The study was conducted in Bure district of the Amhara National Regional State with objectives of characterizing the milk production systems. A single-visit-multiple-subject survey was used to collect data and a total of 181 milk households were individually interviewed. From the survey, rural small-holder, peri-urban and urban milk production systems were identified. Indigenous and Fogera-Friesian crossbreds were the dominant cattle breeds. The major livestock feed resources are natural pasture, crop residues and aftermaths. Trypanosomiasis, pasteurolosis, anthrax and black leg were the major reported cattle diseases. The main problems of milk production were lack of feed, disease outbreak, lack of improved cattle breeds and distance to marketing points. In general, despite the untapped milk potential of the district, the existing milk production (mainly extensive) systems are found to be beset by many constraints. Therefore, further works are needed in areas of milk nutrition, health, input delivery and services to capitalize on the milk industry in the district.

In Amhara National Regional State (ANRS), agriculture remains the dominant economic sector. Structurally, on an average from 1999-2005, it accounted for 58% of the region's GDP and 89% of the population derives its livelihood from agriculture and allied activities. The regional livestock population accounts for 29% of the country's livestock population. Livestock contributes 22% to agriculture and 12.5% to total GDP in the region (BoFED, 2005). According to BoFED (2006), the livestock resources have made a great contribution in improving the livelihood of the people. Despite the huge potential in the region, livestock productivity is low. For instance, the daily milk yield per cow is 1.2 L in 234 days of lactation period in Western Gojjam Zone, resulting in an estimated milk production of 46,710,335 L per lactation for all lactating cows in the zone (CSA, 2005).

Bure is one of the districts of West Gojjam Adminstrative Zone and Amhara National Regional State. This district is one of the consistently surplus agricultural products producer districts of Amhara region (Yigzaw and Kahsay, 2007). It is believed to have high potential for milk development. In Bure district, the increasing pressure on land to grow food crops and the ever expanding human population have resulted in a reduction in grazing land. Besides, little is known about the existing milk production and marketing systems. Therefore, in order to design relevant milk development strategy in the area, there is a need to characterize the existing milk production and marketing systems. Therefore, this study was designed to fill the information gap in milk production and marketing systems. Thus, the objectives of this study were to characterize the milk production systems and to prioritize constraints and opportunities of milk production in Bure district.

Life Sciences Journal, Milk Production Systems in Bure District, Amhara National Regional State, Milk Development, Marketing Systems, Agricultural Products, Feeding Systems, Calf Rearing, Milk Feeding, Bucket Feeding, Partial Suckling, Dietary Treatments, Veterinary Services.