This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Kenyan farmer Gilbert Ngetich's dairy farm has been making waves in the region, earning him a gold certificate for outstanding performance in 2019. The Sweet Farm Dairies Roret farm, which Ngetich founded in 2009, has grown significantly over the years, with the farmer now owning 13 cows.
According to Ngetich, he decided to rear Friesian cows due to their high milk production, with a single cow capable of producing up to 60 litres of milk per day. Currently, four of his cows are lactating, and four are in gestation, ensuring a steady increase in milk production.
At the moment, Ngetich milks over 90 litres of milk per day, earning him at least Sh. 4,500 daily and Sh. 135,000 monthly. He sells the milk at Sh. 60 per litre, and apart from selling milk, he has also ventured into producing butter.
"We sell the morning milk raw, but the one milked in the afternoon is boiled and from it we extract the cream that we sell to neighbours," Ngetich explained.
He also makes his own feeds, leasing three acres of land to grow boma rhodes, maize, oats, and sorghum, which are used to make the feeds. Each of his cows consumes 20-30kgs of feed per day, and from animal waste, he generates biogas, which is used in his home and farm.
One of Ngetich's greatest tips in succeeding in dairy farming is proper farm management, emphasizing the importance of keeping the sleeping area clean and dry to prevent mastitis and other diseases.
Aside from dairy farming, Ngetich has also ventured into beekeeping, with 20 beehives and harvesting at least 20 litres of honey per season, which he sells at Sh. 1,500 per litre.
