Dairy cow breeders in Kiambu reap benefits as farmers from other counties travel to buy dairy cows due to the area’s suitability for dairy farming
Kiambu, being among counties that have been termed as good for dairy farming due to its good weather, infrastructure, and its record as the county that produces the highest amounts of milk in the country, has attracted farmers from other regions to Kiambu to learn and also buy dairy cow breeds in a quest to also get cows that produce large amounts of milk.
These have therefore made a section of farms in Kiambu County to not only keep cows for milk and meat but also specialize in breeding, especially of heifer cows.
KNA met with Ruth Sian, a farmer from Kajiado County who traveled to Kiambu County to buy a dairy cow. She explained that she was looking to buy a Friesian breeding as they produced a lot of milk
“I choose to visit Kiambu County to search for the right breed of cow that be ideal for my new venture in milk production due to the high demand of milk in my region,” said Sian.
She cited that her decision has largely been influenced by harsh weather conditions that has made it hard for people in her region to continue keeping indigenous cows and also lack of grazing space caused by selling of land that has left people with smaller pieces of land which is not ideal for large scale grazing
“I come from the Maasai community which is known for keeping large numbers of cattle, but this has greatly changed in the recent past due to regular natural calamities like drought which has Caused death of cows hence the deficiency of milk,” she said.
Sian further stated that one of the advantages of buying her dairy cows in Kiambu County was its proximity to Kajiado County hence making transport charges affordable.
“My aim is to find a cow that is pedigree and six to seven months pregnant and should be able to withstand up to four hours of road travel,” she said.
Paul Njau a dairy farmer and breeder based at Kiaria in Githunguri Sub county in Kiambu County is one of the many farmers reaping big from breeding dairy cattle.
The farmer who doubles up as a milk vendor and a dairy cow breed seller has adopted modern techniques which includes advertising his dairy cow breeds on social media sites, which has help him gain publicity in and out of the country hence raking in a fortune from the venture.
“Kiambu County has many advantages; it greatly benefits from being near Nairobi. This gives it a huge and useful market for dairy products, The County gets enough rainfall and has fertile soil and good roads. It also has easy access to vet services therefor making it ideal for this venture,” Njau said
His secret is in crossbreeding a Friesian heifer with semen from a fleckvieh bull and the offspring, he says, not only has high milk production rich in proteins but is also resistant to diseases among other benefits.
“I get customers from all round the country and beyond the borders as well. Our vision is therefore to introduce to farmers a breed that will give them higher returns hence encourage them to practice dairy farming as a profitable business,” Njau added.
From selling dairy cows and heifers, Njau earns profits ranging from Sh8-10 million annually. “My three-quarter-acre land hosts a total of 72 dairy cows and about 58 calves. A six- and above-month pregnant cows goes for Sh150,000 while one that’s not pregnant sells at about Sh120,000,” says Njau.
He further revealed that due to the increase of customers from semi-arid regions, their breed was not only cost-effective and has efficient feed conversion rate, that is, it eats less and produces more but also has the ability to resist diseases and was not prone to mastitis (a condition that causes the loosing of the udder) and has a longer production life.
In addition, the breed has a very thick skin that is not easily penetrated by ticks making it more resistant to tick borne diseases. Njau says the breed does well in regions like Rift Valley, Nyanza, Central, Eastern and Coast regions.
The most sought-after dairy cattle breeds include Jersey, Friesian and Ayrshire.
In Kiambu County, the Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society is an outstanding achievement. Formed to assist small-scale farmers market their milk, the cooperative has grown to consist of thousands of farmers. They produce milk and dairy products which go by the name Fresh, which is extensively recognized in Kenya.
The Kenyan government has also played a big role to aid and promote dairy farming, at both the national and county levels. Nationally, bodies like the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) play a key role in regulating and selling dairy products, also educate farmers on dairy farming including identifying the best dairy breeds of cattle. New support programmes have also emerged like the ASDSP which aims to increase farm productivity and help dairy farmers enter the market at the county level, thus ensuring that Kenya’s dairy industry stays a key part of the country’s farming output.
By Grace Naishoo
