Status and Public Health Significance of Mycobacterium bovis in Ethiopia.
The livestock industry contributes significantly to the world economy, especially in
underdeveloped nations since livestock provides manure for crops, a source of energy, food, and raw materials. So, it should come as no surprise that the livestock industry has
grown to be a significant source of income for the great majority of rural residents and a target for agribusiness in the dairy, meat, hide, and skin, as well as numerous other goods in the processed foods sector.
Ethiopia is predominantly an agricultural nation in Eastern Africa. Animal production is practiced in all ecological zones of the country. Ethiopia is one of the countries that possess a huge number of livestock populations in the African continent estimated to be 70 million cattle out of which, about 98.95% of the total cattle in the country are local breeds while the remaining are hybrid and exotic breeds that accounted for about 0.94 and 0.11%, respectively, 30.7 million sheep and 30.2 million goats were found in the country.
About 16.5% of the country’s gross domestic product and 35.6% of the agricultural GDP are contributed by the livestock industry. It also contributes 15% of export earnings and 30% of agricultural employment.
However, the productivity still remains marginal mainly due to malnutrition, prevalent disease, the poor genetic potential of local breed, management problems, and inefficiency of livestock development services with respect to credit, extension, marketing, and infrastructure.
Vet Med Open J. 2023; 8(1): 18-28. doi: 10.17140/VMOJ-8-173
