Dairy milk farming

Dairy Full pdf……….
1. INTRODUCTION
Background Information on the dairy industry
Kenya is one of the largest producers of milk in Africa. Dairy is a type of livestock farming
whereby cattle are kept for milk production with sole purpose of selling the milk to the
consumers. Dairy farming is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors in agriculture at an
estimated rate of 3 to 4 % annually (National Livestock Policy, 2008). Dairy contribution to
national GDP is estimated at 4.5%, which is part of the 10 to 12% from livestock and 40%
from agriculture. Currently, milk based enterprises are attractive in Kenya and support over
1.8 million smallholder households and many more throughout the entire value chain. Dairy
production offers regular incomes and asset accumulation to families, thereby contributing to
MDG one of poverty reduction. The common breeds in Kenya are; Freisian, Jersey, Aryshire
and Guernsey. Milk production at the moment does not satisfy the demand hence the need to
increase production.
There are two types of dairy farming in Kenya namely commercial dairy farming and domestic
(subsistence) dairy farming. Smallholders’ dairy production contributes 80% of marketed milk
and milk products and provides a pathway out of poverty through enhanced household
incomes, nutrition and employment. Generally, informal milk outlets absorb most of the milk
from smallholder farmers accounting for over 86% of the total milk sold, while formal market
handles 14% of all the total milk produced.
Kenya is one of the largest producers of dairy products in Africa with an estimated herd of 3.5
million improved dairy cattle, 14 million zebus, 27 million goats, and 2.9 million camels which
are the main sources of milk in the country. The milk is primarily produced from cattle (84%),
camels (12%) and dairy goats (4%). The demand and supply projections indicate that the
current milk production will rise from the current 5.2 billion litres (2014) to a high of 12 billion
litres by the year 2030 while the consumption will rise from 4 billion litres to 11 billion litres
during the same period.
It has environmental advantages of enabling the use of green energy by using manure to
produce biogas for cooking and lighting and to fertilize fish ponds while slurry recovered from
ponds is dried to fertilize soil for improved crop production.
Milk production in the country is concentrated in highland eco-zones with high and bimodal
rainfall of central and Rift valley provinces (Table1 below). Dairy farming in the highland eco-
zones is favoured by low temperatures (15–240C) moderated by high altitude, lower risk of
diseases and a bimodal rainfall pattern that support high biomass production for forage-based
dairying.
REGION AREA/COUNTY
Central Nyeri, Nyandarua, Muranga, Kirinyaga, Muranga, Kiambu
Rift Valley Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gichu, Nandi, Bomet, Kericho, Buret, Sotik, Ngong
Eastern Machakos, Embu, Meru
Coast Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Kwale
Western Lugari, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Teso
Nyanza Lugari, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Teso
The medium and high rainfall zones have high population pressures and farmers have to stall-
feed animals on farm fodder, mainly Napier grass. This zone supports large-commercial dairy
herds on pasture grazing.
2. INPUT
The input in the dairy enterprise includes:
i. Dairy herd (animals)
ii. Dairy structures
iii. Feeds, fodders & supplements
iv. Machinery & Equipment
v. Acaricides and Drugs
(i) Dairy Herd
The productivity of a herd depends on the quality of the cows and the replacement heifers. The
herd is selected for high milk production and good fertility based on the following
characteristics;
 The cows must portray good to excellent conformation through the parities and
lactations
 The production potential of the cows must be well above the computed herd average
reproduction
 The cow’s reproductive ability should be high, calving once every year with a lactation
length within the normal 305 days
 The udder should be tightly attached to the body and be soft to touch with four
functional teats placed squarely and symmetrically on the udder. Long pendulous udder
is highly heritable and females with this should not be used for breeding. Big udders are
difficult in suckling the young and also difficult milkers. Big udders are also
predisposed to injury and mastitis infection.
 The cow needs to be officially registered with the Kenya Stud Book (KSB) and milk
recording with the Dairy Recording Service of Kenya (DRSK) and have its pedigree
known and production and reproduction performance quantified to qualify as a breeding
female
 Cows are culled based on physical deformities (e.g. poor body conformation, bad feet,
poor udder and teat quality, blindness) should not be selected for breeding.
Desired Dairy herd composition
Cows milk 45%
Dry cows 9%
Pregnant heifers 8%
Heifers (weaning to first service) 14%
Heifers (birth to weaning) 24%
(ii) Dairy Structures
The housing depends on the farming system where animals under the intensive are confined in
a zero grazing unit all the time, semi intensive are partly confined and partly grazed; while in
extensive they are left free range.
Figure 1: Zero Grazing Unit
A calf pen should be constructed where possible
from locally available materials. It should be
constructed to:
 Allow approximately 2 m
2 (1.2 X 1.5m)
space per calf
 B e well drained or bedded
 Be well lighted (artificial or natural).
 Be well ventilated
 S trong to stand predator invasion
Figure 2: Movable calf pen (slatted floor)
(iii) Feeds, Fodder and Supplements
There are several categories of feeds for dairy cattle namely; fodder, commercial feeds, home-
made rations and salts/vitamin supplements.
Figure 3: Home-made rations
Figure 4: Fodder- Napier Grass
(iv) Machinery and Equipment
For hygienic production and handling of milk the farmer is advised to use approved machinery
and equipment. This includes; milk cans, milk testers, cooling tanks and even processing
plants. This will also help extend the storage life of milk and enable value addition. Other