Performance of Dairy animals Under Two Feeding Systems in Kiambu and Nyandarua Districts, Central Kenya

Abstract

To compare the performance of dairy animals under stall feeding and pasture grazing, a study was carried out in Kiambu (stall fed animals) and Nyandarua disctricts (pasture grazed). A total of23 dairy farmers were randomly selected. In Kiambu district, 11 farmers were selected with a total of 61 cows while in Nyandarua 12 were selected with a total of 102 cows. Data on milk production and reproduction was collected over a period of one year. Zero grazed animals had significantly higher lactation yields (p<0.05) than pasture grazed (3,150 vs 2299 kgflactation). In both feeding systems Ayshires performed better than other breeds. The crossbreeds compared well with purebreds in the pasture grazing system. Lactational yield increased with parity in the stall fed animals while for the pasture grazed animals, milk yield declined from 5'" parity. The calving intervals were long for both grazing systems (437 vs 513 days) the lower for stall fed cows. Services per conception were 1.85 for stall fed vs 2.36 for pasture grazed