The study was conducted in the potential mixed farming areas of Bale highland to estimate livestock methane emissions. Using multi-stage purposive sampling, 156 households of the three wealth groups were selected based on their livelihood assets as described under methodology. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informants interview and field visits were the employed methods during the study. Feed nutrient balance was estimated based on the demand and supply while the livestock methane emissions were estimated according to the IPCC guidelines. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. Cattle were the dominant (84.25%) livestock owned by the households. The estimated enteric CH4 emission rate from mature cattle, growing cattle, sheep >1 year, sheep ≤ 1 year, horse and donkey were significantly (P<0.001) higher for the better wealth group while mature cattle (69.78%) shared the highest rate. Though, higher emission rates credited to the large number of animals in the area, cattle stay crucial to the livelihoods of the households, beside the major sources of CH4. In conclusion, the estimated CH4 emissions should be focus areas of interventions. Therefore, proper husbandry and quality feed supply and promotion of farm level livestock technologies should be practiced wisely to increase productivity and protect the environment from emissions of the livestock sector.

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Climate change affects the farming community of Ethiopia basically as a decrease and/or unpredictable time and duration of rainfall and increased temperature that expose farmers to frequent drought. The study was conducted to assess the perception of farmers on climate change and its implication to livestock production in mixed-farming system of the area. Structured questionnaire was used to collect primary information. Secondary data, field observation and focus group discussions were employed to generate the detail data. Farmers' asset holding, climate information access, farm productivity condition, climate change perception, climate change indicators, climate change implication on livestock production and adaptive strategies used by farmers were assessed through an interview of 156 systematically sampled wealth group households (HHs). The study indicated that temperature was rising while unpredictable and declining rain was significantly (P<0.05) between wealth groups. The situation resulted in livestock feed shortage, water scarcity, animal diseases incidence, low animal productivity and frequent drought cause problems across all wealth groups. These factors become determinant to herd livestock in the area by wealth group HHs. Decreased seasonal rainfall (47.4%), increased temperature (83.3%), increased disease incidence (47.4%), increased drought occurrence (66.0%) and variable plant growth period (48.7%) were observed by wealth group HHs as indicators of climate change and found affecting livestock production. Lack of climate related information source media (70.7%), less fertile land holding (97.4%), lack of alternative livestock feed and water supply and meager provision of advanced livestock production packages were basic problems of the community. Moreover, individuals' susceptibility to the climate attributes change varies on the asset they hold and their adaptive capacity. Therefore, improved weather forecasting and dissemination of climate change information source provision, identifying climate resistant and productive livestock species and promoting farm level adaptation options and adjusting market oriented livestock production should be sought based on wealth status and implemented for sustainable livestock productivity in the area.