Dairy Farming Conditions and Utilization Levels of Liquid Brewers’ Yeast in Kenya

Abstract

Dairy production plays an integral part in supporting smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. The desire to increase the number of dairy cattle is not feasible due to the reduced output of feed resources occasioned by climate change. Consequently, the need to increase productivity per cow is inevitable. Conventional protein supplements are costly; hence, the need to explore affordable nutrientdense alternative feed resources. Liquid brewers’ yeast (LBY), a by-product of the brewing industry, is a rich protein supplement in dairy production. This study aimed to assess the dairy farming conditions and utilization levels of LBY as a feed supplement in Githunguri Sub-county, Kiambu. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 457 dairy farmers in a cross-sectional survey. The findings revealed that most farmers (94.2%) fed their cattle on established forage/fodder and crop residues with supplementation. Even though 53.1% of the respondents were aware of the use of LBY, only 30.6% utilized it to supplement dairy cows, most of whom (96.0%) used it fresh without preservation. Membership in farmers’ organizations increased awareness of LBY (r = 0.732). Principal component analysis indicated that the benefits of using LBY outweigh the challenges involved with a loading matrix of 0.891 - 0.954 and 0.681 - 0.807, respectively. The low adoption and use levels of LBY as a source of protein supplements were due to low awareness. There is a need for concerted efforts by stakeholders in the industry to increase farmers’ knowledge base on the utilization and effectiveness of LBY in dairy production.