Renowned milk processor Brookside has urged Kenyan dairy farmers to adopt smart farming solutions and keep breeds that are cost effective and possess the required traits for milk production.
John Gethi, Brookside’s Director of Milk Procurement said farmers must work smart and keep breeds that are cost effective.
“For the animals to produce optimally, they must have efficient feed conversion ratios that ensure maximum volumes of milk,” Gethi said.
Statistics by Kenya Dairy Board indicate that over 1 million smallholders are engaged in dairy production in the country, with 500,000 direct jobs in processing, distribution and marketing of milk.
Currently, Brookside is involved in imploring farmer groups to invest in quality animal feed.
Apart from Taita Taveta County, Brookside also partners with dairy farmers in Kilifi where it has set up cooling stations where farmers deliver their raw milk.
The processor has 160,000 contracted dairy farmers countrywide where it provides value addition services which include training on better herd management.
“The formal milk market, which is mainly operated by processors, accords farmers more stability in raw milk price and offers a guaranteed market for raw milk,” Gethi said.
Gethi said Brookside was addressing the challenge of seasonality in production by offering free training to dairy farmers on animal feed preparation and preservation.