement interventions.

    However, the expansion of these services is constrained by shortages of key resources, including synchronization hormones, deworming and vaccination drugs, sexed semen, funding for the training of veterinary experts, and equipment such as ultrasound machines. IPADA and its partners are actively seeking additional support to expand and strengthen these initiatives, enabling more farming households to benefit from improved livestock productivity and enhanced livelihoods.