Cost of feed pushes farmers to the edge

Hannah Njambi, a Nakuru based dairy farmer is contemplating disposing of her animals due to the high cost of running the farm and poor returns.

Despite her milk having a ready market, it has become hard to run the farm as the amount that goes into buying feeds among other needs that outstrip returns.    

High taxation on animal feeds coupled with substandard feeds sold in local agrovets, she claimed, has affected quality and volume of milk production.

“I am getting nil returns from dairy farming, when I venture into it, I knew there was a market for milk which is the case even now, the only problem is the money that goes into running this farm. I am in a dilemma, I’m contemplating calling it quits,” said Njambi.

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She said most feeds sold in agrovets are of low nutritional value which forces her to purchase soya bean, maize meal and cotton cake to supplement the feeds.

A 50kg bag of dairy meal costs Sh2,500 at local agrovets. Her cattle feed on two bags of this weekly. In addition, she feeds them two bags of maize jam weekly, with a bag selling at between Sh1,500 and Sh2,000 depending on market supply.

The cows produce about 25 litres of milk daily, and a litre of milk is sold at between Sh45 and Sh60, depending on market demand. She, however, attributes the high cost she incurs on feeds to erratic weather as her efforts to grow her own fodder has been fruitless. “At times, I plant nappier grass, sorghum and potato veins to supplement animal protein but sometimes they wither before maturity,” she added.

Njambi has followed the dairy farming rule book - her animals are fed on the right diet, are vaccinated at the right time but the story has turned out different from what she expected.

Njambi ventured into dairy farming in 2017 after undergoing training; “I sold my six indigenous cows and purchased three Friesian heifers,” she noted.

Paul Njagi, the director of Livestock Services in Nakuru County, also a livestock production expert, said the kind of feeds a farmer feeds his/her livestock determines the quality and quantity of yields.

“Feeding is important in livestock production as it determines quality and quantity of milk,” said Njagi.

He admitted there is a challenge in terms of feeds being sold in local agrovets and advised farmers to do quality checks with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) among other research institutions.

“Quality of feeds can be tested in various certified laboratories and can also be crosschecked by yield production, an issue farmers should be keen on,” he said.

The county, he further pointed out, has been training farmers on feed production, silage making, and storage.

“Farmers are clustered in groups where they are trained on best farming practices, they are also advised to join saccos to enable them have more bargaining power while selling their produce,” said Njagi. 

 In 2018, the county produced 282 million litres of milk worth Sh9.6 million. Milk production is expected to increase to 324.8 million by 2022.

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