Animals

Through the 16-member Kings World Self-Help group, Siaya farmers are rearing Black Soldier Flies (BSF) as an alternative way to get high-quality and cost-cutting feed BSF has been a more sustainable and affordable source of protein for their poultry, pigs, fish, and fingerlings. The cost of commercial feeds for poultry and pig farming has been […]

Moving from a concentrate to a fodder-based dairy production system can slash smallholder farmer production costs increasing farm profitability. Results from the Ireland-Kenya Dairy Project in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties have shown that feeding cows on improved forages can provide over 90 per cent of the diet requirements of dairy animals. According to the Kenya

Record livestock prices caused by loud beef demand is hindering Kenya’s attempt to replenish animals lost during Kenya’s worst drought in 40 years. With Gulf beef buyers flying into the country to compete with locals for limited beef stocks, the Kenyan livestock market is now a seller’s market with sale values up 10 to 100

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has developed an improved probiotic, KALRO Probiotics (KALPRO), that increases livestock production capability by up to 30 per cent, improves animal health, and reduces antibiotics reliance as well as mitigates emission of methane gas in dairy cattle. Probiotics are microorganisms that when consumed offer health benefits when

In April last year, Jack Logongo collected five egg trays daily from his 200 six-month-old layers. The onset of the notoriously cold weather in June saw this drop to just one/ half a tray forcing him to sell off his flock. This is not a unique experience; according to studies, cold stress can cause laying

Bernard Wagitu, the founder of Amagoh Dorpers, is elevating dorper farming across East Africa by providing the best dorper genetics that will serve to enhance both the growth levels and carcass quality of sheep for farmers in the region at an affordable price.  “Since getting sheep with better genetics from South Africa in 2016 we

Two dairy farmers and neighbours in Kirinyaga County have doubled their incomes through milk ATMs. In 2020, Franklin Ndegwa and John Kagure earned Sh35 a liter supplying their milk to a processor. Today, the dairymen jointly milk 700 liters, selling a liter for Sh80 in Kutus town. “Milk ATMs were a perfect solution for the

Through groups and cooperatives, dairy goat farmers can cheaply acquire KALRO high-yielding exotic dairy goat breeds.  These farmers pull their resources and purchase the research institute’s pedigree Togen or Alpine bucks are bred with local Kenya Dual Purpose Goats (KDPG) over five to six years to attain pure breeds with a production of three to

Packed full of protein and energy, sweet potato vines are a cheap but underutilised source of fodder. As feed prices keep rising and grazing land diminishes it is crucial farmers utilise this handy source of feed. Sweet potato vines are highly digestible by livestock and are often used to supplement low-quality diets to improve feed