Murang’a: A good number of farmers in Murang’a County and across the country have ventured into dairy farming as their main economic activity, highlighting the importance of sustainable dairy farming practices. There is a growing need to embrace fodder that is easier to grow and preserve for times of scarcity.
According to Kenya News Agency, soil analyst Bernard Ndung’u emphasized that fodder should provide all necessary nutrients to animals to maximize yields, noting that feeds contribute up to 60 percent to a farmer’s success. Ndung’u urged dairy farmers to adopt fodders that offer a balanced diet, which in turn promotes faster growth and higher productivity in livestock.
Ndung’u advised farmers to choose sustainable fodder options, pointing out that many regenerate after cutting and have fast maturity and easy establishment. Recommended options include Napier grass, maize, disodium, Rhodes grass, and sorghum. Napier grass, for instance, is drought-resistant, easily propagated, and offers high crude prote
in and fiber content for good palatability, depending on its growth stage.
He highlighted a superior variety of Napier grass known as Pakchong 1, or “super Napier,” which has become popular among dairy farmers in Murang’a and beyond. Pakchong 1 is a hybrid of ordinary Napier and pearl millet, noted for its fast growth and high vegetative yield, boasting a protein content of 18 percent-double that of ordinary Napier.
In addition to Napier grass, farmers are encouraged to plant maize for fodder, as it is useful for silage making or as dry fodder storage. Small-scale farmers can utilize silage bags to prepare and preserve maize silage, maintaining its nutritional content for future use.
Ndung’u also recommended disodium, a leguminous crop that can be integrated with other fodder crops, maturing within 3-4 months. Disodium offers high crude protein levels, rich in minerals and vitamins, improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, and has pest-repellent properties.
Sorghum and Rhodes grass, perennial gr
asses preferred for haymaking, can be stored and used during times of scarcity. Farmers are advised to use certified planting materials and conduct soil testing to obtain accurate recommendations, thereby avoiding perennial losses.