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New grass set to boost milk production

Thursday, April 29th, 2021 00:00 | By
New grass set to boost milk production.

Milk production in the country is set to increase by between 15 per cent and 40 per cent per year, thanks to launch of new high quality feed grass varieties, researchers reveal. 

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) in conjunction with counties launched four new and highly nutritious Bracharia (Urochloa) early this week, moving closer to taming the high costs of production in dairy farming.  

The new grass types include Toledo, Piata, MG-4 and Basilisk. Kalro Director General Eliud Kireger said the new feeds are expected to reduce cost of feeds drastically that currently account for 60 per cent of the total dairy farming production cost.  

The new varieties are expected to enormously supplement feeding on cows traditional vegetation fed on livestock’s has so far been approved by relevant Government agencies.

Launching the new grasses at Richard Wamakau farm in Kangundo, Makueni County, Kireger said once fully adopted by all farmers will transform the livestock industry.

He said rigorous research to develop the new varieties started in 2011 by a team of scientists from Kalro. 

Kireger said introduction of the 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.  

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