This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
Geoffrey Kariuki, a University of Hertfordshire graduate and former aesthetic doctor, made a surprising career switch from medicine to dairy farming in 2014. With a seed capital of Sh. 280,000, he bought a Friesian cow and calf at Pokea farm in Njoro, Nakuru County.
Despite initial warnings from friends and colleagues, Kariuki's dairy farm has flourished, making him one of the highest milk producers in Nakuru County. He now earns an average of Sh. 250,000 per month from milk sales, which has turned him into a millionaire.
"I wanted to do something different. I love dairy farming and since my childhood, my passion has been dairy farming," Kariuki told Money in an interview.
Today, Kariuki's farm at Miti Mingi in Elementaita, about 40 kilometres off the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, is a beehive of activity as farmers from across the country come seeking fresh ideas on how to boost production. He shares his knowledge freely, without charging a fee.
From his current lactating stock, Kariuki gets an average of 350 to 400 litres of milk each day, which he sells at Sh34 per litre to Brookside. He milks his cows at least four times a day and has constructed a 30,000-litre water tank to ensure a reliable supply of clean water.
"Dairy farming needs a lot of commitment and close monitoring as the cows are like children, who need maximum attention and care," Kariuki says. He invites a veterinary doctor to his farm at least twice a week, whether the animals are sick or not.
What sets Kariuki apart from other dairy farmers is his use of best animal husbandry practices. He feeds his cows with millet and sorghum silage, mixed with napier grass, lucerne, oats, dairy meal, salt, and molasses in equal ratio. He also groups his animals according to their needs, feeding them between 20kg and 25kg of silage per day.
Published on July 22, 2019, at 4:36 PM.
