This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
Meet Cyrus Ngumo, a 54-year-old farmer from Kiambu County who has found success in goat farming. His compound in Kirigiti is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the craft.
Ngumo's journey into goat farming began in 1996, when he started breeding dogs. However, he soon diversified into other types of farming, including chicken and goat rearing.
Today, Ngumo rears goats for milk, which has become a lucrative business for him. He started with just two goats, which he bought from a neighbour for Sh5,000. Six months later, he needed another goat, and that's how his herd increased.
Ngumo's goats are of the German Alpine and Toggenburg breeds, and they produce an average of three litres of milk per day. He sells the milk at Sh200 per litre to relatives of patients at hospitals, who take it to them.
Ngumo's secret to success lies in his attention to detail. He feeds his goats a diet of dry matter, including maize and wheat bran, and supplements them with vitamins, sodium, and selenium to prevent deficiency. He also pays someone to groom them and clean the pens every twice a week, keeping his compound free of animal odour.
Ngumo has equipped himself with knowledge on the different goat breeds, feeding, pests, and diseases, and housing. He has read books and watched clips on how to rear the animals, their feeding needs, and the prevention and cure of most probable diseases.
Ngumo's target is to have 50 dairy goats, but he faces challenges such as expensive food, supplements, and medicine for the animals. Dr Kenneth Wameyo, the secretary of the Kenya Veterinary Association, notes that sanitation, decontamination, and ventilation in the pens are necessary to rid mites off goats, which cause both health and economic losses.
Published on July 30, 2019, at 6:25 PM EAT.
