Smart farms

: 03 January 2017; Hits: 11855

Poultry farmer makes over 25 per cent profit from end-year festivities

Kisii County farmer Meshack Mogaka allows a Kenyoro Secondary School student to feel the weigh of one of his cocks on July 15, 2016 at the Kisii ASK Show. A Kimbu County farmers has made more than Sh35,000 net profit from chicken sales in the 2016 festive season. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

When William Osoro started a 100 chicken project in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, in April 2016, he first identified the market as part of his strategy of making more profits.

Eight months later, Osoro has sold 80 chickens about of the 91 chicks that survived after nine died in the course of growing.

“Improved kienyeji chickens are good to rear because of tolerance to diseases. Since my target was to sell the chicken meat, timing was key in the map to realising a good market. In my calculation, I knew the market is plenty in December. Indeed that has worked for me,” Osoro said.

For the 67 hens he has already sold before Christmas, the urban farmer has made Sh67,000. The 13 cocks have earned him Sh16,900 after selling each at Sh1,300.

Osoro hopes to sell the remaining 11 hens before the end of 2016 which would earn him a total gross income of Sh94,900.

“My total expenses for the eight months reached Sh56,000. That is excluding the chicken house. After selling the remaining chickens, I expect to make a net profit of about Sh38,500,” the farmer said.

READ ALSO: KARI creates 35,000 super chicken

Feeding chicken after maturity does not add much value to the farmer. In fact, they are likely to get into more losses if the prices fall, as it happens after festivities.

When the demand for chicken is low, an eight-month hen fetched between Sh600 and Sh800 while cocks cost from Sh900 onwards.

From the hens, the leap from Sh800 to Sh1,000 is a 25 per cent profit increase.

“There isn’t much negotiation on the price. Many people want the chickens. One has little option, but to buy,” he said.

Osoro, who is also runs a kiosk at nearby town of Kinoo, bought the one-eighth of an acre in 2015 and set up a simple residential house.

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: 23 December 2016; Hits: 19634

Farmer selling nyama choma goats in Nairobi and Nakuru

Farmer Silvanus Shikanga's buck during the 2016 Kakamega County ASK Show. An agribusiness is selling goats for meat for Nairobi and Nakuru residents. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

Nairobi and Nakuru towns’ dwellers intending to enjoy nyama choma during this end year celebrations can buy life goats of up to 25 kilos without having to go to remote areas.

Zaccheus Mwangi has a dairy and meat goat farm in Nairobi and Nakuru.

The Nairobi’s Karen-based farmer is selling up to 40 goats of between four kilos and 25kilos. The range from Sh4,000 to Sh8,000.

A goat of 15kg to 20kg can fetch Mwagi Sh6,000.

“The prices of the goats depend on the size, health status, breed, weight, among other factors. There are no fixed prices, therefore, the cost of each goat is negotiated based on the foresaid parameters,” the farmer said.

The Nairobi farm is along Ngong Road, about three kilometers from the Karen Shopping Centre.

Enjoying roast meat, famously known as nyama choma with family and friends is cheaper when one buys the entire animal. Besides being cheaper than butchery meat, others like enjoy the meat with chime, also known as Obosontoto in Ekegusii, ochuri in Dholuo and buse in Luhyia, among other names.

For those who may want to buy the dairy goats for milk, they cost from Sh11,000, and the rice also vries in regard t the age, size breed, among other factors.

Other than Kajiado, Ngong estate- which is close to 22 kilometres from Nairobi City- is one of the most famous places where one can buy livestock.

Mwangi can be reached on +254734846836

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: 19 December 2016; Hits: 12206

Cactus is water and feed for livestock on dry spells

cactus feedbyfeedipedia.jpg

Calves feed on cactus in Brazil. Cactus can supply enough water yo livestock for survival during dry spells. PHOTO BY FEEDIPEDIA

Farmers feeding livestock with 40 kilos of cacti give at least 35 litres of water per day besides the nutritional benefits of the wild shrub.

Livestock farmers regularly lose livestock to drought, when water and vegetation become scarce. Growing this fleshy shrub can offer feed and water solutions to the farmers.

Although the amount of water is not sufficient per day for lactating dairy cows, which consume between 80 litres and 120 litres per day- depending on the body size- the amount can help animals survive in harsh weather.

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation researcher John Kang’ara, however, warned that those cacti with spikes can cause death to livestock by inflicting injuries along the digestible system. Spikeless varieties are the best.

Cactus is said to be one of the plants with the highest water retaining ability. It can survive even in ‘very’ dry areas. This makes it one of the best forage crops for pastoralists, who happen to be in low rainfall regions.

KALRO got interested in the fleshy desert tree, after farmers from Nyeri County reported ‘good health’ of their animals after a severe 2008 dry spell.

“Having cacti for feeds saves animals from starving to death when drought strikes. Sheep for example can survive on cacti for 500 days without any other pasture or water, King’ara said in an Inter Press Service News Agency Publication.

The research has been supported by another one from Chakwal, Pakistan, where 2kg of cacti were mixed with other shrub feeds and the goats and sheep gained at least 33g per day in two months as reported by International Livestock Research Institute.

Besides the large deposits of vitamin A, B and C, cactus offers livestock a variety of other mineral.

In every 100g of dry cactus, there are 164mg of calcium, 0.052mg of copper, 0.59mg of iron, and 0.52mg of magnesium. There are 16mg of phosphorus, 0.21mg of zinc, among others, accordint to online resource centre, Nutrition and you.

Cactus grows in the wild naturally, or as a hedge. More other people grow it as an ornamental plant because of the slap-like branches. The spiked ones are the commonest.

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