By MaryAnne Musilo

Dr. John Rugendo, a lecturer based in Kikuyu, has carved a niche supplying smallholders with Jersey cows that produce almost three times the milk of Fresians per kg of feed.

“Many farmers left Jerseys behind and shifted to bigger breeds like Friesians and Ayrshires, but I settled on Jerseys because of their production and the revenue they generate,” he said.

Friesians are Kenya’s most popular dairy breed due to their high milk output per cow, which can reach 40 litres of milk per day.

But their milk production is inefficient. To produce that amount of milk, they need around 50kg to 70kg of feed per day, which is hugely costly for farmers, and also means feed costs are very high for each litre of milk.

By contrast, Jerseys make milk much more efficiently with much less feed, said Dr Rugendo,

On average, a Jersey consumes about 14 kilograms of feed per day but can yield between 18 and 22 litres of milk a day. 

This means that for each kg of feed, a Jersey produces almost three times the milk a Freudian produces.

Their milk is also richer and creamier thanks to its high butterfat and protein content, making it perfect for value-added products such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. 

 “Their smaller body size makes them easier to manage, cheaper to feed, and more adaptable to different terrains,” said Dr Rugendo, making them far more suited for smallholders and mixed farming.

“The original Jerseys do very well in dry areas due to their tolerance to harsh climatic conditions. In small farms, they adapt easily because they consume much less food,” he said. 

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According to the Jersey Society of Kenya, these qualities give Jerseys an edge in producing premium dairy products.

Dr. Rugendo currently sells his Jetsey milk at Sh100 per liter and a Jersey cow at Sh350,000. But he emphasizes that achieving the biggest returns does not come just from the breed itself, but also from how farmer’s care for them, and most especially the quality of their feed and healthcare.

Kanue farm

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