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1. Talking notes(livestock section)
The major constraint experienced in small holder dairy farming in Nairobi county is
the quantity and quality of the feed supplied to the animals.
This stakeholders fieldday addresses this problem and in particular tries to come up with solutions
to overcomethe feed shortageexperiencedduring the dryseason. The demonstrations aremeant
to provide farmers with practical information on the agronomy of various feed crops that supply
the needed proteins and carbohydrates and how the products can be used for livestock feeding
for smallholder farmers.
Though the demonstrations farmers will learn about various sources of high quality pasture
proteins including dolichos,,sunflower desmodium and bracharia as well as sweet potato vines
which provide high levels of proteins
Modern means of pasture management have evolved to optimize use of forage resources in
pasture systems. Such systems require intensive management of pasture for optimal dry-matter
and nutrient yields and for optimal feeding and nutrition of high-producing modern dairy cows.
There will be trainings on pasture management and how to store the above products for use
during the dry season and especially during this time when the supply chains for the various feed
raw materials have been disrupted due to covid 19
Maintaining accessto adequate quantity and quality of feed resource is crucial for milkproduction
in dairycattle.There isa need therefore to evaluatethe feed managementamong the smallholder
dairy farmers in order to improve feed availability for dairy cattle.
Likewise, there is need to understand the coping strategies that farmers adopt in order to develop
targeted interventions to bridge feed scarcity during the dry season and maintain animal
productivity.
Farmers and other stakeholders will be provided with information on the technologies, agronomic
practices for the various fodder crops that can grow in Nairobi for increased production of milk
and meat.
The high producing dairy cow requires a diet that supplies the nutrient needs for high milk
production. Carbohydrates,amino acids,fatty acids,minerals,vitamins,andwater areall nutrients
required by the lactating dairy cow to meet the demand by the mammary gland to produce milk
and milk components. However, in order to develop the cow that will produce a high milk yield, it
begins with the nutrition of the calf and heifer. The feed sources required to achieve the above
will be on display and farmers and other stakeholders will learn a lot on how to achieve the above.