Have you ever thought of producing 500 liters of milk per day if not 1000 Liters? Only less than 10% of dairy farmers in Kenya can produce 500 Liters of milk daily. The average dairy farmer in Kenya produces 5 litres per day, 150 litres per month.
Kenya has the best cow breeds in the region with high production potential. To achieve high production, you must get it right from the start.
This article details how to start a good dairy farm in Kenya with a high production of above 500 litres.
We’ll cover multiple topics in this guide. You can click the links below to jump ahead to any section:
The best regions for dairy farming in Kenya
The current breeds of dairy cows in Kenya thrive in cool wet regions where pasture is plenty. High temperature exposes these cows to heat strokes which inhibit high milk production.
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The central, and western regions and the Central and North Rift regions are the best in Kenya for practising dairy farming.
Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Bugoma, Kakamega, Kisii and Busia are the best counties for dairy farming in Kenya.
The weather pattern of the chosen region must be similar to that in which the cow is sourced. This is why cows sourced from the cold region of Githunguri, for instance, may struggle to adapt when moved to warmer regions such as Laikipia or Baringo.
Budget- How much you need to start a dairy Farm
Establish the amount required to start and run the farm for a year or two. This should entail a cost of; buying land, constructing cow burns, fodder and feeds, buying machines, electricity and water bills and labour. Budget the amount to invest in buying quality dairy cows.
To start a dairy farm with milk production of 500 litres, you will need the following: 0.5 Acres of land at Ksh 5M, Cows at Ksh 2M, Fodder at Ksh 150,000, Machinery at Ksh 2M, Electricity and labour at Ksh 100,000. For a production of at least 500 litres, you will require 40 lactating cows, each producing 15 litres of milk daily.
The average price for such cows is ksh 200,0000. This makes the total cost of buying good dairy cows ksh 8M with exclusive insurance of ksh 1M. Therefore, you need Ksh 18.25M to start a dairy farm with an average production of 500 litres daily.
Machinery includes cooling tanks choppers and solar systems.
Fodder and Feed source
Establish a reliable source of fodder and feed that can sustain the farm for a year. Prepare plenty of silage and hay to avoid stress in the dry season. Consider leasing extra land two or three acres for planting fodder in rainy seasons.
Cow Barn Construction
Cow barn construction should start after budgeting and having quality fodder and feeds. The top priority should at all times be cow comfort. Safety of cows and workers, Drainage, Aeration and sunlight should be considered for a healthy herd.
Engage professional agricultural consultants for the construction which should be within the budget. During the construction consider a perimeter fence for tighter security.
Cow Sourcing
With feeds and housing set, you can now start sourcing cows from reputable farmers and breeders. Quarantine the animals for 7 days before mixing them with other animals to prevent disease spread.
Check out; The Most Important Thing To Look For When Buying A Dairy Cow
Good Management
To ensure successful dairy farming, it is essential to manage and prevent pests and diseases effectively. Inadequate management of high-producing cows can lead to diseases like mastitis. It’s also important to improve biosecurity measures to prevent diseases like foot and mouth disease.
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