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 that are meant to produce milk are fed on hybrid dairy animals feeds so as 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, often resulted in low profits.

Njoroge said he gets most of the animal feeds from crops such as cotton, soya, maize jam and sunflower which are locally available, as well as from Uganda.

“I ensure the animal feed are well sealed, they do not have any aflatoxins which can harm the animals as well as ensuring are 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 in a raised platform for proper ventilation.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Eunice Wanjiru