@Alicewangechi
A farmer in Kangema subcounty, Murang'a county has urged Mt Kenya residents to take goat milk to manage their chronic illnesses.
In 2022, the Ministry of Health released data showing that Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Embu were leading in cancer cases.
The report also cited diabetes, hypertension and arthritis as other diseases ravaging the region.
Several studies have shown that goat milk proteins have anti‐inflammatory effects, which may benefit people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and allergies.
Hellen Waruguru, Shamba Dairy farm general manager said many residents are oblivious of the many benefits of goat milk.
She said those who are aware, have ditched cow milk for goat milk to manage their conditions.
“Most of my customers are suffering from arthritis, allergies, HIV and Aids, diabetes and hypertension. Goat milk is only second to a mother’s milk and is one of the healthiest,” Waruguru said.
The high nutritional value, she said, is what prompted her to start keeping dairy goats.
Waruguru said they are easier to keep since they feed less and also occupy smaller spaces as compared to cows.
A dairy cow, she said, can consume feeds enough to feed 10 dairy goats in a day.
“Our customers know that our produce is organic and can choose to take the milk raw for maximum benefits or boil it indirectly,” Waruguru said.
From the milk, she is also making value addition products such as soaps. lotions, yoghurt, butter and ghee.
The products are sold to specific customers due to the high demand.
Her farm’s currently produces about 65 litres of milk per day and each litre is sold between Sh200 and Sh220.
A 250 ml yoghurt is sold at Sh120, 500 ml at Sh210 and 200 grammes soap is sold at Sh200.
“Many of our customers are referred,” Waruguru said.
Her farm embraces agro-ecology, a practice that incorporates conservation and regenerative agriculture and uses the goats’ droppings as fertiliser.
She uses the droppings to make biogas for cooking and lighting the farm.
National Centre for Biotechnology Information, a medicine library for the US government, says goat milk proteins contain higher levels of some amino acids such as tryptophan and cysteine compared to cow milk.
Goat milk also has immunomodulatory effects that help in allergy management.
The milk also has anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties.
The milk can be used as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, allergies, and other immune system disorders and their antimicrobial effects can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria while reducing the risk of infection.
