Livestock Kenya - Connecting Livestock Farmers and Professionals

Pig market in Kenya

Live pig markets

Although livestock markets are spread throughout the country there are no live pig markets in Kenya. This is owing to the many problems that have faced the pig industry in the past. Traders move from village to village looking for pigs where live pigs are sold at the farm gate. They then transport the live pigs to the various destinations where money exchange hands. However Farmer’s Choice Limited does not buy live pigs. Instead farmers transport them to the factory and are paid according to cold dressed weight (CDW) after slaughter.

Some credit facilities available to livestock farmers in Kenya

Access to credit can help livestock farmers boost production and employ better methods of livestock farming. It is estimated that 36% of rural Kenyans have no access to any form of financial services.  Access to financial services is one of the obstacles that many farmers have to overcome to be able to engage in commercial livestock production.

Machine milking and milking machines

Machine milking is gradually being adopted in many large farms in Kenya because it reduces labour and performs a better quality milking job than hand milking. However, because most dairy farms have small herds sizes and cheap labour farmers do not see the need to install milking machines. This is also because milking machines require power and are more expensive to install compared to the few equipment needed for hand milking.

Managing reproduction in goats

Reproduction in goats is vital for production of milk, meat and fibre. It is the principal goal of the producer so as to have a steady supply of animal products. Reproduction influences the number of surplus animals for sale or culling. Goat products are the end result of reproduction.