Herman Wanjau, a dairy farmer from Kiamumbi in Kahawa West, Kiambu County, is one of many Kenyan farmers who are benefiting greatly from dairy farming.
The farmer, who also works as a certified vet and dairy sector trainer, has incorporated modern farming practices and inventions, which have helped him make a fortune from the company.
Wanjau raises his livestock on two separate farms. The first, a three-quarter-acre farm in Kiamumbi, has 78 dairy cows of the Fresians and Ayshire breeds.
He also has a property of the same size in Ruiru, off Kenyatta Road, which houses another bunch of 80 cattle.
Wanjau states that he makes Ksh 6.7 million per year from the two farms, with profits varying from Ksh 2 million to Ksh 3 million.
His cows can produce up to 35 litres everyday. He milks the cows three times a day with two milking machines that cost Ksh 500,000 each and can milk up to ten cows at once.
The farmer notes that each cow costs Ksh 750 to produce, which he considers inexpensive given the output.
Farmers, he claims, cannot achieve such yields unless they use correct farming procedures, such as adequate feeding and keeping the animals healthy.
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He feeds his herd with hay, silage, and Lausanne. The farmer said that he started with nappier grass feed but switched to silage since it produces more milk.
According to him, a cow must lie down for 12 to 18 hours for optimal milk production, which is why he installed synthetic mattresses in the cow sheds to assure comfort.
“Deworm the cows often. Production costs spike very fast if a cow gets sick, so keep the shed clean if you want to produce clean milk,” he said.
To prevent disease, Wanjau has installed footbaths at all entrances and sprays the animals on a regular basis.
Through value addition, he has been able to enhance his profits and earn more than other farmers.
Wanjau sells his milk in bulk to local shops and in smaller quantities at the farm gate. He does not sell his milk through brokers.
Raw milk is sold at the farm gate for Ksh 50, whereas pasteurized milk costs between Ksh 75 and 80 per litre.
Wanjau’s farm specializes in pure dairy farming, and he uses technology to assure that his cows give birth to only female calves.
His cows calve once a year, and three months later, they are injected with hormones to induce heat before being artificially inseminated.
Wanjau has produced 28 new jobs as a result of the venture.
