Ethiopia launches digital livestock identification system for dairy cattle

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched a digital animal identification and tracking system for dairy cows and calves in Sheger City to improve livestock productivity, disease monitoring, breeding, and traceability nationwide.

The system is designed to identify and track animals and consolidate livestock information in a central database. 

The Ministry said the platform will provide a structured system for recording animal information and following livestock throughout their production and movement.

Dr Sisay Getachew, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the importance of modern information systems in improving animal production and productivity.

The system is also expected to support disease monitoring and prevention by providing authorities with more comprehensive information on individual animals and livestock populations.

Officials said improved animal records could help strengthen breeding programmes and support efforts to improve livestock genetics and productivity. 

Better traceability could also contribute to making Ethiopian livestock products more competitive in domestic and international markets.

Digital records to support livestock farmers

The system could also provide benefits for farmers beyond animal identification and disease control.

According to the Ministry, reliable livestock records could help farmers access financing by providing information that financial institutions can use when livestock are presented as collateral.

Kenbon Motuma, deputy administrator of Koye Feche sub-city in Sheger City Administration, highlighted the importance of the identification system to livestock farmers and welcomed the Ministry’s initiative.

The campaign includes capacity building on dairy cattle data management and animal identification. 

The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) has provided training on dairy cow data handling and the use of identification numbers through ear tags.

The programme will subsequently expand to selected milk-producing areas in the Oromia and Amhara regions, including Arsi, West Arsi and North Shewa zones.

Regional livestock traceability efforts

Ethiopia’s initiative comes as other African countries also invest in digital livestock traceability. 

In Kenya, the government is rolling out the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC), which assigns animals unique identities and records information such as origin, ownership, health status, vaccination history and movements.

The Kenyan system is intended to strengthen disease surveillance, animal health management, livestock productivity, and access to higher-value markets, highlighting the growing role of digital records in managing livestock health and production across the region.

Reliable animal identification and production records could provide Ethiopian authorities and farmers with better information for managing livestock health, breeding, and productivity as the system expands into more dairy-producing areas.

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