It is common among farmers to focus all attention on the lactating cows and the bare minimum to the calf. This should however not be the case for any farmer who wants to improve production in the long run. Ensure that your calves start off healthy as this is going to determine the productivity of […]
Give proper care to the calf in your farm Read More »
Goats and sheep were the earliest domesticated animals in human history. Goat milk not only fetches a higher price than cow milk, it is also more nutritious.Dairy goat keeping is lucrative for farmers moving away from traditional dairy cow rearing. Currently, Kenya’s dairy sub-sector contributes about eight per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Dairy goat rearing for health and wealth Read More »
By Caroline Mwendwa When egg prices dropped in November 2018 due to imports flooding the Kenyan market, local farmers were hit hard. They had nowhere to take their eggs, and some had to sell them at throwaway prices. Kiambu, just like other places across the country, was badly affected. To counter this adversity, the farmers
Kiambu Poultry Farmers’ Cooperative: The power of a visionary group Read More »
When egg prices dropped in November 2018 due to imports flooding the Kenyan market, local farmers were hit hard. They had nowhere to take their eggs, and some had to sell them at throwaway prices. Kiambu, just like other places across the country, was badly affected. To counter this adversity, the farmers got together and
Kiambu Poultry Farmers’ Cooperative: The power of a visionary group Read More »
Making good silage is not easy. However, the following tips can help to improve your silage quality: Whole-plant maize silage in dairy cattle feeding rations is preferred not only because of its natural high-energy value and good supply of fibre, but also because the whole plant is harvested, maximizing the yield. It also has up to
Tips for making quality silage Read More »
Kenya agriculture sector contributes 24% of the country’s GDP, of which 12% is contributed by the livestock sub-sector. According to a report by ILRI, 80% of all livestock reared in Kenya are affected by biting flies such as tsetse flies, and they form a major cause of losses in the agricultural sector, which amounts to
Simple affordable method developed by Icipe to manage tsetse flies Read More »
Vaccination is the introduction of an inactivated or killed (vaccine) disease- causing agent into an animal to stimulate the production of antibodies within it and create immunity.Poultry farmers who do not vaccinate their birds risk incurring losses due to disease outbreaks. Common diseases vaccinated against in poultry include Mareks, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Gumboro Disease,
What you should know about poultry vaccine Read More »
The quantity and quality of milk that a dairy cow produces is directly proportional to the quantity and quality of feeds given. Dairy feeds should be rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. On average, a dairy cow should be fed on 12kg-18kg of dry matter, which depends on the body weight of the cow
Getting the best from your dairy cow Read More »
Sunflower provides high quality feed for livestock, it also produces healthy oil for people. Most dairy farmers may not know the value of sunflower as feed for dairy cows and even chickens. The main source of feed for dairy cows is Napier grass, maize stalks and hay. The little dairy meal concentrates bought from agro-veterinary shops. However,
Sunflower is a good source of Animal feed Read More »
In Kenya, there are 10 dairy cattle breeds, with five of these used for only milk. The other five breeds are for dual or triple purposes, used for milk, drought resistance(adapt well to dry areas) and beef.Despite the benefits from dairy farming, few smallholders know how to choose breeds for greater profits.Let us take the
Why farmers should consider Fresian cows Read More »
