This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
Moses Kiptanui, a former 5,000m world record holder, has turned his life around, transitioning from an athlete to a successful dairy farmer and real estate owner.
His dairy farm in the North Rift region produces over 500 litres of milk daily from 20 lactating Friesian cows, generating Sh500,000 monthly from the sale of the produce.
With a herd of around 100 cows, Kiptanui's journey began in 1995 when he was awarded a horse for his new world record in 5,000m.
After selling the horse for US $10,000 (Sh880,000), Kiptanui invested in dairy farming, which eventually led to the birth of his dairy farming empire.
Today, Kiptanui's dairy farm is a model farm in the Cherangany hills, setting the pace for his neighbours who are focused on dairy farming.
A heifer at his farm goes for between Sh120,000 and Sh180,000.
"I occasionally sell some cows to my neighbours who want to establish dairy farming as an enterprise. The milk production has considerably shot up in the area," Kiptanui says.
He has employed 12 farmhands and an animal health expert to monitor the cows' production and general health.
Milking is also mechanised, with 20 cows lactating and the best producer giving over 30 litres a day. He supplies his produce to Brookside milk processor.
"Initially I used convectional feeding method before I built a dairy unit and invested in commercial feeds which are nutritious thus ensuring maximum production after improving on the breeds," says the 48-year-old former steeplechaser turned farmer.
Record keeping is of essence in his farm, with all the animals ear-tagged and their corresponding production and health status recorded and updated accordingly.
His farm is meticulously paddocked to ensure the animals are separated depending on their age, category of sex and production.
"Within the dairy unit there are only cows which are lactating and once they dry-off they are separated and fed with different feeds to prepare them for the next phase," he says.
He also sells pedigree bulls weighing up to 1,200kgs to established butcheries in Eldoret town for meat, while young bulls are sold to breeders.
"Dairy farming is profitable and with the right expertise, one can generate income into millions of shillings. To maintain prolific in my animals I serve the cows through Artificial Insemination with superior breeds," he says.
He has used the venture to take his five children through the university with ease.
However, milk price fluctuations, expensive feeds and unavailability of some high protein content feeds are some of his challenges.
He intends to improve the dairy unit fitted with a milk cooling plant and import high yielding pedigree breeds since those he has were locally sourced.
Also, insuring the animals is in his plans to sustain the enterprise profitability.
"To keep abreast with the changing technology, I seldom miss agricultural trade fairs and exhibitions besides visiting top dairy farms in the country," he says.
Kiptanui's real estate establishments include the Komora Centre, Utamaduni House and Tulin Supermarket in Eldoret, one of the structures that have drastically changed Eldoret's skyline lately.
