Upon entering Simon Njeru’s dairy farm in Kathunire village, Embu County, one immediately notices the presence of a cowshed, a feed store, and a fodder farm. The Seeds of Gold team observed two workers, located approximately 20 minutes from the Embu highway, diligently preparing napier grass using a chaff cutter.
With enthusiasm, Njeru welcomes us to Siria Dairy Farm, established in 2009 with a single cow producing six liters of milk for his family. Over time, the farm has evolved into a commercial venture, now spanning one-and-a-half acres and hosting 19 Friesian cattle. Presently, eight of them are actively milked, yielding a total of 160 liters daily.
Njeru emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in developing such a farm. Starting with a modest six liters from his first cow, he shares how subsequent improvements, including training on dairy management, boosted production to 21 liters. This success fueled his confidence to expand the farm.
The meticulous management of the farm involves grouping animals based on age and production stages for optimal handling. Njeru highlights the significance of clean milk production, profitability, milking can usage, fodder farming, and overall animal husbandry and management, all of which are part of the training provided through the Kenya Market Led Dairy Supply Chain Project (Kemdap).
Mburugu Dairy Cooperative Society in Embu town serves as the outlet for Njeru’s milk sales, offering not only a market but also training and extension services in collaboration with Heifer International under the Kemdap initiative. Njeru commends the cooperative’s support and notes the impact of the training on enhancing milk production through quality feeding and hygiene practices.
Having experienced challenges with poor feeds and herd diarrhea before the Kemdap project, Njeru now benefits from a feed processing plant at the cooperative society, ensuring reliable and affordable feed sources paid for from milk deliveries. He emphasizes the significance of monitoring feed quality through manure scoring and stays informed by watching YouTube videos and reading agriculture books.
Each of Njeru’s 19 cows is tagged for easy identification and record-keeping, tracking essential details such as age, weight, calving history, artificial insemination, cycling activity, and pregnancy checks. The feeding regimen involves three meals a day, comprising a mixture of hay, napier, and maize silage tailored to the specific needs of each animal.
The success of Njeru’s farm has turned it into a reference point for other farmers. Visitors from various regions seek training on consistent milk production, especially during challenging periods like drought. Agnes Kavatha, the project manager of Kemdap, highlights how reference farms contribute to valuable lessons that ultimately increase household income for participating farmers.
