Evaluation of Dairy Cattle Performance in Smallholder Farms in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Dairy Production provides approximately 4.5% of the Kenyan National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributes to job creation along the value chain and food security in Kenya. However, individual cow milk yield is still low under the smallholder dairy production system which contributes 80% of milk production despite concerted efforts to improve productivity in the last few decades. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the productivity in smallholder dairy farms in Nyeri County with the specific objectives to assess feed resources and feeding systems, management of young and growing stock, reproductive and productive performance. The study sites were Mathira East and Othaya Sub Counties where 200 farmers were purposively selected from each. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on feed resources, feeding systems, calf feeding, age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), milk yield (MY) and lactation length (LL). Feed samples consisting of both forages and concentrates were collected for quality analysis. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0. The calves were fed first colostrum at various times: 0-6 hours (97.7%), 6-12 hours (1.8%) and >24 hours (0.5%). The calves were bucket fed (93.0%), suckled (5.8%) and both buckets fed and suckled (1.2%). The average amount of milk fed to calves was 5.2±1.51 litres/day. Majority of dairy farmers (59.6%) weaned their calves at 3 months. Common calf problems were; diseases (52.4%), inadequate feed (7.8%) and poor housing (2.5%). The dominant feeding system was stall feeding (74.2%). The common forages were Napier grass, Bracharia grass and Maize fodder (32.6%); Napier grass, weeds and crop residues (28.6%); Napier grass (20.3%); Napier grass, Maize fodder and legumes (Desmodium) (10.5%) and Napier grass and sweet potato vines (8.0%). Conserved feeds were also fed as silage (20.8%), hay (20.0%), both hay and silage (3.8%) while 55.4% of the farmers did not use conserved feeds. The commonly fed concentrates were commercial dairy meal, homemade dairy

concentrate, maize germ and soya meal. The amount of concentrates fed per day during early lactation were; 2-4 kg (47.6%), 4-6 kg (22.1%) and 1-2 kg (15.3%). The mean of AFC, CI, MY and LL were 28.5±2.84 months, 15.2±5.11 months, 10.7±5.85 litres/cow/day and 10.0±4.90 months, respectively. The main challenges in dairy cattle production were feed shortages (30.6%), low farm gate milk prices 28.3%) and high cost of feeds (17.8%). It was concluded that reproductive and productive performance were poor due to feed shortages.