What to know before starting the trip

Dairy agriculture, although delicate, is among the most profitable companies in which we can get involved.

Experts believe that obtaining from the beginning of the beginning is a big step towards a smile at the bank.

Samson KIARIE, DAIRYSSE CONSULTING DAIRY DAIRYSSE PRODUCTION expert, has shared key information to become a successful dairy producer.

What is the first thing the aspirants farmers must do before venturing into dairy agriculture and why?

The most important thing to consider is the investment in the knowledge of dairy production.

This will give you the skills necessary to manage the main activities of agriculture that include the dairy market (milk market), nutrition and food, cash flow management and its cycles, the acquisition of dairy cows, human resources management, infrastructure development and general farm management.

About finance, what amount should we set aside to start dairy agriculture to obtain significant yields?

An important sum of money is necessary to manage a herd of cattle for a year, assuming that your fixed and variable costs will only be concentrates, mineral licks, a construction of cows, the purchase of incalf heifers, veterinary costs, the increase in calves and zero fodder purchases.

You need more patient capital to succeed in any investment to help you follow cash cycles.

The cycle of cash flows measures the duration of a company to recover the species it invests in the operations in progress.

Take an example of intention to keep three dairy cows each which cost 150,000 shillings (in the calf heifers). Assuming that you have land and have planted fodder, the other costs will be the construction of the cow.

You will need to reserve labor expenditure for about six months and concentrate for a similar period (24 bags of dairy meals and 80 kg of mineral shots) at the cost of around 100,000 shillings.

It is a Kenyan concept that supports the “Waanze Kujilisha” argument – so that the herd / company takes care of its own milk product expenses.

You will have mobilized SH182 250 to the sixth month, after having sold about 4,050 liters of herd milk – assuming that the waiting periods for the heifers are varied were varied.

You expect to make up to 35% return to your investment.

What types of challenges should a budding farmer wait in the early stages?

Based on our surveys, the main challenges revolve around production management and include silent heat, low dairy yield in certain dairy cows, poor body condition and current cow challenges such as reduced appetite and milk fever – and all these challenges are avoidable.

You should always vaccinate your herd.

Should we integrate a dairy specialist early, and in the affirmative, what key elements should the budding farmer pay attention?

It is highly recommended for someone to work with a specialist in dairy production to implement the project in the right way.

You have to pay attention to doing things in the main areas that include nutrition of dairy cattle, health management and milk marketing. You should look for a specialist with a proven assessment to guide you through them.

Between the purchase of a cow ready for the milking first and starting with a calf, what is the best way to proceed?

The best choice is to start with a milking cow, a highly incalf heifer or a recent calver.

This will help you develop positivity in your cash flows. This is the most important thing. A calf would give you a chance to know more about dairy agriculture, but practically, the risks involved are enormous: the calf may not survive for fragile reasons, and this can take up to two years before being able to obtain a penny, which makes it difficult to support the company.

You must incorporate calf farming into subsequent stages when the farm operates optimally in preparation for a future herd.

During the supply for the first dairy or calf cow, where the budding farmer begins?

To obtain the right tracks, you have to look for dealers in cattle sales.

In the majority of the production areas of high dairy products, we will find dealers who pool livestock for sale because farmers rarely sell their most producing cows or calves.

A dealer in livestock sales which is registered with local authorities.

In the event of a dispute, one can be sure of a friendly resolution and never lose your money by negotiating with one of his agents.

The cow must be exempt from any disease, with a well-constructed (dairy of a cow)-married structure, worse, sufficiently high and clearly separated into two equal parts by a strong suspensive ligament, have strong teeth on the lower jaw, a straight back line, a alert with light eyes and a good body condition and on the limits of the rope and the Pinbone must be on a good line.

After supply, how to prepare the hangar?

Surprisingly, you can provide a simple hangar in an open field where they will seek refuge with a hot day and at night.

However, you should think about building a good hiding place when you get enough resources.

How long does it take to start recording the returns after the investment?

Thanks to the example that I had given earlier, while raising three cows, the maximum net income you can generate during the first year will be Sh364 500.

This means that you will have to give your investment a minimum of two and a half years with an appropriate capital structure and effective management to recover your investment (profitability threshold), by maximizing your sources of income from milk sales, sales of heifers in Incalf, young bulls, the sale of excess fur and the expansion of the herd.

How can someone working full time juggle this with dairy agriculture?

You can easily manage a dairy product company while working full time.

Provision that you have reliable workers, sufficient fodder, cows with the right qualities, an appropriate file holding, a dairy specialist, a good milk marketing structure – preferably a cooperative company and constantly invest in milk production knowledge which can be accessible online and through agricultural visits for analysis of the analysis.

Other ideas?

I would advise the aspiring farmers to seek patient capital that will help them to keep long -term investment to make the total advantages.

Beware of ups and downs when you run a farm and keep the debt levels in low investment.

With regard to the management of lactation cycles, because the last 305 days in lactation, production drops considerably and the animal should have been served on day 60 in lactation in order to dry them for 2 months, then resume lactation.

This makes our yields on investment drop between 25% and 35% per year, net monthly income is around 30,000 SH.

This means that you cannot afford a credit that forces you to pay an episode that exceeds 20,000 shilds per month and bring 10,000 shillings. This puts your debt dependence at a maximum of 25% of your total investment.