Keep indigenous breeds to get more with less

Boran bulls. PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

What you need to know:

  • A recent study conducted by Tegemeo Research Institute, the Egerton University-based research agency, pointed out that farmers practicing zero grazing spend Sh19 to produce a litre of milk only to incur losses at the end of the day.
  • A pedigree Boran bull costs over Sh300,000, in-calf pure Red Poll heifers Sh140,000 and a Boran-Red Poll cross-breed goes for Sh100, 000.
  • These breeds are suitable for areas experiencing shortage of feeds like some parts of Nyanza.
  • The farm also raises improved Boran breeds which are a cross-breed between the local Boran and Hereford breeds which are much bigger than zebu.

MANY KENYANS venture into dairy farming with hopes of changing their fortunes for the better, but very few realise this dream due to a number of factors.

A recent study conducted by Tegemeo Research Institute, the Egerton University-based research agency, pointed out that farmers practicing zero grazing spend Sh19 to produce a litre of milk only to incur losses at the end of the day.

But all is not lost for smallholder dairy farmers facing this challenge. All they need to do is invest in high quality indigenous breeds who can produce more with minimal input.

This was the message given to farmers in the recently concluded Livestock Breeders Show held in Nairobi.

The event which was attended by a number of breeders including local farms rearing indigenous cattle breeds such as improved Borans and Red Polls, had experts advising farmers to go for pedigree animals that can do well in their regions.

Dr Eric Otieno, a vet and animal breeder at Mazao Yetu farm, pointed out that versatile and tolerant cattle breeds such as Red Poll and Boran are not heavy feeders and are good converters of feeds.

“Your dairy cow may be producing 30 litres of milk per day but what are you spending to produce 30 litres? These are the economics farmers should be looking at. Someone could be producing 10 litres but he is making much more profits,” said Dr Otieno.

Mazao Yetu Farm located in Koru, Kisumu County, specialises in rearing improved Borans, Red Polls and Boran-Red Poll cross breed cattle varieties in open ranching system.

FREE RANGE GRAZING

“These breeds are suitable for areas experiencing shortage of feeds like some parts of Nyanza. If, for instance, you bring in a Friesian cow into such parts of Nyanza it will suffer heat stress. Well, you might afford to provide it with feeds but at what cost?” Dr Otieno posed.

Red Poll, a dual-purpose breed introduced in the country seven decades ago at Lolldaiga Hills Ranch, is versatile and is famous for its beef and milk.

The Red Poll has good meat to bone ratio and is a good milker even under adverse conditions, experts say.

“They give birth to small but fast growing calves and by the time they are two- and –half years old they are already 400 kilos for male cows. If you get a female one you are sure you will get a good milking animal,” explained Dr Otieno, adding their Red Poll dairy cows produce 16 litres of milk on average per day.

“However, smallholder farmers who raise the cows on zero grazing system have reported up to 24 litres milk output per day.”

A pedigree Boran bull costs over Sh300,000, in-calf pure Red Poll heifers Sh140,000 and a Boran-Red Poll cross-breed goes for Sh100, 000.

The farm also raises improved Boran breeds which are a cross-breed between the local Boran and Hereford breeds which are much bigger than zebu.

Francis Ekwam from Marula Farm, Naivasha, who exhibited pedigree Boran bull weighing 600kgs at the livestock breeders show says that getting a good breed begins by selection.

“There is no magic to raising such a bull. Our cattle are grazed on free range but we spray them against ticks every week, we also do deworming and treat them against Foot and Mouth Disease after every three months,”Ekwam said.