Dairy farmers from Machakos County have been advised to take good care of their dairy cows in a bid to boost yields.
Speaking during a meeting held in Wamunyu Location on Thursday, Machakos Dairy Cattle Self Help Group chair Mr Wilson Kyalo, said dairy cattle in ukambani give low yields due to wrong feeding habits and lack of close veterinary monitoring.
"We provide our members with guideline pamphlets from time to time so that they can gain knowledge on how to care for their dairy cattle. For instance, the dairy cattle should not be given very dry grass as pasture. Grass should be cut from the field while still green and dried in the sun for a short while before its fed to the cows," said Kyalo.
Kyalo also advised the farmers to frequently check the health of the their dairy cattle as well as deworm them on a regular basis, as the cattle are vulnerable to disease and pests.
The chairman also announced that the self help group is planning to start a Cooperative Creameries Factory in Machakos that will be buying the members' produce.
"The factory will require about 200,000 litres of milk on a daily basis and I am therefore challenging our farmers to improve their yields in a bid to provide the factory with enough raw material," said Kyalo.
Kyalo said any farmer who needs assistance should not hesitate to come forward as the group provides support in terms of loans, feeds supplements and medication.