Preference and adoption of livestock feed practices among farmers in dairy management groups in Kenya

This report presents the results of a study that assessed farmer preferences and adoption of livestock feeds and feed practices promoted by the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) Project. The study was carried out in nine out of 21 sites where the EADD project operates. The sites are situated in central Kenya, north Rift Valley and South Rift Valley regions of Kenya. They include Kabiyet, Siongiroi, Sirikwa, Olkalou, Olenguruone, Metkei, Sot, Cherobu and Taragoon. The sample was drawn from farmers belonging to dairy management groups. Collection of data was through a formal household survey that was conducted by interviewing individual dairy farmers using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, feed practices on farm, farmer preferences and criteria used for selection, constraints faced in the production of livestock feed practices, proposed interventions and future plans.Farmers interviewed comprised 60 percent men and 40 percent women out of the total sample of 181 dairy farmers. The farmers were middle-aged; about 44 years old with an average of about 46 years and 41 years respectively for men and women. Almost all farmers (97%) had basic education. Overall land owned was about 13 acres with femaleheaded households owning less land than their male counterparts. The main enterprises practiced in order of importance were dairy farming, food crops (e.g. maize, beans and sweet potatoes), poultry and cash crops (e.g. tea and wheat). On average, farmers had about 13 years of experience in dairy. Livestock owned ranged from pure, cross and local breeds of cattle, goats, sheep and poultry. The majority of farmers (92%) had cross-breed dairy cows with an average number of 3 for both male and female-headed households. Only 13.8 percent of households had pure breed dairy cattle with an average of 6 per household. A higher proportion of male-headed households (14.6%) had pure breed adult cows compared to only 5.6 percent of female-headed households.All dairy farmers interviewed had knowledge on the improved feed and feed practices introduced by EADD and other institutions. Almost all respondents (99.4%) were aware of Napier grass and about three quarters were aware of Boma Rhodes. Only about 5 percent farmers were aware of Sudan grass, Molasses grass, giant setaria, serato and Guetamala grass. Among herbaceous legumes, lucerne was the most known by 74 percent of farmers compared to desmodium (42%). Among fodder shrubs, calliandra was the most known by 36.5 percent of respondents followed by sesbania (12.7%). Other fodder crops known by over 40 percent of dairy farmers included sweet potato vines and oats. The most known fodder crop residue was dry maize stover (42%). Among feed practices, silage ranked highest.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5716/WP15675.PDF

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