High cost of animal feed coupled with lack of knowledge on the right animal feed for dairy animals are the main challenges facing dairy farmers in Kenya.
Duncan Njoroge, a renowned veterinarian in Nyahururu town, while speaking to KNA, said it is important for a dairy farmer to know the right animal feed for animals for enhancing milk production. "For example, animals which are meant to produce milk are fed on hybrid dairy animal feeds so as to boost milk production to about 40 litres especially with a good milk-producing animal," Njoroge said. "These feeds should be complemented with vitamins and mineral salt for extra nutrition." However, Njoroge pointed out that some of his customers desired to keep many animals while feeding them poorly, a trend, he said, that often resulted in low profits. Njoroge said he gets most of the animals from crops such as cotton, soya, maize jam and sunflowers, which are local as well as from Uganda. "I ensure the animal feed is well sealed and does not have any aflatoxins which can harm the animals, as well as ensuring it is well stored in the store awaiting customers," added Njoroge.
Njoroge advised farmers to avoid storing their animal feeds on the floor saying feeds should be stored on a raised platform for proper ventilation.
By Eunice Wanjiru
