In the Nkandone area, in IgembeNorth, Meru County, sits Mlinzi Ni Mungu Dairy Farm, one of the most frequented dairy farms in the region.

The farm,owned by Isaac Nderi is solely for milk production and hosts 30 dairy cows of Ayrshire and Freisian breeds.

“The farm is solely for milk production and if a cow calves a bull, I give it to my two boys who help me on the farm as a way of motivating and appreciating their work,” Mr Nderi told KNA.

The farmer has adopted a unique way of boosting milk production through the use of fermented porridge which is fed to the cows to help them nap and relax.

In a single day, his cows can produce 150 litres of milk which he distributes in his two dairy depots located at Laare and the rest is sold to neighbouring homes and local hotels.

This translates to about Sh7,500 in a single day and a gross earning of Sh225,000 per month.

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“From milk only, I get about Sh100, 000 income per month after deducting other expenses including workers’ pay.

This is without including the amount of milk consumed by calves that are below three months, with each calf consuming approximately seven to eight liters per day,” said Mr Nderi.

He explains that for dairy cows to produce more milk, they need a lot of attention and care including better sleeping conditions, balanced diet, proper medical care and hygiene.

The farmer further emphasised the need to give cows dry grass and enough water because cows consume less of this than green products like fresh nappier grass, which only lasts in their stomachs for a short time.

“I give canola and sunflower to pregnant cows since they are rich in protein. They also need dry salts which provide iodine to expectant cows and whose deficiency has been associated with stillbirths and weak newborn calves,” he says.

Nderi’s cows are usually served two to three months after delivery, but if a cow is not ready for mating, he uses GONAbreed injection to induce heat and the cow becomes ready to be served after 24 hours.