Describes the Ethiopian highlands assessing their potential for improved agricultural production; reports ILCA's studies on the traditional smallholder production system of the highlands; and analyzes productivity aspects of the system's crop and livestock components. Discusses the approach to farming systems research (FSR) along with the implications for adoption of the approach and its results by a national agency, some research experiences and the outlook for future research.

Discusses the historical context of ILCA's research, the principal types of animal production systems and the stages in ILCA's farming systems research. Describes the smallholder farming in the Ethiopian highlands & humid zone, the agropastoralists of the sub-humid zone, systems research in pastoral areas of eastern Africa (Kenya & Ethiopia), characteristics of the arid and semi-arid zones of West Africa and the role of modelling in the system. Ends with a summary of past experience.

The aim of the study was to assess productive and reproductive performance of indigenous and their crossbred of different exotic blood level of dairy cows and factors affecting their performance in Rural, peri-urban and urban, farming system of West Shoa Zone, Oromia State, Ethiopia. A total of 180 small-scale dairy cows owners were purposively selected and interviewed with pre-tested structured questionnaire to obtain information.