Livestock farmers in Nakuru County want the county government to start offering free Artificial Insemination (AI) services as one way of transforming the sector in the county.
Subukia livestock farmer’s association chairperson Silas Mwira said that milk and meat production in the county has been affected by low quality breed of animals being reared by most farmers.
He said, “Many livestock farmers have the traditional African cows which produce very little milk but if we can cross-bred our animals then we can make this sector more vibrant.”
The farmers said the only way to get better and disease resistant breeds is through cross-breeding of animals, a service they said some of them cannot afford.
Speaking at the Subukia trading centre on Wednesday during a livestock vaccination day organised by the county government, Mwira said that the livestock sector has the potential of creating jobs.
He urged the government to boost the sector by offering free AI services.
“This will increase the production of milk and meat and this will create more employment opportunities for our young men and women,” said Mwira.
The farmers also called for the revival of the milk processing plants which were closed down in late 1990’s in the area.