County goat inseminator speaks out

Peter Wanjohi prepares a goat for artificial insemination. [PHOTO: MUNENE KAMAU/KIRINYAGA COUNTY]

By Munene Kamau

At face value, Peter Wanjohi Njiraine who stands at five feet and two inches tall is just another short man from Kirinyaga.

He, however, has skills which, despite his height, cannot be rivaled by anyone else in this county.

He has been an artificial inseminator of cows for some time until the same need arose for dairy goats.

“There are about 500 dairy goats in this county and demand for their therapeutic rich milk is greater than supply,” he said.

Mr Njiraine says on realising the high breed billy goats were few, he, he decided to take a course in artificial insemination for goats at Wambugu’s farm.

He says he gets imported goat semen from Kabete Veterinary Laboratories.

“The semen I use is imported and certified. Results are confirmed after a goat has produced a kid,” he said.

The Sh1,500 charged per animal may seem beyond the reach of many farmers but it is becoming a popular way of improving breeds.

He charges the same fee for cows, a move that has endeared him to farmers and encouraged him to soldier on.

Unfortunately, most goat farmers are not able to establish when their animals are ready to be served thereby skipping until the next heat cycle.

“When a goat is not served, this is a kid lost. This is not profitable because the more the animal gives birth, the more the profit margin to the farmer,” Mr NJiraine said.