Goat husbandry project
(In cooperation with the Kenya Dairy Goat Association (DGAK))
Very few farmers of the Western Province are wealthy enough to be able to afford a dairy goat or a dairy cow.
The local goats and cows produce little milk and are kept mainly for meat. The only possibility is to "up-grade":
that is, to breed the local animal with a high quality stud in order to produce productive offspring. However, the
insemination stations are mostly very far away and the fees exorbitant for many farmers.
For the project, certain farmers of the SOF-DI farmer-groups are selected according to strict criteria as buck-keepers and subsequently instructed by DGAK in successful goat breeding, and goat rearing. A goat stable is constructed according to the DGAK directives and special feed is grown for the breeding animal.
At the SOF-DI centres, neighbouring farmers can also attend courses to acquire the know-how for successful goat husbandry. They can also now get their goats inseminated for a small fee. In this way the buck-keeper gets the opportunity to become a small-scale entrepreneur.
Due to this project the offspring of the local goats are capable of producing milk. Consequently the standard of nutrition in families rises. Additionally, income can be generated by the sale of surplus milk
Why goats and not cows?- Goats are less affected by disease.
- Need less feed
- Goat milk has a higher market value
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