More hay is needed for Kenyan farmers to enable them keep the milk supply constant in the local market, an industry player has said.
According to makers of farm equipment Massey Ferguson, last year's drought affected both supply and earning of more than 600,000 dairy farmers countrywide, leading to shortage of milk.
Hay production should adopt methods that preserve nutritional value and efficiency in storage, as more farmers show increased interest in hay production equipment.
"Appropriate hay making equipment contributes significantly to achieving the desired results. The latest Massey Ferguson balers use centerline technology to reduce crop losses and work at higher speeds with reduced mechanical handling which give the farmers greater productivity.
A unique feature on these balers is the design of the knotters which allows for use of the organic sisal available in the local market," they said. Hay bales should weigh a consistent weight of between 15 and 23 kilogrammes, with a moisture content of 18-20 per cent to be safe for storage.
Ministry of Agriculture sessional paper Number Five of 2013 noted that fodder for cows accounts for approximately 70 per cent of the total expense of milk production.
Dairy farmers are highly dependent on rain-fed fodder, resulting in fluctuating seasonal milk output. During the rainy season there is a surplus of grass, but the dry periods cause shortages which underlines the need for more hay.
