This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
Best Dairy Cow Breeds for Kenya's Regions ¶
Kenya's dairy farming industry relies on suitable cow breeds for optimal production. The best dairy cow breeds for Kenya's regions include Friesian, Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Jersey, each with unique characteristics and advantages.
Published on May 18, 2020
The Friesian breed is a popular choice for commercial dairy farming in Kenya's highlands, including Nairobi, Central areas, and cooler parts of the Rift Valley like Nakuru, Naivasha, Kitale, and Laikipia. However, they require highly intensive management and are best suited for large-scale producer farms.
The Ayrshire breed is another excellent option for commercial dairy farming, particularly in Africa. They are efficient converters of forage material into milk and possess other desired traits like easy calving, longevity, and are free of genetic diseases. Their milk has a moderate butterfat content of 3.9 per cent and 3.3 per cent proteins, making it ideal for drinking.
The Guernsey breed is a competitive dairy cow, able to effectively and efficiently maintain profits. They are light brown, grey, brown, cream, or black and possess some of the biggest personalities. Their milk has a high butterfat content of over 4.9 per cent and over 3.9 per cent protein, giving better-tasting products like cheese and butter.
The Jersey breed is renowned for their ease of calving, with heifers reaching reproductive age earlier than other breeds and coming into milk production earlier. They are more heat tolerable, widely adapted in areas with hot weathers, and stay productive in the herd longer than any other dairy breed.
When choosing the best dairy cow breed for your region, it is essential to consider factors like climate, feed resources, and production systems. Farmers are advised to source their foundation stock from reputable dairy cattle breeders who maintain pedigree records like Egerton University, Ngongongeri Egerton, ADC Lanet Farm in Nakuru, and ADC Kitale, among others.
