Diary of a Poultry Farmer: More pain as millers raise cost of maize germ

Margret Ruguru feeds chicken at their farm, Sky Blue Farmlands in Thika. According to many experts, using maize to make animal feeds inadvertently creates unnecessary competition between what humans and animals eat and this hurts farmers and consumers in the long run. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Quality matters to me most because I was once sold ground maize cobs with zero nutritional value as maize germ (Seeds of Gold, January 27) and the effect on my poultry was devastating.
  • Cereal by-products are used together because of their complimentary nutritional characteristics. In my case, I have already substituted whole maize with maize germ as the main source of energy.
  • Another told me that millers had been avoiding maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board following reports of contamination. As a result, they were forced to import more expensive maize from neighbouring countries.
  • Currently, we are net importers of all the livestock feed ingredients including maize, soya bean, sunflower, wheat and rice.

On November 26 last month, I arrived at the gate of a miller in Thika to buy maize germ and was shocked when the askari stopped me to enquire about my mission.

“Where are you going to?” he beckoned.

“I am here to buy maize germ,” I replied politely.

‘Okay,” he said, “Let me first call to confirm if there is any in stock.” I was alarmed because for over a year, I had never been stopped.

“Was the maize germ out of stock?” I wondered.

I sat in the car thinking of how I would spend more if I did not find the ingredient because I was buying a kilo at Sh18.6, the best deal I could ever get.

I had also tested the quality once and found it good.

Quality matters to me most because I was once sold ground maize cobs with zero nutritional value as maize germ (Seeds of Gold, January 27) and the effect on my poultry was devastating.

I normally formulate my own feeds to control cost and quality. I use maize germ, wheat bran, wheat pollard, fishmeal (omena), sunflower cake, cottonseed cake and soya as source of carbohydrates and proteins.

As I have intimated before, I use maize germ as the main source of energy (carbs) and if the price goes up by a few shillings, it makes no economic sense to formulate feeds.

You see, the sources of energy (carbohydrates) for formulating feeds include cereals (whole maize, low tannin sorghum and yellow maize) and cereal by-products (maize germ, maize bran, wheat bran and wheat pollard).

It is much easier to substitute among cereals because of similar nutritional characteristics.

However, cereal by-products are used together because of their complimentary nutritional characteristics. In my case, I have already substituted whole maize with maize germ as the main source of energy.

EXORBITANT PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS

As such, I cannot substitute maize germ with anything else, unless I go back to cereals which are even more expensive. Whole maize retails for Sh34 a kilo.

At one time, when maize germ prices went up, I was forced to revert to commercial feeds that then accounted for between 60 and 70 per cent of the total cost of producing my eggs and meat.

And when I formulate my own feeds, I save between 30 and 40 per cent per 70kg bag, but these savings depend to a large extent on the cost of the raw materials.

I proceeded to the reception but when the sales lady gave me the price, I quickly did a mental calculation and found that they had increased to Sh21 per kilo.

The lady informed me that the price of whole maize from which the germ is extracted had gone up again and that was why they had increased the price.

“Not again,” I exclaimed.

From my experience, every year, between November and January, prices of raw materials shoot up.

Although I decided to buy anyway, deep down, I felt there was something wrong with the animal feeds supply chain that needs urgent policy action from the government.

The response I got from millers was surprising. One told me they were waiting for further “instructions”.

IMPORTING FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Another told me that millers had been avoiding maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board following reports of contamination. As a result, they were forced to import more expensive maize from neighbouring countries.

I did not buy the arguments because traders are always quick to increase prices but rarely pass on savings to poor small-scale farmers like me when the shoe is on the other foot.

Six months ago, they were waiting for further “instructions”. Now, they are increasing the cost because of “high demand”.

In case the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture is reading this, I urge him to do two things to save farmers and boost the livestock sector. First, white maize is our staple food and production has never met demand, meaning, we always have to import from Tanzania and Uganda.

One way out of this quagmire is to allow millers to import yellow maize solely for making livestock feeds.

This will ensure that they don’t arbitrarily increase the price of raw materials for feeds every time the “demand” for white maize goes up.

I have consulted many experts who have told me categorically that “using maize to make animal feeds inadvertently creates unnecessary competition between what humans and animals eat and this hurts farmers and consumers in the long run”.

Second, the government needs to look at the whole value chain and see what incentives, including technological innovations, are needed to encourage farmers to produce more.

Currently, we are net importers of all the livestock feed ingredients including maize, soya bean, sunflower, wheat and rice.

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Your Questions Answered

Derosen Mark Busuru:I would like to get a plan for putting up a chicken house and cost estimates.

An ideal poultry house should provide birds with a comfortable environment and protect them from extremities of rain, wind, sunshine and weather.

The cost will depend on the choice of materials – wood, iron sheets or bricks. Avoid wood because it is difficult to disinfect. I would also advise that you visit a few farms to sample before you embark on constructing.

Samuel Masanza: Thank you for your advice on chicken egg-eating. The problem was sorted. This time round, I have a month-old chicks but they are already sneezing, coughing, having a running nose and eyes and reduced appetite. I have given Biotrim vet for medication but can’t see any change. Please, advice.

Please get in touch with Dr Mugachia a vet on 0721386871.

Stephen Mungeli:How can I learn how to formulate feeds for Kienyeji chicken?

Refer to Seeds of Gold of August 14, 2015. I also offer hands-on training but we are closed for Christmas until next year.

Nelson Munywoki: Could I please have a copy of the farm bio-security checklist you discussed two weeks ago.
Please send me an email. 

Wairimu Kiai, Donholm Nairobi: I would like to learn how to make feed for layers. Please advise on the ingredients required for chicks, growers and layers and their proportions per bag (70kg). Also please advice on the optimum feed per bird per day.

Refer to Seeds of Gold of August 14, 2015.

Susan Nduta:I would like to construct a strong stone house for chicken as theft is prevalent in my area. Please give me guidelines and plan if possible.

Stones are expensive. I would advise you use iron sheets and consider other security measures like a stone wall, guard and dogs.