Dairy goat production in Kenya: A review

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, dairy goat farming presents a viable option to ensure food and nutrition security in addition to playing an important socio-economic function among rural farmer households. Dairy goat production can improve people’s livelihoods mainly by providing milk for household nutrition and agro-income. Additionally, the dairy goat enterprise supplies breeding stock, meat, skins, fibre (hair), manure, and also acts as an insurance against emergencies. Further, in most rural households, dairy goats also serve socio-cultural functions including weddings, blessing ceremonies and circumcision rites, among others. In 2009, the dairy goat sub sector contributed about 15.2% of the total livestock and 4.8% of the overall household incomes in Kenya. Milk production is a high-priority function for those involved in dairy goat production. In the year 2006, exotic dairy goat genotypes (Alpines, Toggenburg and Saanen) were introduced in various semi-arid lands of Kenya which were characterised by low, erratic rainfall amounts (below 750 mm annually), high day temperatures (29o to 35o Celsius), insufficient and low quality feeds, inadequate health care and inappropriate husbandry practices. Dairy goats are more adapted to semi arid conditions and climate change in general than dairy cows due to their smaller body size and physiology and thus they are becoming more important to the dairy industry. Goat milk is more nutritious than cow milk, is more digestible and is thus recommended for young children, the sick and the aged. Besides, dairy goats can survive a myriad of biotic stresses including diseases and parasites, have low feed and labour requirements, need little start-up capital and thus can be raised by the vulnerable members of the society. This review was aimed at describing dairy goat production and related husbandry practices among dairy goat farmers in Kenya. Policy guidance on the necessary interventions to improve the sub-sector is provided based on identified opportunities and constraints. Key words: Kenya, dairy goats, production systems, productive performance, constraints, opportunities