Randomized controlled trial on impacts of dairy meal feeding interventions on early lactation milk production in smallholder dairy farms of Central Kenya

Richards, Shauna; VanLeeuwen, John A.; Shepelo, Getrude; Gitau, G.K.; Wichtel, Jeffrey; Kamunde, Collins; Uehlinger, Fabienne D

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.01.006

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…is trial result was similar to findings observed on SDFs in another part of central Kenya [29] where milk production was observed to increase by 0.4 kg/ day when Calliandra/Sesbania was fed to a cow (amounts were not measured in that study). e negative effect of feeding maize germ on daily milk production was unexpected (Tables 5 and 6).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya

Makau

VanLeeuwen

Gitau

et al. 2020

Veterinary Medicine International

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ere is a growing interest in protein supplementation of dairy-cow diets using leguminous shrubs. e study objective was to ascertain the association between diet supplementation with Calliandra calothyrsus and Sesbania sesban and milk production in dairy cattle on commercial smallholder farms. is trial involved 235 cows from 80 smallholder dairy farms in Kenya randomly allocated to 4 intervention groups: (1) receiving Calliandra and Sesbania and nutritional advice; (2) receiving reproductive medicines and advice; (3) receiving both group 1 and 2 interventions; and (4) receiving neither intervention. Farm nutritional practices and management data were collected in a questionnaire, and subsequent physical examinations, mastitis tests, and milk production of cows on the farm were monitored approximately monthly for 16 months. Descriptive and univariable statistical analyses were conducted, and multivariable mixed-model regression was used for identification of factors associated (P < 0.05) with daily milk production. e mean milk production was 6.39 liters/cow/day (SD � 3.5). Feeding Calliandra/Sesbania to cows was associated (P < 0.0005) with an increase in milk produced by at least 1 liter/cow/day with each kg fed. Other variables positively associated with ln daily milk production in the final model included feeding of Napier grass, amount of silage and dairy meal fed, body condition score, and appetite of the cow. Other variables negatively associated with ln daily milk production in the final model included amount of maize germ fed, days in milk, sudden feed changes, pregnancy, and subclinical mastitis. In conclusion, our field trial data suggest that use of Calliandra/Sesbania through agroforestry can improve milk production in commercial smallholder dairy farms in Kenya. Agroforestry land use systems can be adopted as a way for dairy farmers to cope with feed shortages and low crude protein in farm-available feeds for their cows.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya

Makau

VanLeeuwen

Gitau

et al. 2020

Veterinary Medicine International

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“…The study focused mainly on primary data that was obtained from farmers sampled using the purposive sampling technique. The farmers had been involved in a two months nutritional training trial in 2013 and were sampled using the purposive sampling technique because they had a newborn dairy calf and recently calved dairy cow (Richards et al, 2016). A total of 111farmers were involved in the 2013 study.…”

Section: Methodology Study Area Sampling Technique and Collection Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results suggest that 1% increase in the amount of concentrate fed to an individual cow was associated with a 9% increase in milk production. Richards et al (2016) found that an additional 1 kg of dairy meal concentrate fed to a cow per day resulted in an increase of 0.53 kg/cow/day in milk output. The difference in the results considering the two studies involved the same sample of farmers could be attributed to the cow's lactation period.…”

Section: Maximum Likelihood Estimates Of Stochastic Frontier Productimentioning

confidence: 98%

Economic efficiency of milk production among small-scale dairy farmers in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, kenya

Maina¹,

Mburu²,

George³

et al. 2018

J. Dev. Agric. Econ.

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This study aimed at evaluating the economic efficiency of milk production among small-scale dairy farmers in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, Kenya. Data were collected from 91 small-scale dairy farmers previously engaged in a nutritional study in 2013. The farmers had been sampled using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, entered into statistical package for social science (SPSS). Stochastic frontier production and cost functions were analyzed using the MLE technique in FRONTIER 4.1. The results showed that farmers were operating at increasing returns to scale of 1.495. The number of lactating cows, amount of concentrates fed to a cow and the cost of animal health controls had a significant effect on milk production, while the production cost was influenced by the costs of fodder, concentrates, animal health and other operating expenses. The mean technical and allocative scores were 0.687 and 0.913 respectively. The milk production could be increased by 31.3% through proper utilization of the available resources such as fodder and concentrates, while the cost of production can be decreased by 8.7% without affecting the output. It was concluded that through efficient use of the available inputs, like the fodder and present technology, economic efficiency would be greatly increased. The study recommends subsidized prices for concentrates.

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“…Dairy concentrates supplementation (Co): Higher proportion of concentrates in the diet especially during the first half of the lactation can increase milk productivity by 8%-37% (Agle et al 2010, Richards et al 2016. Higher concentrate proportion in the diet, replacing roughage can decrease CH 4 emissions by 15%-39% (Chagunda et al 2010, Hristov et al 2013b, Knapp et al 2014.…”

Section: Feed Intensification Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Average milk yield increases of the two FoCo scenarios were 47.6-50.2% higher than the baseline, which are modest increases compared to estimates by Rufino et al (2009) of 63%-79% for single dairy cows fed with similar diets. Experimental studies conducted in Kenya estimated gains in milk yield of 37% and 63% supplementing 3 kg day −1 and 7.8 kg day −1 of dairy concentrates during lactation (Moran 2005, Richards et al 2016. Growing Napier grass can have further positive effects on farm productivity for instance as effective vegetative barriers preventing soil erosion and nutrient losses (Guto et al 2011, Owino et al 2006.…”

Section: Synergies From Implementing the Most Beneficial Mitigation Smentioning

confidence: 99%

The contribution of sectoral climate change mitigation options to national targets: a quantitative assessment of dairy production in Kenya

Brandt

Herold

Rufino

2018

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture has become a critical target in national climate change policies. More than 80% of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) refer to the reduction of agricultural emissions, including livestock, in their nationally determined contribution (NDC) to mitigate climate change. The livestock sector in Kenya contributes largely to the gross domestic product and to GHG emissions from the land use sector. The government has recently pledged in its NDC to curb total GHG emissions by 30% by 2030. Quantifying and linking the mitigation potential of farm practices to national targets is required to support realistically the implementation of NDCs. Improvements in feed and manure management represent promising mitigation options for dairy production. This study aimed (i) to assess mitigation and food production benefits of feed and manure management scenarios, including land use changes covering Kenya's entire dairy production region and (ii) to analyse the contribution of these practices to national targets on milk production and mitigation, and their biophysical feasibility given the availability of arable land. The results indicate that improving forage quality by increasing the use of Napier grass and supplementing dairy concentrates supports Kenya's NDC target, reduces emission intensities by 26%-31%, partially achieves the national milk productivity target for 2030 by 38%-41%, and shows high feasibility given the availability of arable land. Covering manure heaps may reduce emissions from manure management by 68%. In contrast, including maize silage in cattle diets would not reduce emission intensities due to the risk of ten-fold higher emissions from the conversion of land required to grow additional maize. The shortage of arable land may render the implementation of these improved feed practices largely infeasible. This assessment provides the first quantitative estimates of the potential of feed intensification and manure management to mitigate GHG emissions and to increase milk yields at sectoral-level and at a high spatial resolution for an SSA country. The scientific evidence is tailored to support actual policy and decision-making processes at the national level, such as 'Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions'. Linking feed intensification and manure management strategies with spatially-explicit estimates of mitigation and food production to national targets may help the sector to access climate financing while contributing to food security.

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Randomized controlled trial on impacts of dairy meal feeding interventions on early lactation milk production in smallholder dairy farms of Central Kenya

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya

Economic efficiency of milk production among small-scale dairy farmers in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, kenya

The contribution of sectoral climate change mitigation options to national targets: a quantitative assessment of dairy production in Kenya

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