This study examines the characteristics of the smallholder dairy farmers in three West African countries, namely The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea Bissau. In these countries as in much of West Africa, milk is produced within mixed crop-livestock farming systems. Traditionally farmers own cattle for various purposes including milk, meat, draft animal power, and so forth. Milk and milk products in these systems play an important role in providing food and income. It is argued that an increase of milk production will generate more income and contribute to poverty alleviation. Whilst there is an increasing interest in smallholder dairy schemes by the different governments in the region, at the same time information on the current situation from the producers’ perspective is scanty.