Economic evaluation of crossbreeding for dairy production in a pasture based production system in Kenya

Kahi, A.K.; Thorpe, W.R.; Nitter, G.; Arendonk, J.A.M. van; Gall, C.

doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(99)00154-2

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In contrast, farmers in relatively wet coastal sites (Kilifi and Taita Taveta in zones III and IV, respectively) have significantly higher adoption levels of improved cattle. Generally, these results accord with the observation by Rege (1998) and Kahi et al (2000) that exotic cattle or their cross breeds are less adapted to numerous tropical stresses (e.g., poor feed availability and quality, disease and excess heat levels) in drier parts of SSA. Notes: a,b differences in the superscripts denote significant differences (at 10% level or better) across between adopters and non-adopters of improved cattle.…”

Section: Farm Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In order to address declining livestock productivity and rising poverty among the livestock-dependent households, deliberate efforts have previously been made by the Kenya government to improve local breeds (e.g., by promoting crossbreeding of Zebu and Boran to produce the Sahiwal) or through subsidised artificial insemination (AI) services targeting enhanced crossbreeding of local breeds with exotic ones such as Charolais, Simmental and Hereford. Moreover, upon economic liberalisation in Kenya in 1990s, private sector operators, including cooperatives joined the government in the provision of crossbreeding services, especially AI or natural bull services (for details see for instance, Owango, Lukuyu, Staal, Kinyanjui, & Njubi, 1998;Rege, 1998;Kahi, Thorpe, Nitter, Van Arendonk, & Gall, 2000;Bebe, Udo, Rowlands, & Thorpe, 2003;Kahi, Nitter, & Gall, 2004). However, the major focus of cattle improvement programmes in Kenya has been dairy sub-sector; the beef cattle sub-sector is relatively neglected by policy (Gamba, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Market and Non-market Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Beef Cattle in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya

Otieno¹

2012

JAS

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This study assessed various market and non-market factors that might have a considerable bearing on farmers' adoption of improved beef cattle breeds in dry areas of Kenya. A binomial (binary) logit model was applied to analyse survey data from a multistage area sample of beef cattle farmers. Results showed that about 53% of farmers in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya have adopted improved beef cattle. The main factors that were found to have significant influence on farmers' probability of adoption of improved beef cattle are peri-urban location, sale of cattle to abattoirs rather than in open air markets, and practise of agro-pastoral or ranch production systems. On the contrary, practice of nomadic production system, possession of experience in cattle production and larger farms did not have a favourable influence on adoption of improved cattle breeds. These findings offer important insights to development policy on provision of requisite services and institutional support in order to enhance the adoption of improved cattle breeds for better livelihoods in the typically resource-constrained arid and semi-arid areas.

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Section: Farm Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 91%

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confidence: 99%

Market and Non-market Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Beef Cattle in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya

Otieno¹

2012

JAS

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“…On the other hand, Brown Swiss dairy cows, despite their lower milk production level compared with Holstein cows, have drawn the attention of farmers for their milk quality traits (higher fat and protein content, and better coagulation properties) suited to cheese manufacture (De Marchi et al, 2008). Additionally, Kahi et al (2000) concluded that daily return of productive herd life was not significantly different among Brown Swiss, Friesian and Ayrshire breeds. However comparison of two dairy breeds in our study based on their milk production and economic efficiency under the Egyptian conditions are not available in the literatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Breed, Calving Season and Parity on Productive and Economic Indices of Dairy Cows

Mohamed¹,

Mahrous²,

Kamel³

2017

AJVS

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Key words:. Although the similarity in total variable costs and total cost costs between the two breeds, Holstein cows had higher return parameters, than Brown Swiss cows. Cows that calved in the winter season had the highest total milk yield, daily milk yield, and corrected milk yield (305 milk yield), than other seasons. Breeding costs were higher for spring calvers. In spite of the higher labor, feed, variable and total costs, there is a superior increase profitability of winter calvers in comparison with other seasons. Cows in first, second and third parity had higher total milk yield, daily milk yield, and corrected milk yield (305 milk yield) than subsequent lactations, consequently, they showed a higher return parameters. At the same trend, veterinary services, breeding costs, feed costs, total variable costs and total costs were higher in first and second parities. Our findings cleared that, Holstein cows, winter calving and first three parity were more profitable for dairy producers.

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“…A considerable effort has focused on the study of replacement decisions (e.g. Van Arendonk, 1985;Dijkhuizen et al, 1986), but few studies have addressed lifetime productivity in the tropics of sub-Saharan Africa (Kahi et al, 2000;Ojango et al, 2005). The objectives of this study were: (1) to quantify the effect of feeding on the lifetime productivity of individual dairy cows using the smallholder dairy systems of the Central Highlands of Kenya as an example; and (2) to identify the best feeding strategy to maximise lifetime productivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifetime productivity of dairy cows in smallholder farming systems of the Central highlands of Kenya

Rufino¹,

Herrero

Wijk³

et al. 2009

Animal

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Evaluation of lifetime productivity is sensible to target interventions for improving productivity of smallholder dairy systems in the highlands of East Africa, because cows are normally not disposed of based on productive reasons. Feeding strategies and involuntary culling may have long-term effects on productive (and therefore economic) performance of dairy systems. Because of the temporal scale needed to evaluate lifetime productivity, experimentation with feedstuffs in single lactations is not enough to assess improvements in productivity. A dynamic modelling approach was used to explore the effect of feeding strategies on the lifetime productivity of dairy cattle. We used LIVSIM (LIVestock SIMulator), an individual-based, dynamic model in which performance depends on genetic potential of the breed and feeding. We tested the model for the highlands of Central Kenya, and simulated individual animals throughout their lifetime using scenarios with different diets based on common feedstuffs used in these systems (Napier grass, maize stover and dairy concentrates), with and without imposing random mortality on different age classes. The simulations showed that it is possible to maximise lifetime productivity by supplementing concentrates to meet the nutrient requirements of cattle during lactation, and during early development to reduce age at first calving and extend productive life. Avoiding undernutrition during the dry period by supplementing the diet with 0.5 kg of concentrates per day helped to increase productivity and productive life, but in practice farmers may not perceive the immediate economic benefits because the results of this practice are manifested through a cumulative, long-term effect. Survival analyses indicated that unsupplemented diets prolong calving intervals and therefore, reduce lifetime productivity. The simulations with imposed random mortality showed a reduction of 43% to 65% in all productivity indicators. Milk production may be increased on average by 1400 kg per lactation by supplementing the diet with 5 kg of concentrates during early lactation and 1 kg during late lactation, although the optimal supplementation may change according to milk and concentrate prices. Reducing involuntary culling must be included as a key goal when designing interventions to improve productivity and sustainability of smallholder dairy systems, because increasing lifetime productivity may have a larger impact on smallholders' income than interventions targeted to only improving daily milk yields through feeding strategies.

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Economic evaluation of crossbreeding for dairy production in a pasture based production system in Kenya

Cited by 18 publications

References 25 publications

Market and Non-market Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Beef Cattle in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya

Market and Non-market Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Beef Cattle in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya

Effects of Breed, Calving Season and Parity on Productive and Economic Indices of Dairy Cows

Lifetime productivity of dairy cows in smallholder farming systems of the Central highlands of Kenya

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