Dairy farming tips from the Breeders ASK impressive show

About 5000 small-scale and large-scale livestock farmers and stakeholders had an opportunity to interact and learn from each on the best livestock husbandry management practices at the ongoing livestock breeders show and sale 2023. The show, which is currently underway at the Nairobi showground, is organized by the Livestock Show Trust and brings together different livestock breeds from East and Central Africa.

The exhibition is meant for industry professionals, entrepreneurs, or those interested in animal husbandry, to promote the breeding of quality livestock in the country.

The three-day exchange programme that began at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi on August 3 will run till August 5 jam-packed with exciting activities such as the fat stock exchange, trade exhibitions, demonstrations and presentations of Kenya’s Livestock dairy and stock auction.

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The farmers will also be able to learn various activities that will enable them to have better-planned feeding methods for their animals.

The demonstration also ventures into fish farming, silage making, and presentation on zero grazing methods and artificial insemination.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the sector is growing rapidly with the demand for meat growing on a dairy basis.

‘‘Because of beef and dairy products, the mitigation of deficit is going to be addressed by stakeholders doubling their effort through breeding and breed selection,’’ said in a speech read on his behalf by PS Jonathan Mueke.

The Agriculture and Livestock CS Mithika Linturi says that in order to increase productivity, there is a need to adopt modern technologies as well as embrace value addition.

‘‘It is better to use artificial insemination and embryo transfer and maintenance of pure breeds. The choice of breeds and adoption of breeding goes in relation with the prevailing environment and management systems adopted by farmers in the country,’’ Linturi added. 

The day’s pinnacle was the remarkable sale of livestock that saw Guernsey Supreme Champion from Egerton University fetch a trophy.

Kabarak Farm Dairies Limited took top honours in the Charolais cattle category with its exceptional breed Guernsey Supreme Champion.

The animals are popular for beef production, particularly in areas with more intensive beef farming.

They are known for their fast growth rates, efficiency of feed conversion and good fertility rates. They also have good adaptability to different environmental and climatic conditions

The company’s Manager Kimoi Moi, said the exhibition was an opportunity to showcase various cow breeds the company has as well as weigh their standards on the regional level.

‘‘We want to gauge ourselves with the rest of the region and see how best we are doing in terms of progress. We want to showcase our variety of cows in regards to the breeds we rare,’’ Moi said.

Moi said the production of the animals depends on the feeding programme as well as the attention given to the breeds.

‘‘We have a feeding regime in our daily feeding programme which includes the proteins and carbohydrates in the nutrition required. Beef is predominantly from pasture and sometimes increases the intake of feeding depending on either for slaughter or growing,’’ he added.

The company brought in four Guernsey animals for dairy and two Ayrshire for beef.

Livestock Dairy Judge, Cleophas Okore expressed his satisfaction noting that the cow caught his eye by expressing exceptional qualities upon handling.

‘‘An animal that will produce enough milk is portrayed in the structure, the functional trait of the animal. The animal with good udder, good teats placement, strong legs and feet as well as deep in the system of the body can carry a lot of raphage,’’ he said.