Crop residue are also assuming increasing importance in many densely-populated areas. In the highlands, grazing resources have deteriorated as a result of human population pressure. Despite ample grazing area, pastoralists are restricted to areas close to permanent water sources in the lowlands, resulting in overgrazing. It is reported that about 85 per cent of the forage intake is used to meet the animals' maintenance requirements in Ethiopia. Breeding Livestock husbandry is dominated by indigenous breeds with low productivity.
Crossbred cows are unknown outside dairy farms around the major towns.
The MOA has been providing improved heifers or bulls as well as artificial insemination service or bull stations. Final buyers, which include butchers, meat processing factories, fattening farms or live animal exporters, purchase livestock at any stage. Livestock export is an important source of foreign exchange for the country. The Ethiopian Livestock Marketing Enterprise, state-owned parastatal, exports live animals mainly to middle East countries. There are about 120 livestock market centres recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture.