The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Production has urged farmers in Kiambu to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation of cow sheds and seek proper veterinary services in a bid to foster milk production in the county.
Speaking in his office today, Eustace Murithi, livestock development officer in Kiambu said that it is vital for farmers to maintain proper hygiene in the cow sheds as this helps in reducing cases of mastitis which affects milk production.
Murithi said that mastitis is a disease which is caused by poor hygiene in cattle sheds and lack of proper cleaning of the cows’ udder before and after milking the cow causes inflammation of the cows’ tits and reduces milk production tremendously.
“Farmers need to understand that sanitation is very important in the rearing of cattle and plays a major role in milk production. They should also seek proper veterinary services if such a disease affects their cattle and avoid traditional methods which may alter the cow’s productivity,” said Murithi.
The officer added that farmers need to acquire proper milking products from agro vets, such as milking salves which are recommended and have been used in cattle rearing for years.
Murithi said that farmers in the milk industry business should be able to maintain a very healthy lifestyle for their cattle if milk production has to gain an upward trend in the county.
The policy and advocacy programme officer, Beatrice Savonge said that they have been working on awareness platforms to introduce farmers to proper hygiene in regards to livestock keeping, through different agriculture business trade fairs within the county.
According to Savonge some farmers think that since agriculture is usually concerned with soil and dirt it is not important to maintain proper sanitation.