New Fodder Variety To Increase Milk Production

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has released four varieties of fodder grass expected to lower the cost of feeding livestock and increase milk production

Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass cultivars for commercialization namely Toledo, Piata, MG-4 and Basilisk have the potential to revolutionize the livestock industry by improving availability of high-quality feed, increase livestock productivity and improve farmers’ income and livelihoods.

KALRO Director General, Dr Eliud Kireger says the new grass cultivars can increase milk production by between 15 percent and 40 percent annually due to its protein content.

Livestock plays an important role in Kenya’s national economy with a direct contribution of around 12 percent of the Gross Domestic product (GDP).

Speaking during the official launch of the grasses at Richard Makau’s farm in Kangundo, Machakos, Dr Kireger explained that seasonal scarcity and low quality feed resources is one of the major challenges for livestock farmers in improving productivity.

He noted that lack of suitable forage options that are better adapted and resilient to climate change, recurrent drought and emerging pest and diseases contribute to low productivity thus impeding the country from meeting current and future demand for livestock products.

Currently, dairy farmers experience almost 60 percent cost of production in feeds but with the new grass the DG said the cost of production for farmers can reduce by 30 percent.

“Rigorous research to develop the new varieties started 10 years ago by a team of scientists from KALRO, the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) granted the registration of four cultivars with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) as licensee owner on   April 9, 2021 paving way for increased availability of seeds to livestock farmers in Kenya,” said Dr Kireger.

Dr Kireger said that already close to 80,000 farmers have received planting materials and with the experience seen so far indicating that livestock productivity can go up to 18 percent compared to about 8 percent of Napier or Boma Rhodes grass meaning thus more income for farmers.

The DG gave an example of Brazil which has been planting Brachiaria grass in over 120 million hectares contributing to making the country the leading beef exporter in the world.

“Although Kenya is one of the centres of origin and diversity of Brachiaria grasses in Eastern and Central Africa their contribution to livestock productivity has been negligible because of limited selection of suitable species for cultivation”, he said.

Dr Kireger further explained that the introduction of highly nutritious feeds is part of the Government strategy to increase milk production to 12 billion litres by 2030 from the current production of slightly above 5 billion litres.

Mr Richard Makau who started dairy farming in 2013  said with the biggest challenge being feeds,  and also dealing with drought in the area, he set out a little space to grow rice for the cows.

“I have seen results with the brachiaria grass as the cows are down well. I had started planting other varieties but discovered that brachiaria even with a small acreage I can get huge volumes necessary for feeding my cows,” he said.

Makau since he started feeding his cows with brachiaria grass, he has increased slightly in terms of milk production and moved from the initial 10 litres per cow to now 20 litres per cow.

 Dr Donald Njarui, from KALRO and the Principal Investigator behind the technology said the field evaluations shows the grass is fast growing, highly palatable drought tolerant and pest and disease resistant.

He added that the Brachiaria grass is native to Kenya which has around 33 species but worldwide there are over 100 species. “I advise farmers that it takes 3 to 4 months for the roots to fully establish  since it’s a civil plant,” he said adding that in comparison to the Napier grass that has been grown for many years  and is  susceptible to diseases,  Brachiaria, which is widely used in Brazil  can be harvested up to 30 years .

Dr Njarui said KALRO is exploring ways to produce the seeds but currently the farmers are using the splits.