Impact of the zero grazing practice on milk production by the small scale farmers in Western Kenya
Abstract
219 words
The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the zero grazing practice on milk
production by the small-scale farmers’ in western Kenya. A cross sectional survey was
undertaken on 520 livestock farmers from Kisii and Bungoma counties in western Kenya.
The data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire that contained information
on socio-economic and demographic characteristics of household head, dairy cattle breeds,
number of dairy breeds, herd size, knowledge on cattle reproductive parameters, and cattle
production systems. Data was analyzed using ordinary least squares model (OLS). The
OLS regression predicted that the variable of interest, practice of zero grazing had an impact
(p = 0.015) on milk produced by the small scale-farmers in western Kenya. Other variables
that had an impact on milk produced were; farmers; knowledge of the cattle reproductive
parameters (p = 0.000), number of exotic cattle (p = 0.003), number of cross breed cattle (p
= 0.001), milk production as the most important reason for keeping cattle (p = 0.000) and
being above poverty line of Ksh 2,500 (equivalent to 28.90 USD) (p = 0.009). The results
confirms the importance of zero grazing, number of exotic and crossbreed cattle breeds,
having milk production as the most important objective for keeping cattle and farmers living
above the poverty line in enhancing milk production.
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