(p<0.05). Daily milk yield was significantly higher in the rainy season than dry season. . The study was conducted in selected districts of south Gondar zone, Amhara Region, to assess the comparative performance of local and crossbred cattle in different production systems and determine factors affecting the performance of local and crossbred cattle. Three districts namely Estie, Farta and Simada were selected from the zone based on the availability of local and crossbred cattle. Nine representative kebeles were selected from the three districts. A total of 180 households (each district 60 HH) owning 194 cows were selected randomly. A structured and semi structured questionnaires were prepared to collect data on socioeconomic and farming system characteristics, cattle production system characteristics, estimated productive and reproductive performances of cattle. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize data and means were compared using the GLM of SAS version 9.1 and SPSS version 20.0, 2011 statistically. The overall mean for family size in the study areas was 5.47 persons. The average land holding per household for the overall study areas was 0.647±0.247. Urban, peri-urban and rural farming systems were the three modes of production systems identified. The average livestock herd size ranged from 14.23±9.034, 16.82±8.268 and 19.03±10.003 heads in the urban, peri-urban and rural production system, respectively. In the study areas, the cattle herd was dominated by cows. The major health problems of cows in all production systems were internal parasites (37.22%), external parasites (22.36%) and distocia (14.79%). Daily milk yield was significantly higher in crossbred dairy cows than local cows. Daily milk yield in urban production system was significantly higher than peri-urban and rural production systems. Daily milk yield in crossbred cows was 6.50±1.93, 5.59±1.94 and 4.35±1.60 liters in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. The average value of daily milk yield in locals was 2.00±1.05, 1.78±0.94 and 1.10±0.77 liters in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively with Lactation length was significantly higher in crossbred cows than local cows. Lactation length was 9.89±2.32, 13.59±3.02 and 10.40±2.55 months in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. While in locals, 9.09±2.671, 10.00±2.970 and 8.88±2.333 months in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively (p<0.005). The average values of age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval, number of services per conception and days open of local cows were 50.48±12.26, 61.75±12.57 months, 701.80±275.36 days, and 1.80±1.25and 344.7±283.2 days, respectively. While in crosses the average values of age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval, number of services per conception and days open were 33.21±13.31, 43.04±14.20 months, and 637.44±203.95 days, 1.90±1.49, and 222.3±127.8 days, respectively.. The reproductive performance of dairy cows in all production systems in the study areas were significantly affected by breed type. In all production systems, it is identified that the main constraints for the dairy production were shortage of feed and grazing land, disease and poor extension service in terms of credit schemes, supply of improved dairy breeds, accessibility to AI/bull service and veterinary services. There must be an attention on constraints that hinders the performance of dairy cows.