Cattle keeping is one of the most common form of animal husbandry in Kenya and all around the world. In Kenya it is practiced in arid and semiarid areas in form of pastoralism and ranching .It is also carried out in high and medium potential areas in closed housing structures.
Establishing a cattle farm can be costly . This is because the farmer has to take into account the cost of buying the animals, feeds, housing structures, vaccination, land and labour costs. The good news is that there is much for a farmer to gain after investing all that cash. The following will elaborate further.
Milk production.
It can be sold directly at the farm gate though not widely recommended due to risk of contracting diseases. It can also be sold to milk processing companies either as an individual farmer or through co-operatives.As a farmer you can choose to invest in the value addition of milk. This can be done by getting the necessary documents required by law to ensure food safety and hygiene and purchasing the right equipment. Here milk can be converted to yoghurt, cheese,mursik(a traditional Kalenjin drink which is sour) ghee, mala (that is fermented milk) or even milk powder. In fact in value added form there is a bigger market for milk products as even lactose intolerant persons can consume milk and it has many more uses.
Sale of heifers.
If the cows are really productive, in terms of calving intervals, birth percentage and mortality rate, this is one area to look into.
Biogas production.
If you have several cattle you can invest in a bio-gas digester. Fermentation of cow dung leads to production of methane which is flammable. This can be used for cooking. This gas can be distributed to neighbours at a fee.It is a renewabe source of energy and cheap.
Artifical insemination.
Embryos can be transferred to other cows (for a price) especially if from cattle that exhibit good gene characteristics. This can be done through artificial insemination institutes.
Manure.
Cow dung can be used as organic manure. It can be sold to other farms
Sale of mature cattle.
You can sell productive animals to other farmers. The finishing animals or fattened can be sold to middlemen or directly to slaughter houses .
Establishing a cattle farm can be costly . This is because the farmer has to take into account the cost of buying the animals, feeds, housing structures, vaccination, land and labour costs. The good news is that there is much for a farmer to gain after investing all that cash. The following will elaborate further.
Milk production.
It can be sold directly at the farm gate though not widely recommended due to risk of contracting diseases. It can also be sold to milk processing companies either as an individual farmer or through co-operatives.As a farmer you can choose to invest in the value addition of milk. This can be done by getting the necessary documents required by law to ensure food safety and hygiene and purchasing the right equipment. Here milk can be converted to yoghurt, cheese,mursik(a traditional Kalenjin drink which is sour) ghee, mala (that is fermented milk) or even milk powder. In fact in value added form there is a bigger market for milk products as even lactose intolerant persons can consume milk and it has many more uses.
Sale of heifers.
If the cows are really productive, in terms of calving intervals, birth percentage and mortality rate, this is one area to look into.
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| geograph.org.uk |
Biogas production.
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| Filckr.com |
Artifical insemination.
Embryos can be transferred to other cows (for a price) especially if from cattle that exhibit good gene characteristics. This can be done through artificial insemination institutes.
Manure.
Cow dung can be used as organic manure. It can be sold to other farms
Sale of mature cattle.
You can sell productive animals to other farmers. The finishing animals or fattened can be sold to middlemen or directly to slaughter houses .
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