This allows for easier cleaning. To boost his knowhow on goat farming, Murithi attends various seminars organised by the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya (DGAK) Nyeri for lessons. “Pedigree breeding also earns me money as the seed from my goats is sought after across the country, and I maintain very comprehensive records on all the animals on my farm,” Kihangi said. Goat Management Practices December 6, 2017. DGAK which was government and donor funded encouraged farmers to rear dairy goats as a source of income for families that could not afford the land space or money to maintain a cow. To start on this topic, I would love to let you know that Kenya produces 5 billion liters of milk every year. The goal of Value Magazine is to offer beneficial content on agribusiness, value addition, manufacturing, and productivity. When it comes to automated animal-milking, Israel is considered a world-leader. Send Message. In Kenya, the population of dairy goats is about 200,000 and 80% of these are reared in Mount Kenya region. Dairy goat production, as an option for enhancing food security and income generation in Kenya, is likely to benefit from this prospect. We have between 4-12months Nakuru, Naivasha East, JAN 1 – Livestock & Poultry - Goats 5. More about value addition on goat milk. Boschveld Indigenous Chicken Breed Information and management. Types: Goats 38. pure Goats 4. To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. Some goat breeds, for example, Toggenburg are known for giving birth to twins. Care of Pregnant Doe (She-goat) Protein supplements are important during the dry period (non-lactating period). Know that unlike local goats, dairy goats are bred for milk production and can produce up to 10 times that of the locals. In Kenya, the population of dairy goats is about 200,000 and 80% of these are reared in Mount Kenya region. Semi-intensive system in dairy goat farming, The reasons you should house your goats are to protect them from adverse weather, protect them from predators, protect them from getting sick, controlled mating and breeding, and make it easier to feed them. Goat milk is nutritious - Dairy goat milk contains more calcium, phosphorus, and chlorine than cow’s milk, making it a better, more nutritious alternative. View 1 review. Besides, whichever goat venture you choose also influences the variety of goat that you'll keep. Feed and water are provided to the goats. source. Half an acre of Napier grass is needed to feed one dairy cow, while the same can feed 5 dairy goats. The floor for the goat house should be raised 1.5 feet above the ground. With this, you will need posts, off-cut planks, nails, iron sheets, or the root and rafters or planks for the floor. Whether you are housing your goats for the extensive, intensive, or semi-intensive system of goat farming, the principles remain the same. Yet his love for animals–and specifically goats–brought him back to farming. It is all about planning,” says Macharia. These include intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive production systems. Goat milk has been known not to cause any allergies in children as well as adults. The hay store should be next to the goat house. “I focus on the best breeds and have won several medals and awards at Farmer’s field days across the country for the French and German Alpine goats,” he explained. Average farm size is decreasing as plots are sub-divided and farmers in Kenya struggle to find space on their farms to grow subsistence and cash crops as well as keep livestock. “I ensure my goats have adequate water and salt to supplement their diets and I also occasionally deworm the animals to maintain their health,” Wacuka said. In this comprehensive guide, we cover ALL the basics of making money with both […] Nov 24, 2019 - Is raising goats for profit a viable business in 2018? Dairy Goat Farming: A lesson Kenyan Farmers can learn from Israel. At her home in Thangathi, Mukurweini Constituency, her one acre farm is a buzz of activity most days as she tends to her goats and the one cow on her property. The hay store area should be protected from rains, so as to keep the hay dry. Housing for the dairy goats is provided, so as to keep them safe and comfortable at night. The goats are able to conserve energy, which can be directed towards milk production. DGAK Technical Mwangi Warui said the organisation had over 500 groups of farmers across the country that were actively engaged in dairy goat farming. Kenya Women Finance Trust The Kenya Women Finance Trust has a livestock loan product specially designed for rural women. Well, today, we will be looking at Dairy farming in Kenya. “DGAK helped the farmer’s access enough semen from German and French Alpine goat breeds that have currently are considered good for milk production,” Warui said. Goat’s milk has much more benefits compared to cow’s milk. Half an acre of Napier grass is needed to feed one dairy cow, while the same can feed 5 dairy goats. To stop the menace, I normally get a buck from DGAK in Nyeri to serve my does.” Moreover, small scale dairy farming in Kenya has offered employment opportunities to more than eight hundred thousand individuals in the country thereby upgrading their living standards. Farmers can use this loan to purchase dairy cows, animal feeds and expand dairy farming. In the intensive system, mating is controlled, where the farmer can decide which bucks and does mate and the time for mating. Problems asso… In 1998, Mary Wacuka started her journey into dairy goat keeping a venture which changed her fortunes and transformed her life as a farmer. Have a superior production capacity than a cow. The magnesium in Goat milk also contains selenium contents with its function in the human body including prevention of cardiovascular disease, thyroid problems, and cognitive decline, which means disorders related to thinking, cancer and improves on libido. Profits from this new venture surpass what I was getting from cattle farming by far,” she said. Dairy goats consume less - Goats consume less than cows. The kids need an area where they can be kept away from their mothers. In addition to keeping goats for milk, there are other value-added products such as goat milk yoghurt and cheese. In the intensive system, mating is controlled, where the farmer can decide which bucks and does mate and the time for mating. The small land sizes required for their rearing are especially useful in these highly populated areas. How to keep proper dairy records using the DigiCow app. Animals are identified by the women and inspected for health by veterinary personnel and KWT team. How to do it Right in Kienyenji Chicken... June 27, 2020. Select a calm, quite and noise free land for your farm. Dairy goat farming is increasingly gaining popularity particularly in the high potential areas where land for dairy cows is diminishing. Leave a Comment Cancel Reply. A good goat house helps you conserve goat feed. If you are grazing them, they will need less space as compared to cows. These goats occur throughout East Africa from desert to urban and known in tribal or local names. Mon, 27 January – Tues, 28 January 2020 Venue: St Pierre Marriott Hotel, Chepstow, NP16 6YA United Kingdom . 51 are triggers to alternative farming practices such as intensive dairy goat production [8]. Ziara Dairy Farm, Kimbimbi, Central, Kenya. Dairy cows should be fed with approximately 18 kilogrammes of dry matter in a day. Wangeci is among a group of dairy farmers in Kiambu who have switched from cattle to a new cash cow – the dairy goat. It can be increased when the cow is lactating. A raised floor system with spaces (slats) helps let the droppings fall out of the house. White to pale cream in color, they have black spots on the nose and udders and the skin is black spotted. Located in the slopes of the aberdares, in Othaya Nyeri county Kenya, … Both farmers are members of DGAK, an organisation that was formed in 1994, to cater to the needs of the dairy goat farmers in Central Kenya but has expanded to cater to the whole country. The common breeds of dairy goats in Kenya even though are foreign breeds are: Toggenburg, Boer, Saanen, British Alpine, ... November 10, 2020. 54 In Kenya, dairy goat production has mainly been supported by exotic breeds (Toggenburg, Anglo- latest Milk production on his farm has gone down after the local processor he used to deliver milk to stopped his deliveries. Yet his love for animals–and specifically goats–brought him back to farming. It can be increased when the cow is lactating. Once you get the right breed, the nest level of knowledge that you should desire to have is on how to take care of the goat in terms of feeding and nutrition, housing, health and disease control, and comfort of the animal. She explained that the dairy goats also provide her with an alternative source of income when sold off. Goat meat is also widely accepted and consumed around the globe, while the milk demand is steadily rising. Not have sharp-pointed objects that can harm the goat -  this includes protruding nails, iron sheets or sticks. Nyandarua hit by sharp milk price cut August 28, 2019. National Chairman Nutrition Association of Kenya Henry Ngethe said the nutritional value of goat milk is digested better than cow’s milk as it contains less lactose, goat milk contains less of alpha s1 casein protein unlike cow’s milk which is associated with allergic reactions. Her sentiments are shared by Ernest Kihangi, a pedigree dairy goat breeder in Muruguru village in Nyeri County. The goats are left to graze and also are provided for feed and water. By using our site, you agree to use our cookies. 1.Dairy Farming Milk is a necessity in a majority of Kenyan homes. Other drinking areas can be situated at the door of the sleeping area, where the door has a small hole for goats to access water during the day and night. The current world record 3430 Kg per lactation in temperate regions. 2. Dairy goats are versatile feeders -  Goats will feed on different plants, making it easier for the dairy goat farmer to get them fed, even during droughts. Venturing into it needs like 3-10 dairy cows for starters. Brachiaria/Mulato Grass Production Guide In Kenya (15,247) Ground nuts Farming in Kenya (13,006) How to grow Managu/Nightshade (12,557) Pig Farming In Kenya-How to make your own Pig feed on the farm (11,577) According to experts on dairy farming in Kenya, the more a cow feeds on dry matter, the more milk it produces daily. “We sell our goat cheese for Sh 1800 per kg due to the high cost of production while imported cheese may sell for Sh1200 to Sh 1500,” Karimi explained. Your passowrd must have atleast 8 character with a mixture of capital Goat farming is easy to start and very rewarding. offers! eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'value_co_ke-leader-1','ezslot_13',114,'0','0'])); Very informative post. Goat milk brings more income per litre than cow’s milk. This means that goat milk is able to provide the much-needed nutrients for the development of children as well as the well being of adults. There are many advantages that can be realised from keeping the dairy goats. Using off-cuts, though a bit expensive than using mud, makes for a durable goat house. our bucks have been born by a superior breed and so they are quality and most of them are ready to to serve. This means your flock will grow faster. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The intensive system, also known as zero-grazing is a system of keeping goats where the goats are housed. This is 52 because dairy goat production offers more multi-functionality, flexibility and adaptability to varied 53 production conditions. There are several advantages of keeping dairy goats. 1 1,180 . Raka Milk Processors in Nyeri County used to process goat milk into cheese between 2011- 2014, when they had to scale down their operations and now mostly focus on processing cow milk. A cow should drink 80 to 100 litres of clean water daily. The feeding trough area is where the dairy goats will be able to access feed. These include. 6. “I had been in dairy cattle farming for a long time but for the past five years, I have been trying goat farming. A goats milk is considered more easily digestible, the milk fat globules in goats milk are smaller than those in the cow’s milk, calcium content are higher in goat’s milk and iron contents lower in goat’s milk. Keeping track of what is happening on the dairy farm requires some records. Each litre is sold off to her neighbours for Sh60 earning her Sh720 per day, which she explained is almost double what she earns from her one cow which is Sh360 per day. The tassels (toggles) occur in up to 30% of the population. The bucks, does, and kids are kept in different compartments or houses. In dairy goat farming, most farmers get in with an exaggerated expectations, especially on daily milk production. They provide a quick source of milk for consumption or sale, which has an immense value especially to poor households. Borrow Money Here Today ( / Live Animals and Products) 10-18-2020. Currently Wacuka maintains a herd of 20 goats that are on a feeding diet of napier grass, maize germ and local weeds. They are white haired with a black skin, on the nose (m… Farmers in Gatamaiyu area within the county have been trying their hands on dairy goat farming, which they say is much more profitable than cattle mainly the venture is less costly. Dairy Goat Farming – Goat Breeds December 4, 2017. Why should you have a business plan, you ask? Goats in Kenya. The feeding area is an open roof area because goats need some sun. The sale of goat manure which she claimed is very good for coffee farming, brings in at least Sh8,000. Solid farming businesses in Kenya are hard to come by and goat farming is one of them. Mature male weigh about 75 Kg and females 50 – 65 Kg. Commercial meat and dairy goat farming in Kenya is growing quickly and contributing much to the federal income, economic growth, and better human nutrition source. Which breed of dairy goats should I keep? Written by Maurice Rangoma. 15,000 while a 6-10 months old fetches Kshs. How To Start Poultry and Chicken Farming in Kenya, How to farm strawberries in Kenya in 2021, Complete Guide to Open Field Tomato Farming, Mango Farming Guide - From Planning to Harvest, A Detailed Guide to Bulb Onion farming in Kenya, Complete Guide to Chicken Feed Formulation. Goats can be kept in multiple systems, depending on the availability of land and labour. By Value Magazine Team on 1 September 2020 at 03:49 am, Please make your comments as descriptive as possible. Dairy and meat goats will differ slightly in ways that affect production DGAK in Nyeri County area needed feed! Fall out of her 20 goats that are on a feeding diet of Napier is... 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