Top 10 Dairy Farming in Kenya Questions

Tim Jumah
By Tim Jumah Agribusiness
Dairy Farming in Kenya

If you are considering starting dairy farming in Kenya, here are some common faqs you need to know about.

Before we begin our Q&A discussion, we will look at Kenya’s dairy farming requirements.

This includes land size and climatic conditions, essential in cattle rearing.

Next, if you are considering starting dairy farming, knowing which system you want to use to keep your dairy is essential.

In Kenya, three systems are majorly used, and these are:

  1. The traditional Open Range System where animals can roam and feed independently.
  2. Zero Grazing, where your dairy is confined in a given location on the homestead, and everything is brought to them.
  3. Lastly, Semi-Zero grazing is the combination of the above two systems.

Dairy Farming in Kenya FAQs for Beginners

In Kenya, different cattle breeds are meant for specific regions/areas. This is to say, in other words, that a cattle breed in Nyeri may not do well in the hot and humid environment of Kisumu.

Wait a minute. Did I get you startled? Don’t worry; KARI introduced Cross Breeds in Kenya to improve rearing and production characteristics such as milk and growth rate, among other things.

Generally speaking, Kenya’s types of hybrid cattle are another day’s topic. Let’s focus on what brought you to this site in the first place.

1: How much space do I need for dairy farming in Kenya?

First, take a look at how you want to utilize the available space that you have. Then, take a look also at how much pasture you have.

In short, these are some of the things to consider:

Resting space.
Shelter from wind and wet conditions.
Air quality
Bedding Area

2: What is the cost of a dairy cow in Kenya?

A cow’s price depends on the breed type and the cow’s age/condition. For example, a pregnant cow is more expensive than a regular cow.

3: How much does it cost to purchase a calf?

The cost of a calf in Kenya is also dependent on the type of breed you want. The average price of a single calf is between Ksh 9 000 – Ksh 20,000, depending on your location.

4: Which is the highest milk-producing cow in Kenya?

Fleckvieh, a new breed in Kenya, is the most sought after and is the best type of species to go to. That is if you’re looking for meat & milk production in terms of quality and quantity.

The next sort after cattle breed in Kenya is the Friesian cow, followed by the Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Jersey. Note all these are European breeds.

5: How many liters of milk does Fleckvieh produce?

The average milk production in cows usually increases as the cow age and give more calves. For Fleckvieh, after the first calving, the average milk production of a well-fed Fleckvieh is between 25 -30 liters a day.
This, in turn, will increase to 30-35 and then 35-40 after the second and third calving, respectively.

6: Dairy Farming in Kenya: How many calves can a cow have in a year

Generally speaking, a cow gives birth every 12 to 14 months. This means that in its 6-8 years lifespan, a dairy cow can give birth 4 -5 times.

7: How long can a cow live?

Cattle can live up to 20 -26 years on average. However, allowing them to live up to 6-8 years of their productive lives is recommended.

8: How long can dairy cattle in Kenya be milked?

With new cattle breeds, one can milk the cow between 10 -12 months. However, it is good to know that milk production volume gradually increases as the cow calves. This means that you can milk a cow probably its whole life.

9: Dairy Farming in Kenya: At what age do dairy cattle bear a calf

The age of calving is depended upon the type of breed. However, the minimum calving age for cross-breeds and hybrid is two years. And that of a traditional cow is three years.

10: How long does it take for a calf to mature?

It takes about two years for the calf to mature for all cattle breeds and another six months for it to start breeding.

If you intend to use it for meat consumption, it takes three years for a bull to mature fully.
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By Tim Jumah
Jumah has been a content writer for business and technology topics since early 2019. He has experience in writing and marketing and is dedicated to creating informative and engaging content.
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