Stall feeding is the principal means by which livestock are fed during the dry season throughout the enset growing areas, and is a labor intensive activity. Following harvest, crop residues are given to the livestock, and among all enset growing groups, enset leaves form an important part of the dry season livestock diet. Grass may be purchased, but it is more often cut by women from homestead pastures or common grazing areas. Cut enset leaves also contribute to livestock diets in all areas where enset is grown, and they may be used for as long as seven to eight months, or only for a couple of months at the height of the dry season, depending on area and ethnic group. This task entailed a seven to ten hour round trip.
Cows kept by rural farmers in the enset growing area produce low quantities of milk.
Estimates range from a low of approximately 0.25 liters per day to a high of about two liters per day during their seven month long lactation period. The amount of milk produced increases during the wet season, as forage resources are more abundant and calves tend to be dropped during this time. Low animal fertility is also characteristic of the livestock kept by enset cultivators. Mortality rates are high and enset cultivators typically buy and sell livestock frequently. Low productivity and high rates of mortality and turnover strongly suggest that the livestock production system is under significant stress.