Full Name: Michael Abera Hareri (PhD)
Position: Researcher and Assistant Professor in Climate Smart Livestock Systems
WORK EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor of Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Management with specialization in Livestock Production and Management
- Teach postgraduate and undergraduate courses in livestock production and management.
- Teach Climate Smart Livestock Production Practices, Adaptation Physiology to Environmental Stressors, Sustainable Livestock Production, Molecular Genetics, Advanced Animal Breeding, and Advanced Biometrics.
- Conduct research related to climate-smart and sustainable livestock production, livestock adaptation to environmental stressors, breeding and genetics.
- Participate in academic, research, and institutional activities within the School of Animal and Range Sciences, and ACE Climate SABC
Assistant Professor of Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Management with specialization in Livestock Production and Management Livestock Production and Management
- Conducted research in climate change and variability, dairy cattle production and management, livestock breeding and genetics, and sustainable livestock production.
- Published research findings in scholarly journals.
- Taught postgraduate and undergraduate students.
- Served as an academic supervisor for PhD, MSc, and BSc students.
Lecturer
- Delivered graduate and undergraduate courses in animal science.
- Developed curriculum for MSc programs in Animal Production and Animal Nutrition.
- Conducted research on dairy cattle production and reproduction, livestock breeding and genetics, indigenous sheep production systems, and small-ruminant production.
- Served as academic advisor to postgraduate and BSc students.
Graduate Assistant I
- Participated in undergraduate teaching of animal science courses.
- Mentored students in research activities.
- Participated in curriculum revision for the Bachelor of Animal Science program.
- Performed other academic and course-related duties.
TEACHING, AND SUPERVISION
- Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in livestock production, climate-smart livestock systems, adaptation physiology, molecular genetics, animal breeding, biometrics, and sustainable livestock production.
- Designed/revised academic curricula, including MSc-level curriculum development in Animal Production and Animal Nutrition.
- More than 16 years of university teaching experience.
- served as an academic supervisor for PhD, MSc, and BSc students at Haramaya University and Debre Markos University.
- Supervised and continue to supervise more than 23 PhD and MSc students at Haramaya University and Debre Markos University.
- supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, theses, and dissertations, providing academic guidance throughout the research process.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION
Projects Won / Funded
- 2025 – Project Member: GREENING ETHIOPIA – Towards a More Climate-Responsive Higher Education System in Support of Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in Ethiopia (Project No. GAP-101235967).
- 2025 – Focal Person: Building Climate Resilience of Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists through Integrated Farming System (IFS) based Circular Economy in Eastern Ethiopia.
- 2024 - Principal investigator: Changes in Land Use/Cover and Climate Nexus on Feed Balance and Livestock Population Dynamics: An Implication for Precision Livestock Farming in East Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia.
- 2023 – Principal Investigator: Community-Based Forage Development and Feed Improvement for Enhancing Livestock Productivity. Funded by Debre Markos University Office of Research and Community Services.
- 2018–2022 – Research Grant award: Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, for PhD study
- 2015 – Project: Identification of determinants and evaluation efficiency of artificial insemination utilization on dairy cows at smallholder farmers level in East Gojjam Zone.
- 2015 – Project: Dairy cattle production, milk, and milk product handling in Northwestern Ethiopia.
- 2013 – Project: Phenotypic characterization of indigenous sheep types and their production systems in East Gojjam Zone.
Participation in Project Development
- Enhancing Climate-Smart Livestock Productivity through Feed Innovation in Eastern Ethiopia.
- Fostering Climate-Smart Dairy Cattle Production Technologies and Indigenous Knowledge among Smallholder Farmers in selected Sub-Saharan African Countries.
- Resilience Capacity of Smallholder Farmers and Mitigating GHG Emission through Integrated Farming System (IFS) based Circular Bioeconomy in Ethiopia.
- Enhancing Vegetable and Forage Production through Sustainable, Equitable, and Climate Smart Irrigation Practices among Smallholder Farmers in Water-scarce Areas of Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Enhancing Climate Resilient WASH through Promoting Rainwater-Induced Groundwater Recharge and Treatment in Water-Scarce Areas of East and West Hararghe, Ethiopia.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- Associate Director for Research and training at Africa Center of Excellence for climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation- July 2026 to present
- School Graduate Council Secretary (SGC), School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University – April 2024 to Present.
- Ad-hoc Committee Member and Secretary for Staff Promotion, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University – March 2024.
- Delegated several times to lead and handle matters pertaining to the School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University.
- Head, Department of Animal Science, Debre Markos University – December 2022 to March 2024
- College-level Grant Project Writing Committee Member, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University – December 2022 to Present.
- Head, Department of Animal Science, Debre Markos University – October 2015 to October 2016.
- Teachers' Association Representative, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University – November 2016 to 2017.
- Participated in and supervised quality education activities at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources – October 2015 to 2017.
- Delegated several times to lead and manage departmental activities.
- Technical supervisor and member of the university dairy farm expansion project team.
- Provided consultancy and technical guidance for the Menkorer Agro-Industry dairy farm expansion project.
- Recognized and certified for professional contribution to the community through the Community-Based Forage Development and Improvement in East Gojjam project.
TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
- Excellence Lab: Grant Proposal Writing and Project Implementation for Horizon Europe Funding, with cross-references to the ERASMUS+ funding scheme for capacity building in higher education institutions (CBHE), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024.
- Climate Risk Management in Agriculture, organized by ACE Climate SABC in collaboration with Columbia Climate School, Haramaya University, February 12–15, 2024.
- Integrated Decision Support Systems (FARMSIM), jointly organized by Texas A&M University and ACE Climate SABC.
- Research Methodology and Scientific Writing Skills, ACE Climate SABC, Haramaya University, 2020.
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Measurement Techniques, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in Livestock under Climate Change Scenarios, 2019.
- Advanced Biostatistics in Livestock Research and Training, 2019.
- Hands-on Short-Term Training in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Gondar, 2017.
WORKSHOPS PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES
- 2026-Participated and contributed in Greening Ethiopia sustainability framework assessment training, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 2026- Participated and contributed in Launch of greening Ethiopia project, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 2026- The Africa-Asia Biosciences Challenge Fund (AABCF) High-Level Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya. International workshop organized by International Research Institute (ILRI) and the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub (BecA), in partnership with the University of Queensland (UQ) and the University of Melbourne (UoM).
- 2025- Attended and contributed to the Launch of the Child Heat Impact–Climate Health Intervention (CHI2) Programme, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- 2025- Participated and contributed in stakeholder meetings on enhancing the use of Crop residue as livestock feed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. International conference organized by International livestock research institute under climate and clean air coalition funded project.
- 2023- Participated and contributed to International Conference organized by Bahir Dar University in collaboration with the Institute of Animal Breeding Group, University of Bonn, Germany (Oral presentation).
- 2022 – Participated and contributed to International Conference on Pastoralism Governance System, Drought Resilience and Rangeland Management, Jigjiga University (Oral presentation).
- 2017 – Participated and contributed to 8th Annual National Research Symposium, Debre Markos University (Oral presentation).
AWARDED
- 2023 – Best Abstract/Poster Presenter at the International Workshop, Designing Innovative Livestock Breeding Strategies in Ethiopia: Promoting Young Animal Scientists to Promote Animal Agriculture. organized by Bahir Dar University in collaboration with the Institute of Animal Breeding Group, University of Bonn, Germany
- 2015 – Debre Markos University Best Leadership of the Year Award.
PUBLICATIONS
16.1. Journal Articles Published
- Desyibelew, W., Wondifraw, Z., Abera, M. et al. Risk factors associated with negative energy balance in dairy cows during the transition period. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-71515-0
- Joel, K.K., Abera, M., Mosisa, G.B., Agbor, D.T., Kany Luganda, E., Kabaruli, K.W. and Toru, T., 2026. Adoption patterns, agricultural impacts, and smallholder income outcomes of smart farming technologies in East Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 24(1), p.2712707.
- Mohammed, H.A., Mummed, Y.Y., Wolkaro, T., Bekele, K., Zeleke, T. & Abera, M. (2026). Participatory assessment of rangeland conditions in selected agropastoral districts of the East Hararge Zone, Ethiopia. Journal for Nature Conservation, 127356.
- Mohammed, H.A., Mummed, Y.Y., Wolkaro, T., Bekele, K., Zeleke, T. & Abara, M. (2026). Vulnerability of agropastoral livelihoods to climate-related shocks in selected districts of East Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 157(6), 382.
- Esubalew Ayelea, Michael Abera, Mesganaw Addisa & Zeleke Tesema (2025). Estimating genetic parameter estimates for productive and reproductive traits in high-grade crossbred dairy cattle at Chokie Enterprise Dairy Farm, Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 54(1), 2611620.
- Hareri, M.A., Kagne, H. & Alemayehu, K. (2025). On-farm phenotypic characterization of indigenous goat types in selected districts of South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. Archives of Veterinary Science, 30(3).
- Abera, M. (2025). Response of dairy cattle to thermal stress: Implications for designing animal breeding strategies for sustainable productivity under changing climate. Applied Veterinary Research.
- Abera, M., Mummed, Y.Y., Eshetu, M., Pilla, F. & Wondifraw, Z. (2021). Physiological, biochemical, and growth parameters of Fogera cattle calves to heat stress during different seasons in sub-humid Ethiopia. Animals, 11(4), 1062.
- Abera, M., Eshetu, M., Mummed, Y.Y., Pilla, F. & Wondifraw, Z. (2021). Impact of climatic variability on growth performance of Fogera cattle in Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology.
- Abera, M., Eshetu, M., Mummed, Y.Y., Pilla, F. & Wondifraw, Z. (2021). Analysis of climate change and land use/cover impacts on Fogera cattle population dynamics at Metekel Ranch, Northwestern Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 33, Article 143.
- Abera, M., Mummed, Y.Y., Eshetu, M., Pilla, F. & Wondifraw, Z. (2020). Perception of Fogera cattle farmers on climate change and variability in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 10, 792–815.
- Ayeneshet, B., Abera, M. & Wondifraw, Z. (2018). Reproductive and productive performance of indigenous dairy cows under smallholder farmers management system in North Ethiopia. Journal of Fisheries and Livestock Production, 6, 261.
- Belete Asefa, Aynalem Teshome & Michael Abera (2017). Prediction of live body weight from heart girth measurement for small ruminants in Ethiopia: A review article. ASJ: International Journal of Agricultural Research, Sustainability, and Food Sufficiency, 193–201.
- Michael Abera, Kefelegn Kebede & Yoseph Mekasha (2017). Husbandry practices and major constraints of sheep production in East Gojjam Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 7(7).
- Michael A., Kefelegn K. & Yoseph M. (2017/2019). Production objectives and farmers' selection criteria of indigenous sheep types in selected East Gojjam districts, Northwestern Ethiopia: Implication for designing community-based breeding strategies. International Journal of Livestock Production.
- Michael A. & Zemenu Y. (2017). Livestock genetic diversity, rate of inbreeding and feed resource: An assessment in Chira Wenz Micro Watershed, East Gojjam Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 6(1), 15–21.
- Ayeneshet, B., Wondifraw, Z. & Abera, M. (2017). Production objectives, breeding practices and rate of inbreeding in dairy cows at Alefa and Quara districts of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. International Journal of Animal Science, 1(2), 1011.
- Ayeneshet, B., Wondifraw, Z. & Abera, M. (2017). Survey on farmers' husbandry practice for dairy cows in Alefa and Quara districts of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. International Journal of Animal Science, 1(2), 1010.
- Michael A., Kefelegn K. & Yoseph M. (2016). Phenotypic characterization of indigenous sheep types in Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 6(15).
16.2. Proceedings
- Michael Abera (2023). Response of Dairy Cattle to Thermal Stress: An Implication for Designing Animal Breeding Strategies. Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
MEMBERSHIP
- Member, Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) – 2014–Present.
- Member, Ethiopian Fisheries & Aquatic Science Association – 2014–Present.