Listen Pastoralists in faraway Mandera County in the north-east of the country have never been happier. Tales of drought, starvation and official neglect are gradually giving way to prosperity. And believe it or not, what is changing the fortunes of the people in the region is something many consider a nuisance – grass. In 2008/2009, […]
Listen Michael Wanyoike took up pig farming as a last resort, but through trial and error and his sheer determination to learn, Kongoni Pig Farm is a key supplier to leading meat processor Farmers Choice. He was a greenhorn then. Today, however, he is a self-taught expert whose work is attracting national attention. In the […]
Listen Shrinking lands, scarce pasture, unpredictable weather conditions and consumer appreciation of milk from other animals besides the cow have elevated the goat to a new pedestal of importance. According to the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya (DGAK), the future of goat-keeping in Kenya is already here. The best breeds to keep for milk are […]
Listen High-yielding animals require a lot of energy to sustain their bodies and produce at the desired level. Many farmers, resort to providing carbohydrate-rich feeds, especially maize, barley, wheat, and oats. In appropriate quantities, grains enhance production. However, too much can be harmful to livestock. Laminitis Feeding animals on a diet rich in highly-fermentable carbohydrates […]
Listen Dairy goat milk is a nutritious income earner, fetching prices as high as Sh200 a litre compared to cow milk which only fetches Sh50 a litre at most. Yet, few farmers have embraced dairy goats due to various challenges, such as lack of market and an acute shortage of buck. Dairy goat milk is […]
Listen Thanks to science, a simple and accurate 21-minute test using blood from the animal’s tail is enough to determine whether your cow is pregnant or not and can be carried out at your farm. The advanced “Rapid Visual Pregnancy Test” enables dairy and beef producers to establish whether their animals have conceived or not, […]
Listen Hybrid dairy cows like Holstein Fresians and Ayrshires require shelter from the elements and a comfortable area for sleeping. As we drive on the dirt road off Kiminini shopping centre, in Trans Nzoia County, nothing prepares us for the urban farm and animals we are about to see. We branch off through a small […]
Listen Choice of semen for artificial insemination and type of feed have a huge impact on the volume and quantity of milk your cow will produce during its lifetime. Improving quality milk from your cows Selective breeding and proper feeding is the key to high milk production, a prominent Nakuru County commercial dairy farmer says. […]
Listen Livestock is one of the sectors with a huge economic benefits and the potential for job creation especially in value addition. It will play a big role in the manufacturing pillar of the Big Four Agenda. Sh. 135.6b – Total value of marketed livestock and related products in 2018, up from Sh125.4 billion in […]
Listen The harsh realities of climate change that have made weather patterns less predictable and led to prolonged periods of drought are popularising a more sustainable feeding system. Death of animals due to severe droughts in Kenya’s dry lands has been a cause of massive losses to pastoralists. In an attempt to mitigate the blow, […]