Machicha, or brewer waste, is a by-product of the beer-making process. It is rich in energy and proteins and is known for increasing milk production in dairy cows.
However, this does not come at an accessible cost. In dairy farming, one can focus on milk quality or quantity.
Many farmers love Friesian dairy cows for their high milk production. However, the increase does not come quickly, as high-quality feeding is paramount.
Check out This: How to make a high-quality dairy meal at home
Commercial dairy farmers have depended on machicha to increase milk production in the last two decades.
Between 2000 and 2010, machicha feeding significantly increased milk production. Later, after the keg was removed from the machicha, the quality deteriorated, reducing milk production.
As dairy farming advanced, challenges of feeding machicha emerged.
The wrong side of feeding machicha
Lack of sustainability/Addiction.
Dairy cows become” addicted” to machicha and cannot produce milk without it—any instant withdrawal results in an instant milk drop.
This made farmers enslave people and increased the prices of machicha due to high demand.
Cow value depreciation.
Most farmers hate cows fed on machicha as it is hard to manipulate or increase milk production.
Read: Deadly Silage: The Hidden Threat to Your Dairy Cows
Milk production on machicha-fed cows does not depend on the quality of feeding. Cows not fed on machicha are marketable and attract high prices.
Low milk production.
Ultimately, milk production deteriorates as the quality of machicha in the market reduces.
It’s expensive.
The quality of machicha is different from that of its loss. A 20kg machicha retails at ksh.150. Though cheaper than dairy meals, it does not increase milk production beyond average.
In conclusion, reduced milk is more expensive than increased milk in machicha scarcity and reduced cow value.
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