The purposes of this study were to explore the socio-economic status of dairy producers. management practices. productive and reproductive performances of dairy cattle. marketing and utilization of dairy products. and overall constraints and opportunities of dairy production. A total of 160 dairy holding households were selected by systematic random sampling techniquefor the study. The study employed multiple methods of data analysis including descriptive statistics. Chi-square test. Tstest, ANOVA. ranking and qualitative analysis. The finding of this study showed similar average family size across urban and peri-urban areas but an increasing trend in average family size was observed from small to large farms. Literacy rate was higher in urban areas than the peri-urban areas. Majority of the urban dairy farmers were business persons whereas farmers took the higher proportion in the peri-urban areas. Off-plot land holding was significantly (P<0.05) higher in peri-urban area than the urban areas. The average cross bred. high-grade exotic and total herd holding in the household was significantly (P<0.05) higher in urban areas than the peri-urban areas but the opposite was true for the average local dairy caule holding. Milk production followed by prestige value was the major purpose of keeping dairy cattle both in the urban and peri-urban areas whereas. manure ranked third in the peri-urban areas indicating higher value for soil fertility. Majority of the urban dairy farmers depend on hay, crop residues and concentrates for feeding their dairy cattle. But the peri-urban dairy farmers rely on dry and green roughages but less on concentrate feeds. 1n the urban areas, pipe water was the most common water source for the dairy cattle but in the peri-urban areas. the use of river was very high. Significantly (P<0.05) better watering frequency was observed in urban than periurban areas. Access to veterinary services was significantly (P<0.05) better in urban areas than the peri-urban areas. Waste management was relatively problematic in urban areas as compared to the peri-urban areas. The higher grade exotic cows performed significantly (P<0.05) better in their age at first calving. calving interval and lactation length in the urban areas than the peri-urban areas. Informal marketing of dairy products was identified both in urban and peri-urban areas. Both feed shortage and inadequate land were ranked first and second constraints in urban and peri-urban areas, respectively. This study showed the differences existed in the motives of keeping dairy cattle, land holding. dairy farmers' educational level. breed composition. feed and water sources. manure utilization and performances of dairy cattle across the urban and peri-urban areas. Hence. any development intervention aimed at improving the productivity of dairy cattle and the livelihood of urban and peri-urban dairy farmers should be planned and put in practice in respect to the urban and peri-urban areas.