- Wamae said with the rise of new technology, insemination guns are easy to use and effective, encouraging AI technicians and veterinarians to use them.
- Muriuki said milking machines have a gauge, such that the pressure is set in a way it cannot hurt the cow.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
Farmers in Kiambu county have been urged to learn new techniques of improving their dairy production.
The farmers, who were participating in a two-day expo on sustainable poultry and dairy ventures at Ndumberi stadium, were learnt from various players and stakeholders on different ways of mechanisation.
Dairy farming is the leading form of agribusiness for the people of Kiambu. The county has been the top producer of milk in the country for the last five years.
Key stakeholders in the industry explored different dairy farming areas within different lines of specialisation.
They also showcased simple machines and customisation that can be used by small scale dairy farmers in making their work easier, as well as sophisticated ones that can be embraced by large scale farmers.
From food production, treatment, to animal genetics, farmers at the expo learnt ways of improving dairy breeds suitable for the Kenyan environment.
Dr Geoffery Wamae from Atlantis Life Sciences advised farmers to embrace new methods of artificial insemination as it is affordable, saves time and a much safer and sure way compared to the old methods of service.
“I want to educate farmers on how to choose different breeds of different characteristics in cows. I deal with genetics in animals and I advise the farmers on how to ensure they have the right breeds,” he said.
With technological advancement Wamae explained how AI is done using a visual gun, which contains a camera.
He said they are able to observe the animal, trace and deposit the semen using it, increasing chances of conception.
Wamae further said with the rise of new technology, insemination guns are easy to use and effective, encouraging AI technicians and veterinarians to use them.
He also advised farmers in the dairy industry to embrace up to date catalogs in choosing the best dairy breeds with good characteristics.
Densley Holdings Kenya displayed various machines including simple milking machines, automated water troughs, milk ATMs and storage cans.
George Muriuki from the firm said milking machines help farmers in terms of ease of labour.
He said the availability and affordability of the machines can assist farmers in prevention of milk and udder contamination, reducing diseases such as mastitis.
While debunking the milking machines myth to farmers, Muriuki said the machine has a gauge, such that the pressure is set in a way it cannot hurt the cow.
"Most farmers fear that the machine might suck the animal’s blood, since it is a foreign object. The cow however, tends to hold back or hide the milk before it gets used to the machine, but eventually adapts,” he said.
Patrick Mwangi another expert from the Densely Holding firm said they also have a simple machine used as a milk and cream separator that can benefit every farmer.
“Immediately after milking, you can use the cream separator as long as the milk retains temperatures of about 25-30 degrees.
"Pour your milk in, turn the separator on and it will start rotating, such that you will end up with milk and cream from which you can make butter, cheese or ghee,” he said.
Mwangi said the small machine is suited for small scale farmers.
“Butter rakes in good money so the farmer will earn both from milk and butter,” he said.
All these and a culmination of such interventions will redefine agriculture for the people of Kiambu especially in the dairy sector.
The expo aimed to help anyone who was willing to learn something new or improve on what they had.
Judie Wambui from Muharata Fabricators, a company that fabricates machines for farm feeds said they have a silage chopper.
The machine she said can be used in milling and chopping of maize stalks either wet or dry and also milling of cobs, which farmers rearing cows, pigs or chicken can use.
Wambui said they also have a pelletiser machine that allows farmers to convert feed ingredients such as grass, rice husk, soybean meal into small dry pellets.
“While using this machine, the farmers only buy the grains and mix them to make pellets. The advantage is that the animals do not waste feed as compared to giving them grains,” she said.
Another company Sidai also showcased new interventions in the livestock pest control, especially ticks.
Alex Muriuki from Sidai said they have introduced two molecules in ultra dip, a ready to use post-milking teat disinfectant, with lactic acid and acid salicylates.
He said this will be able to address pests resistance to the chemicals.
Kiambu county is the highest milk producer countrywide with 430 million litres annually.
The mean production per cow every day in the country stands at 10.1 litres and Kiambu has been registering a production of 12.6 litres per cow.
As a way of increasing production, former governor, James Nyoro through the Governments National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project last year procured and installed a 1,000-litres per hour milk pasteuriser.
Also a 1,000 litres per hour high pressure homogeniser, a chiller, hot water boiler and an air compressor, uplifting the lives of dairy farmers financially.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)