Summary
-The cows live in a 15 by 22 feet shed. The same area
has the capacity to host up to 24 cows.
has the capacity to host up to 24 cows.
 |
| Peter Mathenge's cows |
-Mathenge alternates television and music so that the
cows do not get bored. Beautiful bungalows and maisonettes line up
cows do not get bored. Beautiful bungalows and maisonettes line up
Section 58, an upper income estate in Nakuru.
Most of the homes have neat lawns and
flower beds, making the environment classy,
the reason why the area is one of the most
sought-after in the county.
flower beds, making the environment classy,
the reason why the area is one of the most
sought-after in the county.
It is hard to imagine that one can engage in
any kind of farming in this posh
neighbourhood located between the Nairobi-
Nakuru highway and Lake Nakuru National
Park.
any kind of farming in this posh
neighbourhood located between the Nairobi-
Nakuru highway and Lake Nakuru National
Park.
However, one farmer keeps 18 dairy cows in
Gate Four on a quarter acre.
Gate Four on a quarter acre.
The cows live in a 15 by 22 feet shed. The
same area has the capacity to host up to 24
cows.
same area has the capacity to host up to 24
cows.
You would be forgiven to think that the cows
are trained on good hygiene given the
cleanliness of the shed.
are trained on good hygiene given the
cleanliness of the shed.
At the far end of the room hosting the
cowsheds is a television set – for the cows and
the four workers.
cowsheds is a television set – for the cows and
the four workers.
“I travelled to Netherlands two years ago and
found out that cows not only like listening to
music, but also watching television,” says
Peter Mathenge, the manager of the farm called Ndykak Investments.
found out that cows not only like listening to
music, but also watching television,” says
Peter Mathenge, the manager of the farm called Ndykak Investments.
Mathenge alternates television and music so
that the cows do not get bored.
that the cows do not get bored.
The farm’s four attendants work in shifts of
two, day and night to ensure the cows are
attended to round the clock.
two, day and night to ensure the cows are
attended to round the clock.
“They clean the sheds early in the morning
and late evening using detergents and if
necessary in between to make sure the place
is clean.”
and late evening using detergents and if
necessary in between to make sure the place
is clean.”
Their duties also include feeding the animals,
according to the instructed ratios.
according to the instructed ratios.
“We feed them with fodder thrice a day; each
meal is usually 10kg bringing it to a total of
30kg a day for mature animals,” says
Mathenge.
meal is usually 10kg bringing it to a total of
30kg a day for mature animals,” says
Mathenge.
The thorough cleaning is what has enabled
the family to maintain high standards of
hygiene, and avoid polluting the environment
since 1992 when they transferred the animals
to the estate.
the family to maintain high standards of
hygiene, and avoid polluting the environment
since 1992 when they transferred the animals
to the estate.
MOVED FROM RONGAI
The owner of the home, Mzee Joram Kamau
(now deceased), a founder of one of the
leading supermarket chains in the country,
was affected by politically instigated ethnic
violence that hit Rongai, where he was living.
The owner of the home, Mzee Joram Kamau
(now deceased), a founder of one of the
leading supermarket chains in the country,
was affected by politically instigated ethnic
violence that hit Rongai, where he was living.
His children advised him to move from Rongai
to Nakuru but he would not imagine parting
with his three cows.
to Nakuru but he would not imagine parting
with his three cows.
“His love for cows was what stood between
him and his decision to move to Nakuru
where he would be safer,” recounts
Mathenge. One of his sons offered to
transport the three cows to Section 58, where
he rented the house that they have since
bought.
him and his decision to move to Nakuru
where he would be safer,” recounts
Mathenge. One of his sons offered to
transport the three cows to Section 58, where
he rented the house that they have since
bought.
“The old man did not believe that his
grandchildren should drink milk bought from
shops or any other source.”
grandchildren should drink milk bought from
shops or any other source.”
After he passed on in 1993, according to
Mathenge, his son took over the farm to keep
his father’s dream alive.
Mathenge, his son took over the farm to keep
his father’s dream alive.
From the five lactating cows, they get more
than 100 litres each day, with each going for
Sh50. They also sell at least 15 heifers
annually, each at Sh200,000.
than 100 litres each day, with each going for
Sh50. They also sell at least 15 heifers
annually, each at Sh200,000.
Dr Githui Kaba, a livestock expert in Nakuru,
notes that like human beings, animals get
tired, tensed and fatigued.
notes that like human beings, animals get
tired, tensed and fatigued.
“Soft music is very important for cows as it
helps them relax and increase milk
production. As the cows listen to music, their
bodies and minds relax and they release milk
freely.”
helps them relax and increase milk
production. As the cows listen to music, their
bodies and minds relax and they release milk
freely.”
Though this practice is new in Kenya, it is
common in Europe and has been proven to
work.
common in Europe and has been proven to
work.
Githui adds that while some farmers may give
their cows the luxury of watching television,
soft music is enough.
their cows the luxury of watching television,
soft music is enough.
Mathenge, a Diploma in Animal Health
holder, acknowledges that milk production
has increased by between one to two litres
since he introduced entertainment.
holder, acknowledges that milk production
has increased by between one to two litres
since he introduced entertainment.
ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Initially, his cows produced 23-24 litres a day
but they have since improved to more than 25
litres.
Initially, his cows produced 23-24 litres a day
but they have since improved to more than 25
litres.
“The cows watch television when they are
relaxing while they listen to music from TV or
radio as they are milked. Pictures give them
alternative entertainment and by the time we
switch to audio during milking time, the cows
are more relaxed than if they had listened to
music only.”
relaxing while they listen to music from TV or
radio as they are milked. Pictures give them
alternative entertainment and by the time we
switch to audio during milking time, the cows
are more relaxed than if they had listened to
music only.”
Most of the milk is sold to employees of
supermarkets in Nakuru mainly Tuskys and
Naivas. However, plans are underway to buy
a milk dispenser so that the produce can be
sold to clients within the supermarkets,
according to Mathenge.
supermarkets in Nakuru mainly Tuskys and
Naivas. However, plans are underway to buy
a milk dispenser so that the produce can be
sold to clients within the supermarkets,
according to Mathenge.
The firm grows its own fodder that includes
yellow maize and napier grass at their farm
in Rongai sub-county.
yellow maize and napier grass at their farm
in Rongai sub-county.
They harvest and
preserve the fodder in a bunker at a plot close
to Section 58. They mix the silage with dairy
meal, cotton seed cake and canola before
feeding the mixture to the cows.
preserve the fodder in a bunker at a plot close
to Section 58. They mix the silage with dairy
meal, cotton seed cake and canola before
feeding the mixture to the cows.
“The spaces the cows occupy are enough for
exercising to keep them active,” says
Mathenge.
exercising to keep them active,” says
Mathenge.
No new cows have been bought at the farm.
They have been improving what was
inherited from Kamau by serving them with
Friesian semen.
They have been improving what was
inherited from Kamau by serving them with
Friesian semen.
All the animals are generations of the three
cows, which have since died.
cows, which have since died.
“It is possible for people with small pieces of
land to farm in towns if only they involve
animal experts, who will help in maintenance
of hygiene and waste disposal.”
land to farm in towns if only they involve
animal experts, who will help in maintenance
of hygiene and waste disposal.”
Farmers, advises Mathenge, too should pay
their staff well — not less than Sh15,000 a
month.
their staff well — not less than Sh15,000 a
month.
The cows’ waste is turned into biogas, which
is used at the farm by the owners and
workers.
is used at the farm by the owners and
workers.
Over the years, the farm has attracted
farmers from different parts of the country,
including Meru and Mukurwe-ini in Nyeri, to
learn how to zero-graze on a small piece of
land.
farmers from different parts of the country,
including Meru and Mukurwe-ini in Nyeri, to
learn how to zero-graze on a small piece of
land.
Each farmer, according to Mathenge, is
charged Sh500, which includes lunch.
Farmers are trained on utilising small pieces
of land, feeding their cows and keeping them
relaxed through entertainment.
charged Sh500, which includes lunch.
Farmers are trained on utilising small pieces
of land, feeding their cows and keeping them
relaxed through entertainment.
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