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.

The agricultural development project Resilience and Economic Growth in Arid Lands – Accelerated Growth (REGAL-AG) has promoted improved livestock management that resulted in a decrease in net emissions of 10%. Since emissions from livestock account for the majority of Kenya’s agricultural emissions (95%), reduction of emissions in the livestock sector has high potential impact.