Effect of feeding oat and vetch forages on milk production and quality in smallholder dairy farms in Central Kenya

Abstract

Despite the significant livestock contribution to households' nutrition and incomes in many African smallholder farms, milk productivity remains low. Inadequate feeding is the main reason for the underperformance. To contribute towards addressing this, an on-farm feeding trial was undertaken in Ol-joro-Orok Central Kenya. A feed basket using oat (Avena sativa) cv Conway and vetch (Vicia villosa) was compared to farmers practice. Milk production (kg) and quality parameters, including butterfat, protein, lactose, and density, were monitored, and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) undertaken. Feeding both oat and vetch increased milk production by 21% (morning) and 18%, (evening), equivalent to 1.4 kg/day. Increases (%) in quality were butter fat (18.2), solid-non-fat (16.5), lactose (16.2), and protein (16.1). Concomitantly, the CBA returned positive results, supporting the hypothesis of economic advantage in using oat and vetch in milk production in the area, and possibly in other similar areas.

Accuracy of estimates of milk production per lactation from limited test-day and recall data collected at smallholder dairy farms

“…An intervention, such as concentrate feeding in Kenya, however, is likely to increase daily milk production by approximately 2 kg per day, equivalent to 600 kg per lactation (e.g. Mwendia et al, 2018;Richards et al, 2016). Detecting such an effect size would require 85 cows for CTD and between 102 and 141 cows for the alternative methods.…”

Evaluation of Mineral Contents in Milk of Dairy Cattle Fed Elephant Grass Planted at Ex-Coal Mining Land

“…Nutrition affects the quality and component of milk (Tyasi et al, 2015). Moreover, milk production efficiency affected milk quality because of the efficiency of nutrient absorbtion was affected by dry matter intake (Martono et al, 2016) as well as improved forages qualities have the potential to increase milk production and milk quality (Mwendia et al, 2018). Particularly, iron contamination in bovine drinking or milk processing plant can change milk protein composition and oxidation in the final milk product, which decreases the quality and nutritional value of milk (Wang et al, 2016).…”

Short-term mixed pastures of Lolium multiflorum, Avena sativa and Vicia sativa or Lolium multiflorum × Festuca pratensis, Avena strigosa and Vicia villosa for grazing low yielding dairy cows during winter in small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico

“…*Corresponding author e-mail: cmarriagaj@uaemex.mx World population will increase by 25% by 2030, increasing demand for foods of animal origin. Small-scale farming systems may contribute to meet increased food needs, but many are behind in technification and development (Mwendia et al 2018). In Mexico, 78% of specialized dairy farms are small-scale.…”

“…They include high workloads for farmers, feed scarcity in dry seasons that creates a high dependency in external inputs that reduce their economic efficiency. In Kenya, Ghana and Mexico, there is a pronounced decrease in forage quantity and quality during the dry season, limiting the development of smallscale dairy farming (Njarui et al 2017, Mwendia et al 2018.…”